The Biggest Myths About Flat Roofs Debunked

Daniel Bracewell • 17 January 2024

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.

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Can You Install Solar Panels On A Flat Roof?

by Daniel Bracewell • 10 December 2025

If you’re exploring how to lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint, you may be looking at the likes of solar panels for your home. But what if your property has a flat roof rather than a pitched roof? Can you still install solar panels on a flat roof? The short answer is yes, you can! In fact, it is often easier to install solar panels on a flat roof than it is to fit them to a sloped roof, which might make this an even more appealing avenue to explore when you’re looking at flat roof ideas . In many cases, you also don’t need planning permission to install solar panels on your flat roof. Of course, there are exceptions if you have a listed building or live in a conservation area, but if you own your house (different rules apply for flats too), you should be free to add solar panels to your home as you choose. There are different kinds of mounting systems for flat roof solar panels and which is most appropriate for your home will depend on the direction it faces. It is worth noting that the cost of installing solar panels is often higher on flat roofs because of the mounting system, but some of this can be offset by the lower labour costs because the installation process is usually more straightforward. One of the main reasons homeowners install solar panels is to reduce their energy bills. Many report savings of hundreds of pounds each year, which means these panels often pay for themselves relatively quickly. What’s more, under the Smart Export Guarantee , you can sell any energy you don’t use back to the National Grid, which can increase the rate at which your investment in solar panels pays for itself. So, if you are exploring ways to make the most of your flat roof, consider solar panels as an option to reduce your energy bills and do good for the environment.