The low slope roof has been in trend for many years now, and yet, a lot of homeowners have no idea what they are. As it happens, your own home probably has a low slope roof and perhaps you never realized that until now! Perhaps you do know what they are and simply looking for roofers who can install a new one for you. Either way, we are going to go through some of the important bits next which both parties should find to be useful.

Low Slope Roof and Pitch Ratio: An Introduction

Any roof that has a pitch lower than 2:12 is technically a low slope roof. The pitch is a simple roofing ratio which is calculated by drawing a proportion between the roof’s vertical length (height) and its horizontal length (spread). The first number in roofing pitch ratio always represents a roof’s height, while the second number represents the roof’s spread or width in proportion.

Note that a roof with a 2:12 ratio may not necessarily be 2 feet/meters/inches in vertical length and 12-feet/meters/inches in horizontal length at all. It could just as well be 4 feet high and 24 feet wide, just as long as the 2:12 ratio is maintained. Any roof which has a lower pitch ratio than 2:12, however, will be called a low slope roof. Just like the name suggests, such a roof should be easily identifiable because of its minimal slope, which brings it closer to being a flat roof, but not quite.

Why are Low Slope Roofs Popular?

Unless there is an architectural need to incline your roof due to the basic construction of your house, you may want to opt for a low roofing solution yourself. There are several advantages to having a low slope roof, or even a flat roof in some locations. They offer better insultation across all weather conditions and cost a lot less money to maintain. Due to the greater accessibility that a low slope offers, making changes, checking for damages, conducting repairs, etc., also becomes much easier and safer.

Finally, having a low slope or a flat roof means that you can access it easily and regularly as an additional space. You cannot sit on top of a roof that’s steep, and it’s something that you could come to miss over time. If you are thinking about installing a new roof, contact Wildwood Roofing & Construction to get an estimate on low slope roofing solutions, flat roofing solutions, or any other type of roof replacement projects.

Do Not Forget about Waterproofing

It should be part of the estimate itself, but always check with your roofers to be sure that a proper waterproofing solution is indeed included. This is more valid for flat roofs as they tend to accumulate water due to a lack of incline. Even low slope roofs are more susceptible to water damage as compared to steeper roofs, but that is only if the roof is built without waterproofing. More often than not, a rubber membrane is going to be the best choice but consult with your roofers for more updated info about that.

Although houses were the focus of this post, do note that taller buildings have the most to benefit from low slope roofs. However, most modern apartment buildings are already built with flat or low roofs.