Flat roofs are a popular option for extensions, industrial buildings and increasingly for new builds as well. Thanks to greater waterproofing and specialist knowledge, they can be fitted quickly, reliably and last for a very long time with no issues, as long as they are fitted by experts.

As well as improvements to flat roofs themselves since Mesopotamia, the benefits of having a flat roof rather than a pitched roof have become more obvious, particularly when it comes to the economical use of space.

With space becoming a premium for many homeowners, setting up an extension with a flat roof provides not only a new indoor space but also an elevated outdoor space to use, whether it ends up as a green roof, a dining area or simply storage space for HVACs, heat exchangers and other equipment.

When it comes to the latter, there are a lot of benefits to using a flat roof for storage, as well as a few extra considerations to keep in mind.

Having it on the roof can make it easier to maintain, removes the sound at ground level, reduces condensation leaking onto nearby footpaths and avoids potential structural issues of securing a heavy piece of equipment to a wall.

There are other considerations to keep in mind, however, and it is essential to do a survey on your flat roof first before making any major moves.

The first aspect to keep in mind is to ensure that your appliance fitted to the roof does not affect the natural gradual incline that your flat roof needs to ensure water is pooled away.

Typically this needs little more than either a raised platform to allow water to travel above it or slanted guides to ensure water moves around a unit and back into the standard stream.

However, in some cases, a roof may need additional support to ensure it does not create pools of water, which can damage roofing membranes, as can the foot traffic of maintenance personnel if there are multiple units that need managing.