There are a growing number of cases where a flat roof can be the ideal solution for your home, office or industrial building, particularly given the cost savings on materials, the options for rooftop storage, efficient installation and easy maintenance in the hands of specialists.

However, there are some well-worn assumptions about flat roofs that are either anachronistic or outright mythical, and with that in mind here are some of the biggest and most important myths to debunk and fact-check.

Flat Roofs Are Not Actually Flat

Contrary to popular belief, flat roofs are legally required to have a slight incline, with building regulations mandating a slight incline that is not entirely noticeable when you stand on it but could be noticed if you placed a marble or a ball on the roof.

The reason for this, and the counterargument to claims that flat roofs are completely flat, is that the incline is designed to facilitate drainage. Water flows down the incline to the gutters and drains at the end.

Flat Roofs Do Not Leak More

A similar claim, linked to the first, is that flat roofs leak more than pitched ones because water pools on the surface and over time this erodes the roofing material or causes sags in the flat roof surface.

Neither is the case with a well-made and well-maintained roof. The incline mentioned above prevents standing water, waterproofing materials are highly sophisticated, installed in one piece and long-lasting, and this neglects the fact that any type of roof that isn’t looked after can be prone to leaks.

Flat Roofs Can Be Thermally Efficient

Because of the lack of a loft cavity, there is a belief that flat roofs are less insulated and thus more prone to issues caused by escaping heat.

In reality, flat roofs are fitted with multiple layers of insulation, air barriers and roof membranes that add much greater thermal efficiency than one might expect.