Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Oct 22, 2008 1:20 am I am replacing an existing patio. I had in mind a similar style - flat roof but extending out a lot further. Can't remember now exactly but I think it was 5.5 or 6 metres. I could be wrong - I am an imperial measurements girl!
I have had five different companies come and quote and the first four were insistent that a flat roof would not be feasible because the slope/gradient to allow for drainage over that distance would make it look odd and that the outer edge would be too low. They said that I would have to have a gable roof patio which is bringing the price in at over the $10,000 mark. Fair enough but the fifth guy who came today and who is from a pretty reputable and large company said that although he would quote on a gabled patio it really wasn't necessary unless I really preferred it. He said that a flat roof would be fine given the height of my house (which is pretty old) or rather the height of the fascia (?) that the patio will be built out from, even with the necessary gradient the end edge will still be ample height. His views were that flat roofs had been given a "bum rap" and that the only reason for a gable roof was aesthetics or because a company could persuade into the more expensive design. Still quite happy to do a gable roof one for me as long as I realised that it wasn't strictly necessary from a function point of view. We are talking about a roughly 5 or 6 thousand difference in price here so I need to give it some thought. I am not into anything for looks alone and basically anything other than the rotting timber and rusty iron thing I have at present would be an improvement. I just want something neat, strong and serviceable. What's wrong with acting like an ostrich and burying your head in the sand sometimes? Some days it can stop you from having to look at the lemmings! Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 2Oct 22, 2008 3:19 pm A flat roof can be done im sure and is alot cheaper but I prefer a gable roof because it doesnt feel as closed in and makes the area feel bigger. It also looks better but its your choice on which way you should go and if it is worth spending the extra $$$ on a gable roof. Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 3Oct 22, 2008 7:17 pm Other than your point about being "closed in" which is quite valid there is maybe some difference in terms of lightblocking?
As I am in perth, the more light blocked the better usually - summer and winter. The patio faces almost exactly East and the morning sun, especially when the sun is low in the sky spring and autumn is blinding. It is almost impossible to sit out there until well after 10.00am without a welding mask on! It isn't the heat it is the light that I have problems with. I am not too good at visualising things but with the gable roof, would this be more or less so? At present I have some makeshift arrangement of bamboo matchstick blinds which looks something less than pretty but which helps a little. What I really need - and everyone (male) I have suggested this to just laughs at me - is something like a mobile sight screen (is that what they call them?) like those they use at the cricket. A lattice or blind or screen of some sort that is on a frame on wheels and can be moved and angled at whim to block the glare of the sun depending upon where the glare is coming from at any time. My other suggestion which drew even more patronising chuckles was some sort of mobile garden - by which I think I mean some sort of very large planter (trolley? flat based thingy?) with bushy type plants, small trees, maybe even climbers on poles that, again, is on wheels with a pulling handle etc and would be like a moveable "green" screen that could be re positioned as necessary. I have a number of vary large potted trees and plants which filter and screen the glare quite well but it is a tad of a pain moving them all and then again and then again etc What's wrong with acting like an ostrich and burying your head in the sand sometimes? Some days it can stop you from having to look at the lemmings! Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 4Oct 24, 2008 5:01 pm If you use solid colorbond roofing then there is no difference with the brightness issue and in fact a pitched roof will also help with the heat as the ceiling is much higher.
I'm not sure about your mobile screen idea but anything is possible. Have you looked at tinted cafe blinds? They can help stop the brightness as well but without seeing the area you are referring to it is hard to make suggestions. Some pictures of the area would help. Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 5Oct 24, 2008 7:21 pm I think the mobile garden is an excellent idea. I'm doing mobile screens for my western facing windows do the very same reason.
re the gable. IMO it will let in more light as the gable is like this /\ and a flat roof would be like this __ The lower height if heat and light is a problem will be better. Post a photo would help. Steve Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 6Oct 24, 2008 7:36 pm Yak_Chat re the gable. IMO it will let in more light as the gable is like this /\ and a flat roof would be like this __ The lower height if heat and light is a problem will be better. Steve Why would you think that? At the external load bearing point both roof styles will have the same height and the pitched roof would be better because you can have an eve line that will help block the light. Also any roof such as colorbond gets very hot in the sun so the further away they are the cooler it will be ie the pitched roof Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 7Oct 24, 2008 8:38 pm Quote: As I am in perth, the more light blocked the better usually - summer and winter. The patio faces almost exactly East and the morning sun, especially when the sun is low in the sky spring and autumn is blinding. Sun angles - Perth to Melbourne are different - angles and temperatures. Physically & structurally it may not appear / look to be very different, but in real life, it is. Something to do with the sun rising over water, versus rising over land. Try it sometime. Steve Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 9Oct 25, 2008 8:16 am What am I on about. ?
