Okay, you have decided to play your part in reducing the carbon footprint and preventing global warming. You have chosen to have a large solar panel constructed on your roof so you can make use of solar energy for various lighting and heating purposes. This would not be possible if your house has a sloping roof. Opting for a flat roof construction has a number of benefits, one of which is that it helps you set up a solar panel to harness the natural source of energy.

There are a number of techniques that you can choose from. Let us take a quick look at three of the most preferred techniques which are being used by various people all over the world.

Membrane Roofing

If you are looking for long lasting roofs that are water resistant as well, then membrane roofs is the best choice. This flat roof construction is put up using multiple polyvinyl chloride sheets. The thickness of each sheet used in this construction varied from 30mm to 60mm. You need not install a separate moisture resistant barrier on the roof prior to installing membrane roofing. You can place these membranes directly on the roof along with insulation that can offer thermal resistance. Once the membranes are installed, they are bonded together. You can either use a special sealer that helps the sheets chemically bond with each other or you can heat the seams so they melt into each other, thus holding them in place.

Built up Roofing

Built up roofing is the oldest roofing technique which is the most preferred technique in the United States. Moisture barriers are installed over the roof prior to proceeding with built up roofing. Alternating layers of waterproofing elements and bitumen are installed over the moisture barrier. It is the number of layers that determines the quality of the roofing. More the number of layers, better is the quality of the roofing.

Spray Foam Roofs

This is the flat construction roofing that uses foam made of polyurethane in order to provide a protective covering to the roof. Rigid sheets of foam insulation are fastened to the roof. The next step of this technique is to mix a foam solution and apply it to the roof with the help of a spray gun. In order to facilitate proper drainage, the thickness of the spray foam roof varies across the entire surface. An elastomeric coating helps hold the spray foam roof firmly in place. It also helps prevent fire accidents and provide water resistance.