Details and photos of residential flat roof in action

As stated later in the post, flat roofs are designed differently than in the past, and they aren't truly flat anyway, there is a slight pitch for water drainage, as we are doing that for rainwater collection.

Just ask any smart architect and they will tell you that if designed properly, THEY DO NOT LEAK. If that were true, than all commercial buildings and skyscrapers would have pitched roofs, you don't see them there.

I'm sorry to say that your information on flat roofs is very outdated, and I have plenty of counterarguments from architects and roofers alike, and if you look at the design, you will see they are very structurally sound with the single-ply membrane, 1/4 inch to 1 foot slope and parapet wall sealing.

http://sjodindreamhome.blogspot.com
The Side That's Always Greener....

If the SIPs are installed correctly they should not leak. They would have to be badly damaged to leak. I don't know for sure but I think that they were using Urathane Panels. I personally use Expanded Polystyrene Panels. Lower standard R-value but 0 off gassing. Most flat roofs where I am located must have a proper drainage system as well.
This roof would be considered green because it will use less energy to heat and cool the inside and prevents CO2 emisions from the structure. They could make it truly green if they got some plant life up there too :)

Cardinal Building Systems, Inc.
Building Efficiently for Energy Savings

This roof is considered green because of the styrofoam wedges (btw, recycled styrofoam) on top of our SIP roof and a white single-ply membrane that reflects the sun's heat (acts as a radiant heat barrier). The combination of the radiant heat barrier and the added styrofoam insulation saves energy by keeping the roof and your house cooler, thereby making it more energy efficient. As you probably already know, "green" doesn't just mean recycling and eco-friendly material, but also reduction of energy consumption which is a huge factor in carbon emissions (50% of emissions are directly contributed by housing!). This is just one thing in the big picture of reducing your carbon footprint and helping to save energy (a/c) costs too.

Also, as stated above, it does have a slant, it's just not very visible (it's considered a low slope, as there needs to be one for water drainage). We picked this roof style because our architect thinks it looks more visually appealing (we have a modern design) and it's cheaper than getting ceramic tiling and has lower maintenance but is much better than asphalt tiling. Asphalt tiling is the worst since it is basically a HEAT SPONGE....

http://sjodindreamhome.blogspot.com
The Side That's Always Greener....

Flat roofs had a bad reputation in the past when flat roof were done as build-up roofs, sealed with lots of liquid tar. The technology with flat roofs are today much more advanced. You just crab architectural books especially with contemporary architecture, most buildings have flat roofs.

Just looking at the size, a flat roof has less surface then a slanted roof. It is easier to maintain or to clean, because you walk on a flat surface. Most flat roofs today use the two-ply procedure, were rubber based sheet material is welded together by a torch or hot air. The seal, if done professional, is as good as the sheet material itself. Then there are inverted flat roofs, where the watertight skin is actually under the insulation, and the top surface of the insulation has a concrete shield or concrete side-blocks.

I personally like both roof types. It always comes down to the location, the surrounding and finally the taste of the owner. When it comes to the question which one is greener, I think both have their good and bad sides. Wolf