If you live in a dry area that receives little or almost no rain you might had heard of flat roofs, but if you haven’t you should know they are a very economical choice, specially from a building perspective. However, their shortcoming is their natural inability to get rid of water, having problems with leakage and accumulation.

But those things can be easily solved by a good waterproof material coverage match with a proper drainage system that will protect the roof and the home beneath it. If you want are considering this roofing option for your home here are some of the most popular flat roofing systems to choose from.

Built Up Roofing

Built up roofing is not really a system itself but a term for all the systems that are made from alternating layers of roofing, felted with waterproof materials, like coal tar pitch, asphalt or modified asphalt, adhesive and cold application. BUR is also known as tar and gravel roofing, since its final layer is made of gravel, crushed rock or any mineral material with the purpose of minimizing sun damage.

There are other BUR variations, like modified bitumen roofs that are made of fiberglass-based asphalt sheets, gain, applied in layers but adding mopped-on hot bitumen between the layers. They are a very economical option for flat roof’s homes, though eventually the sunlight will be breaking down the asphalt base, which means that you will have to replace the roof sooner than other options.

Single-Ply Roofing

Although Single-ply roofs are a little more expensive than BURs, they are a more reliable and popular flat roof system than the previous, because they are made of more durable materials and will give you less problems in the long run. There are manly two types of single-ply roofs: thermoset membranes and thermoplastic membranes.

Thermoset membranes are made of rubber polymers, sealed on the overlaps with liquid adhesive or tape forming a watertight. In the other hand, thermoplastic membranes are made with plastic polymers and seams formed with heat or chemical welding and, in some cases, even an extra layer of polyester or fiberglass.

Spayed Polyurethane Foam

Or SPF is a relatively new product that can be sprayed over existing roof installations, avoiding the work that brings removing previous roofs.

Sprayed polyurethane foam can form a single, continuous, seamless surface because of the flexible features of foam, adding its lightweight nature it makes a perfect option for irregular shaped roofs and protrusions.

If you are planning on using SPF for re-roofing you can easily applied over asphalt shingles, clay tile, concrete, metal, wood roofs and built-up roofs. Foam roofing systems can combat some of the most common issues with flat roofing which is heat, thanks to its high insulation value.

They are easy to maintain and the only flaw with this material is that, being a new product, there’s not much information about its actual performance.

DIY is a no

Flat roofing is not a do-it-yourself project at all. If you opt for this type of roofing systems you will have to hire a professional to take care of it. And knowing that the leakage and water accumulation problems are usual in this design you will want an experienced roofer to take care of it.