A flat roof isn’t just an architectural design that’s easy to fit in a commercial space – it can be so much more.
With a little bit of creativity and planning, your flat roof can be a recreational space, a garden, or even a relaxing pseudo-deck.
When the weather is right, a well-designed flat roof can be the best place to spend lunch hour – or even a whole day.
How Much Weight Can Your Roof Bear?
Ask the builder how much weight your roof can take, or if that’s not possible, bring in a roof inspector to check. As long as your commercial flat roof is well-maintained and well-built, you shouldn’t have any problems. You may need to make a few repairs before converting it into a useable space, but these will likely be quite simple and relatively inexpensive.
You roof should easily accommodate foot traffic, but it is not meant to hold wall-to-wall people. Take care with the number of people on the roof at any time, and realize that the increased weight means more regular inspections are necessary.
Planning Your Roof Space
The first step towards making your office’s flat roof useable is to draw up a plan. Do you want a vegetable garden? A flower garden? Picnic tables and a barbecue? Think about what you want to achieve by opening up this space to your staff, and write down the elements that are most important to you.
Next, it’s time to draw up a plan. All you need is paper and a pencil, or some drawing software. Measure the dimensions of your roof space, and write them down on your blueprints. This is an important step in the design process, because it ensures that you take account of the size and volume of any items that will be placed on the roof. What happens when you don’t measure? Things can get a little crowded.
Creating a Rooftop Garden
Gardens are a wonderful way to turn a plain roof into an enjoyable place to spend time. Even a few flowers and shrubs can make a big difference. Of course, your plants will need soil and water, so it’s necessary to use large plant pots or build raised beds so that the water does not seep into the roof and cause damage. Large, decorative plant pots are an easy way to bring flowers and other types of plants up the roof without a lot of extra building.
Vegetables need deeper soil that flowers, so keep that in mind. In some cases, it is possible to place a layer of dirt directly onto the roof. This is not possible with felt-type flat roofs, since they are not sufficiently waterproof. EPDM membrane roofing is ideal for such plans.
If you do have a waterproof flat roof, and choose to use some or all of it as a garden, this actually serves quite well as a layer of home insulation!
Putting Together Your Roof Space
Designing a roof space is a lot like interior design. You must take care with measurements, and try a few different designs before committing. Above all, make it attractive and functional!
Image: =Nahemoth=