My uderstanding is they would like to keep the early morning sun out of the vernadah for light reasons.. If they use an open gabled roof for the verandah then more sun will enter in the mornings due to the higher roof and the gabel end allowing the light in. So a low flat roof would offer a bit more protection from the low morning sun entering the verandah space. Purely from the amount of sunlight entering perspective which is one key question that was mentioned. My understanding is they do not want a gable - unless they need it for structural reasons or it is the same price. Steve Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 10Oct 26, 2008 4:21 pm We've had both flat and gable patio roof. Our fascia was also high due to it being an old house - from memory it extended around 5 metres from the back of the house. The flat roof should be fine in terms of height ... ours was still reasonably high at the outer edge.
However, the flat roof was a heat trap. We ended up removing the hardtop and putting shade cloth down to increase ventilation. That still didn't work so we went for a gable roof which improved the ventilation a fair bit. Whichever option you choose; consider planting some deciduous vines i.e. ornamental grape instead of putting a hard top on the structure. Might help with the sun issue. Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 11Oct 27, 2008 10:44 am i think an option might be flat roof with the new insulated sheeting - that'll fix the heat problem and also stop the condensation thing you get in the mornings that lead to mold staining on the underside of the roof sheets
bonus would be if you eventually enclosed the patio, the area would be more useful for a much longer time thru the year. We had xmas at our place last year and it was a hot day, we had to put a soaker hose on the patio roof to cool the patio down - the radiant heat coming off of the roof was that hot it was like being in an oven. Re: Patio - Gable versus flat roof 12Oct 28, 2008 5:51 pm Thank you everyone. Yes, Steve I think you get what I was trying (not very effectively!) to say. The heat isn't my problem - if it were I would move to Melbourne or similar. I'm a born and bred sandgroper and I love the heat right until it hits the forties.
It is the light and the quality of the light which I believe IS quite different. It is just as much a bother in winter as in summer. I don't understand the science of it but it is like the difference between an incandescent light and a halogen light, just unpleasant to me, although that's a very personal and possibly warped opinion. I feel as though I am in an operating theatre when I sit there at various times! The way the house is situated aggravates things too because it faces almost exactly East/West. Solved the problem on the West side with window tinting which works a charm. I am wavering about the whole thing still but if i do go for the flat roof then I would probably have some sort of adjustable blinds, screens etc as much for privacy as anything but then until it is up it is hard to judge the sight lines. As for looks and price well this isn't so much of a concern. If we are talking about a major expenditure then it's heaps whichever way I go so the finished product becomes the over riding thing really. With the gable idea I don't recall that we ever had gables in patios or similar until fairly recently. To me they do sometimes make the whole structure look too "important". I sometimes think it is a bit like hiding the loo paper spare roll under a fancy crinoline doll! It's not a fashion statement for me rather just something I need that has to do its job efficiently and unobtrusively! I will follow up when I have the thing underway. For the moment I am putting all the quotes and paperwork away for a week and letting the ideas "compost". And. . . I haven't completely been talked out of this mobile garden or moveable mini forest yet! I don't see why it can't be done, other than it hasn't been done before maybe. I am going to float it with my handyman and see whether it would amuse him to humour me on this one. he has been good so far at turning my vague ideas and sketches into reality - well I furnish the fantasy and he adds the practicality! What's wrong with acting like an ostrich and burying your head in the sand sometimes? Some days it can stop you from having to look at the lemmings! 2 9445 traditional gable roof facade - Have you did the dark and light gray color combination in facade with gray stone in facade… 0 4210 I would say both styles you have pictured are steel. The lower chord of the first pic would be a massive lump if made using timber considering the size of the rafters. If… 1 6149 |