Flat roofs have been a choice of homeowners for generations; they are aesthetically pleasing and lend themselves to a variety of architectural styles. However some of the first and second generation flat roofed homes now require roof maintenance due to the buildup of water on certain areas of the roof and the fact the many of the original roofing material used on these roofs has reached the end of its lifetime. Due to technological advances in roofing materials it is now up to the homeowner whether he or she wants to call in a contractor to make flat roof repairs or would like to undertake the roof repairs as a DIY project.

If the decision is taken to go the DIY route they need to choose which roofing material they are going to use. There are variety of material available for flat roof repair but seeing as how older houses will require the replacement of all of the roofing material then one of the best choices is a roofing membrane made from EPDM, a synthetic rubber compound that is available in sheets that can be sealed together to fit even the most challenging of roofs. Although EPDM is suitable for DIY installation most homeowners prefer to us a contractor seeing as the sheets of EPDM membrane are far easier to handle when a team of contractors is employed rather than a single person. The use of contractors is also preferred due to the fact that the installation will take far less time and result in minimal disruption to the household. EPDM flat roof membrane is also the preferred material for many contractors when repairing these roofs due to the fact that it comes in a variety of thicknesses, making it ideal for use on both commercial buildings and ordinary households, it is extremely resistant to UV rays, its relatively cheap and easy to install.

The application of sheet membranes solves one of the most important problems associated with these roofs and that is how to deal with pools of standing water. The newer membranes boast superior water resistance over older membranes and are also considerably more durable.

If durability is a concern then the homeowner should consider the installation of metal flat roofs constructed of copper or tin, these are metal panels that are soldered together and are incredibly durable but they are considerably more expensive than the traditional roofs of this kind.

When making repairs the homeowner should be aware that flat roofs are extremely sensitive to human foot traffic, a wrongly placed step and the roof material can crack leading to even more problems with leakage. Given this fact and the time consuming nature of DIY flat roof repairs the use of a contractor and the associated guarantees can be an extremely attractive option. Whatever the choice the homeowner makes regular maintenance will ensure that the flat roof continues to be both aesthetically pleasing and an investment in a snug and leak free home.