Roof options

Amateurrunner

We are planning a 40m2 kitchen extension. Current issue is the roof. I wanted a pitched roof but I've been told for the size of the extension the angle under the roof isn't enough. Only an 11degree angle is available. One builder said he would put a slant in - trying to avoid flat roof as potential home insurance issue with large % flat roof. Another builder said that he wouldn't build a slanted roof as at that angle he cant guarantee that around the velux window is water tight. Can anyone pls help - I'd rather go with slant if safe to do so but also don't want a leaking roof.

GrumpyMe

You could use a "flat roof kerb",
http://tinyurl.com/ndfy3v8

Amateurrunner

Thanks for that, it's reassuring that there are options re putting in a 11degree roof with velux windows. I might just pay more attention now the the type of velux window and even give velux a call. The other builder gave me the impression that with a 11degree angle he couldn't guarantee that it would be water tight which is surely the main aim of a roof.

sydthebeat

there is no slate or tile that is manufactured or guaranteed to work at 11 degrees

so either change the design, the roof covering or the roof shape

if you dont want to go with a flat roof, think about something like this:
http://www.nordman.ie/tile_sheet.html

Calahonda52

Go with a A roof // to existing house with good wide flat, walkable on, valley along house wall.
Velux will throw much more light into older part of house

Amateurrunner

Calahonda52 I lack imagination/knowledge about roof terms but I think an A/pitched roof is the roof I originally wanted but I can't have because the pitch is too low but sorry if I have misinterpreted an A roof - maybe you could post a picture?

sydthebeat I like the idea of the nordman tile but I have read that they can be noisy when rain falls onto it - do you have any experience of this?

Sorry in advance for sounding stupid but can I confirm if I get a roof at a 11degree slant but there is no tile or slate on it is that still classed for insurance purposes as a "flat roof". To be flat is flat i.e. if I put a ball on top of it it won't roll off but maybe i'm wrong and flat is more like a smooth roof i.e. there is an angle but no tiles. Can someone clarify this for me?

Bonzo Delaney

Did any of your builders suggest a warm deck fibre glass roof you could still use the kerbs for the velux and if your still going for an 11degree pitch roof it could be made to look like an old lead roof
Something like the pic

Amateurrunner

Fibre glass was definitely mentioned I was just finding it hard to imagine what it looked like. Being honest my main concern is that it isn't completely flat as that will be an insurance nightmare and two that it is water tight and durable/guaranteed for a long time to be water tight.

Bonzo Delaney

Would be curious to know what your insurance company said about a newly constructed flat roof in either fibre glass , epdm or ashfelt as they're ten a penny now on extensions and new builds
Honestly a newly constructed flat roof using an approved contractor is a life time job these days.

Amateurrunner

Disappointing, I rang my home insurance company and they said that they will not insure me with a 35% flat roof (our extension is big and I asked the builder what percentage flat it would be and he said 35%). I then rang chill insurance and they said the same thing. They said they would only quote me up to 25% flat roof which is through either Zurich or Aviva. They said if I rang them directly they might quote me so i'll try them at lunchtime. I explained on the phone that it would be a high quality fibre glass roof but what it was made from made no difference.

If anyone has any advice on this let me know. Slightly concerned an 11degree slant in the roof might not look great inside, potential leak issue (although builder said would gaurantee), most seem to be advising a flat roof but then my home insurance is a headache - argh...

Amateurrunner

Aviva also said no - 25% is their limit too.

sydthebeat

kidd insurance do flat roofs

also, 11 degrees isnt a flat roof, but the material used MUST be suitably guaranteed for use on that pitch

Bonzo Delaney

Wow that's interesting
Of no help to you though
I'm currently on new domestic build job where it's 100% flat roof about 150m2
I wonder how the owners will get on with insurance there
Your best option then would be to go with the previous posters cal52 suggestion of an A or fully hipped roof over the extension with a wide valley between the extension and the original house ive seen this done looks well and can be made to look a striking feature on the inside giving loads of light using velux's on the roof surface
Out of interest did the insurance company define at what degrees does a flat roof become a pitched roof?

Amateurrunner

I didn't ask anything re what degrees a roof becomes a pitched roof being honest.

