Spanish Colonial w/ Flat Roof

[HHCanuck]

I was thinking about a Spanish Colonial style house with a flat roof that would be used as an elevated patio to enhance the view and enjoy unrestricted breezes. The house would not be in a village but on land we purchased surrounded by pineapple fields.

I would use simple Thai style grass thatch roof to provide shade on the patio as it has a lovely natural look and wouldn't add much weight. The entire patio would have a nature motif with plants and earthen jars, wood furniture etc.

Would it be difficult to make a house with a flat roof that wouldn't cave in if good planning goes into water drainage? How would insulation in the ceiling be done, foam or fiber?

[blue05]

sure it can be done, seen loads about, just consult a good builder and you should be fine

[Nereus]

I think that you would have to consider building it out of concrete, with sufficient structural wall strength to carry the weight---just like every Condo in Thailand is built, and double storied houses for that matter.
I have one room built like that in my house in Hua Hin. It does not need excessive roof strength just to walk on and carry a light weight shade roof, but you may be limited on the span without inconvienent pillars below the roof. With concrete you probably would not need insulation in the ceiling space.

[PeteC]

I cringe when I see flat rooves on houses. I've seen so many that leak after 5-10 years. Not just in Thailand but in many tropical areas...Guam, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Florida etc. I would just be very careful with your contractor and make sure he doesn't skimp. Review the plans carefully as to how he is going to construct it, how the corners are designed, and how many he's done in the past....and go look at them. If he's never built one before, I would find a contractor who has.

I'm not really aware of what causes the leaking problems. Perhaps simple expansion and contraction over the years caused by very intense daytime sun, and perhaps the underside being very cool from interior air conditioning. Not sure. Pete

[STEVE G]

Yes, you need a hell of a lot of drainage for any flat roofs in the tropics, I lived in a town house in Indonesia with a balconey built into the roof that wasn't all that big and a couple of times in monsoon downpours I came home to find a waterfall going down the stairs, all three stories to the garage.

[ste860]

i see loads and nearly everyone leaks ,you need plenty of drains otherwise it will be a roof top swimming pool ,most owners i know are talking about putting a pitched roof over it to keep the leaves and water clogging there drain etc

[HHCanuck]

Thanks for the food for thought I didn't realize leaking was a problem. Maybe I can make a garage with a flat roof to serve the same purpose I have seen that also but it doesn't look as nice as Colonial Style.

[Nereus]

Thanks for the food for thought I didn't realize leaking was a problem. Maybe I can make a garage with a flat roof to serve the same purpose I have seen that also but it doesn't look as nice as Colonial Style.

It`s only a problem if it is not constructed correctly with adequate drainage.
Just as I have posted above, there are literally thousands of Condos built with flat roofs that do not leak or turn into a swimming pool. I am sitting in one right now!
Vertical walls will also leak if they are not built correctly, gutters (if fitted at all!) will overflow and run back into the building.

[PeteC]

Agree about the condos, office buildings, hotels etc. There seems to be a lot of "urban farming" going on now where the roof of an office building is filled with sand/dirt/vegetable plants etc. That must be massive weight when you include the retained water. They don't seem to leak though. I would imagine some kind of special sealer/insulating covering used as a first step.

It's a real big deal in Singapore to the extent the government is looking at it as a way to become independent from farming the land in the city state. Pete

[JW]

So i guess your going to have a nice covered terrace area so you can sit outside and relax, eat etc - make sure you give plenty of room to this area as it you will use it a lot (if your like most people!), you could build this with a flat roof and have your roof terrace there and take note of the drainage issues everyone has mentioned.

[HHCanuck]

I have plenty of land (5 Rai) I should consider privacy, if I make a roof top terrace we will have no privacy in the future. Adding a lattice isn't something I want to do. Mind you I can mount machine guns up there bahhh I watch too many movies :-)