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As homeowners are finding more and more ways to utilize all areas of the home, the roof is evolving into a trove of wonders. Want extra space for a terrace or patio? Try a flat roof design. Want an extra outdoor space or conservatory? Try a flat roof. No room for gardening and lack of exterior area? Try a flat roof and consolidate space.
Although flat roofs have been around for centuries in home and villa design, it wan't until Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe that they gained popularity and became almost a necessary design element for a certain sense of modernity in homes. Roofs are a wonderful way to create semi-indoor environments for almost any purpose, even if it's just extra space!
We have listed six creative ways to make the most of your flat roof, to give you some ideas as to possibilities. Give it a try! We promise you won't be disappointed!
One of the best uses of a flat roof is for personal gardening. As the span of the roof is typically the size of a standard garden, this will give you the opportunity to provide sustenance for your family on a scale that is profitable and plentiful.
One thing to consider before constructing your roof top garden, is that the roof will allow for proper drainage. This might be best to hire a professional for and an inspector, to make sure the job is done right. The last thing you want is sitting water and dirt to affect the foundation of your home. You can also do what this homeowner did and use the roof top area for general green space and medium- to larger-sized trees.
This option will depend on your family and the climate you live in—it will also depend on where you feel it is important to invest your money. Some experts say that adding a pool (particularly in-ground) will add value to your home in the long run and make it more appealing to future buyers. Others argue the opposite. This all depends on where you live—if you're in a warmer or tropical climate where most homes include pools, then go for it!
The great part about roof-top pools is that they add an instant feeling of luxury to your home—even more so than a standard in-ground pool!
For a more efficient and practical way to utilize your flat roof, think about solar panels! Fortunately for you, the price of solar panels has decreased significantly, as the cost to both store them and their batteries has also decreased. Depending on your country, the cost to use solar panels might be much cheaper than using ordinary electricity from the grid and fossil fuels.
Solar panels usually do best mounted into poured concrete or using steel bases that attach to the roof of your home. This allows the solar panels to be easily removed and stored during winter months—or in warmer climates you can make them a more permanent fixture of your home.
You should check out local solar panel companies and ask the experts for advice on what is most beneficial and practical for your home and energy needs.
Creating an area for sitting, relaxing and dinner parties is another great use of roof top space. It's also one of the easiest to make! No matter what size your roof top space is, this idea can work as furnishings and decor can be maneuvered and changed.
Make sure if you decide on a roof top terrace area that you install a surrounding barricade for safety measure—particularly where children are involved. A glass barrier wall, like the one seen here, is great and adds a nice reflective quality to the terrace, creating the illusion of more space!
This example goes to show that no matter what size your roof top is, a terrace can be great as a cozy corner area too!
Allowing your flat roof to be transparent and become a source of more natural light in your home is a wonderful idea. You will save on construction costs, as the installation of glass can usually be cheaper than extending the use of concrete and steel beams for support.
This homeowner decided to use a small section of the flat roof patio area as to let it provide an abundance of natural light into the corner-situated bedroom! For another example of how open-concept flat roof space can work—check out this example!
Looking for an area to place a new room? Look no further than your flat roof as an option for increasing your square meters! The installation to add surrounding glass or paneled walls will be an easy project for professionals and a worthy investment increasing the overall value of your home! Typically indoor areas will give you more bang for your buck than extended outdoor areas and using your flat top roof is no exception.
Whether it's a play room, a dining room, or just a casual sun room for reading and relaxing—consider your flat roof a true extension of space! If you're looking for an extra room that still has maximum outdoor exposure—look at designs like this one!
