This means that for every 2 units of horizontal. The most popular synthetic roofing materials on the market today resemble wood or slate, appealing to people who want an elegant look but don't have the budget for it. Because of the ease with which debris comes off a steep roof, gutters can fill up fairly quickly, requiring additional maintenance. While low-sloped roofs are more common on commercial properties, they can find in residential environments.
With so many risk factors that go against a low-sloped roof, it's obvious that a shorter lifespan is expected. If they were, they wouldn't drain water effectively, and standing water on a roof can cause serious damage over time. Forget scaffolding and safety ropes, as low-sloped roofs require little access for cleaning, repairs, or maintenance. Pedestrian traffic on roofs can cause cracks, punctures and shingles to peel off, making the roof less durable.
For those who prefer not to go out to the roof to take care of regular maintenance, which normally involves removing leaves and removing other types of debris, the low-sloped roof will be a burden. The slope of the roof determines how the roofing contractor will approach maintenance, repair and installation. For example, in areas that receive moderate rainfall, roofers will recommend a roof pitch of at least 30 degrees for precipitation to flow in the most efficient manner. Since these are the highest points of the roof or individual sections of the roof, installation crews will install ventilation grilles in the ridges and cover them with shingles to provide the necessary protection and ventilation. While this is true for any roofing project, choosing the best roofing material for a low-sloped roof is vital because it will be subject to more moisture stress than a steep roof.
Collecting renewable energy is more common today than ever, and installing photovoltaic panels on a flat roof offers the possibility of reducing utility costs with little or no risk to the roof structure. There are several different types of materials that can be installed in this type of roofing system, including the following.