Kidd insurance and OBF insurance (I got recommendation to ring them too) both close for lunch 1-2 (strange business decision I think but everyone has got to eat and I pick this time for my own lunch). I've also been advised to try alliance. I'll update later when I hear back from all three - for future reference for everyone.

Being honest i'm getting very dubious re this 11degree roof as the other builder won't even quote me if we are going for that option. Seems crazy that roof quality wise i'm better with a flat roof but the insurance companies haven't moved on to that opinion.

None of my builders have suggested this A or fully hipped roof - one suggested a double A roof - 2 x A in two pitches with a valley in the middle - they are more expensive which is an issue and again not ideal. Seems to be an issue with the fact that my house is extra wide - 6.3m wide.

Best case scenario is that we can get flat roof insurance so i'll try again later - have to go back to work.

sydthebeat

Amateurrunner wrote: »

I didn't ask anything re what degrees a roof becomes a pitched roof being honest.

Amateurrunner wrote: »

Sorry in advance for sounding stupid but can I confirm if I get a roof at a 11degree slant but there is no tile or slate on it is that still classed for insurance purposes as a "flat roof".

Amateurrunner wrote: »

Being honest i'm getting very dubious re this 11degree roof as the other builder won't even quote me if we are going for that option. Seems crazy that roof quality wise i'm better with a flat roof but the insurance companies haven't moved on to that opinion.

None of my builders have suggested this A or fully hipped roof -

as ive said already, there is no slate or tile guaranteed to go down to 11 degrees, so dont even entertain that option

Bonzo Delaney

sydthebeat wrote: »

as ive said already, there is no slate or tile guaranteed to go down to 11 degrees, so dont even entertain that option

True but there's loads of other perfectly good options depending on budget with an eleven degree roof be it metal profile , lead, zinc,copper, fibreglass , ect, ect instead of ruling it out altogether.

sydthebeat

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

True but there's loads of other perfectly good options depending on budget with an eleven degree roof be it metal profile , lead, zinc,copper, fibreglass , ect, ect instead of ruling it out altogether.

im not ruling it out altogether ??
im telling the OP not to entertain the option of building an 11 deg roof and finishing it with slate or tile.

ive already given the OP a sensible roof finish option.

Bonzo Delaney

sydthebeat wrote: »

im not ruling it out altogether ??
im telling the OP not to entertain the option of building an 11 deg roof and finishing it with slate or tile.

ive already given the OP a sensible roof finish option.

Appologies , my mistake Syd
I read it as not to entertain the 11' roof option at all.

sydthebeat

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

Appologies , my mistake Syd
I read it as not to entertain the 11' roof option at all.

No problem bonzo

Calahonda52

Amateurrunner wrote: »

Calahonda52 I lack imagination/knowledge about roof terms but I think an A/pitched roof is the roof I originally wanted but I can't have because the pitch is too low but sorry if I have misinterpreted an A roof - maybe you could post a picture?

sydthebeat I like the idea of the nordman tile but I have read that they can be noisy when rain falls onto it - do you have any experience of this?

Sorry in advance for sounding stupid but can I confirm if I get a roof at a 11degree slant but there is no tile or slate on it is that still classed for insurance purposes as a "flat roof". To be flat is flat i.e. if I put a ball on top of it it won't roll off but maybe i'm wrong and flat is more like a smooth roof i.e. there is an angle but no tiles. Can someone clarify this for me?

See attached.
The A roof extension is parallel to the two storey house and there is a wide fibreglass valley between old and new which allows servicing of solar panels as well as no room for stuff to lodge as well as act as easy exfil in case of fire
The A roof does not impinge on the view from bedroom windows.

The extension ring beam ia a steel frame bolted to original house, the external wall was not taken out, just double doors instead of windows

Amateurrunner

So some good news re flat roof option - OBF insurance baggott st and Kidd insurance both quoted me for flat roof and both said they go up to 100% flat roof but some insurers treat up to 50% flat as relatively standard. RSA were also mentioned as doing flat roof insurance but as I haven't built anything yet and have gotten a good quote i'm not going to ring today - Bonzo you could tell your clients who to ring.

Thanks for your help everyone. I think i'll be going for a fibre glass flat roof after all the advice i've received on here and from the builders.