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Roofing and Siding since 1985
Sat, May 16 2026, 8:35am [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3] ]
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Date Posted: Sat, Sep 14 2002, 9:43am
Author: Dan Hudson
Subject: Recommended roofing for 1/12 to 3/12 flat roof

I am the owner/builder of a custom home that is currently designed with a full hip roof. I have found that the truss cost is higher for a hipped roof than for a flat roof. I live in the Southwest and am considering changing the roof to a "Pueblo-style" flat roof. My truss builder told me that these trusses are built at less than a 1/12 rise/run. My problem is that I wanted to roof this house in a metal-type roof for longevity but I beleive the roof is too flat for this type of material. I would be limited to use a Built-up Roof System or an EPDM System, neither of which would give me the years of wear that a metal roof would. I could have my truss builder put a 3/12 rise/run on the trusses, but I'm worried that even this would cause me leak problems since the roofs on this house would be enclosed behind parapets, we do get a lot of rain here in the summer, and I'm afraid that even with drains on the low side of the roofs once the run-off hits the parapet it would end up pooling before it has the chance to empty through the drains. This could cause leaking at the perimeter wall to roof joints. What would your recommendation be to make my flat roof water-tight and to also have it last for over 20 years before needing to be replaced? (The flat roofing systems I've investigated so far only last from 10 - 20 years.)

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Replies:

[> Re: Recommended roofing for 1/12 to 3/12 flat roof -- A Roofer, Sat, Sep 14 2002,10:53am

"but I'm worried that even this would cause me leak problems since the roofs on this house would be enclosed behind parapets,"

And you would probably end up with the built-up or EPDM at the bottom of the metal to catch and drain the run-off negating any longevity advantage the metal would give you. I'm a roofer and I would NEVER consider having a flat roof on my house. I'm too practical. Function out ways appearance to me 10 to 1. The most important thing a roof can do is shed water and it's best ability to do that relies in the roof pitch. You can install the same product on a 4/12 and a 10/12 for instance and I know from experience that up here in the Northwest you can get around 5 additional years out of the 10/12 roof.

There are standing seam metals that you can install on 1/12 pitches that have rubber seals installed on the seams.


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