flat roof

kiwi99

Hello

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on this house? Can anything be done to make it look er umm nicer?

Is the flat roof over the garage / porch a potential money pit.

Thanks

cootuk

Flat roofs eventually leak as they deteriorate, but it's low enough that you can get up there easily to have a look every year.
Replacement should be budgeted for say every 15-20 years if no-ones walking on it.

tbh the front bit by the garage does look a bit "public urinal" sort of blockwork, but it does have a lovely big garden.

Davesnave

The flat roof might need re-covering or it might not, but it's not a huge expense if the underlying decking and supports are OK. Reputable roofers can use a range of products for this, with varying guarantees. My last one was for 15 years, IIRC.

Whether a house looks 'ugly' is in the eyes of the beholder. That one is constructed in reconstituted stone mimicking the local vernacular lias limestone, so I don't feel that painting any parts except the rendered panels would be wise. Maybe a softer tone in a colour would help there.

While it's a utilitarian property and will never be anything special architecturally, that doesn't make it a bad buy. It's the sort of house many of us live in during middle life. A bit of garden landscaping, by which I mean plants/shrubs/trees as well as the hard stuff, could make it look less harsh and make the most of the decent outside space, especially at the back where it's quite overlooked.

-taff

there's nothing stopping you changing it to a pitched roof later on.

looks ok to me, but then, I don't spend much time looking at the outside of a house, I'm usually inside it.....

ed110220

-taff wrote: »

there's nothing stopping you changing it to a pitched roof later on.

looks ok to me, but then, I don't spend much time looking at the outside of a house, I'm usually inside it.....

I don't see anything wrong with it. If you want an ornate or 'period' house, it's obviously not for you. I think it would be improved by replacing the white paint with a more cheerful but still tasteful colour and perhaps climbing plants etc.

As for the flat roof, you can get flat roofing products like EPDM that should last decades so it's not something to worry about.

Personally I think flat roofs converted to pitched often look wrong or tacked-on as the flashing stands out or the apex is too close to the upstairs windows etc.