How much flat roof is too much?!

[Nicole1]

Hi. My husband and I are renovating and extending a 1960's bungalow. We've added a large flat roof extension on the back and are planning to convert the existing garage and add a new integral garage. These are both also currently planned to be flat roof, but that will mean that the property is more flat roof than pitched (even if you exclude the new integral garage).

 

I recently read that this means the house will be deemed "not of standard construction", which may make it difficult to mortgage, to insure and therefore the property value will be affected. I asked my mortgage company to confirm if this is a problem and whether we could avoid it if we pitched the roof on the garage conversion, and they said they can't comment until I remortgage (by which time it'll be too late to change it!)

 

Can anyone advise on whether this is a real concern and whether there is any relevant guidance I can read, or a professional who i could engage to advise (is this something a surveyor would deal with, for example). Many thanks

[SteamyTea]

You could try a few insurance companies, though they may say the same 'not until it is built'.

You could design the flat roof so that you can attach a pitched roof to it later.

May seem like 'double building', but a fake pitched roof may possibly be made to a lower structural standard, maybe @Gus Potter will know about this.

Way I see it is that it is easier to build when you have a structural base to work from, and stand on.

[Gone West]

2 hours ago, Nicole1 said:

Can anyone advise on whether this is a real concern

All I can say is that, when I recently insured my old house, with a new company, one of the questions was about the percentage of flat roof compared to pitched roof on the house. I don't recall ever being asked that question before.

[Mr Punter]

I have has this issue before.  If you can do a pitched roof it will be much better and lower risk.

[Mike]

I'd also go with a pitch roof if you can, provided the flat roof is of no particular architectural merit.