Flat school roofs cause problems

Flat roofs, though cheap and thought as manageable, do not work for David Douglas High School; they only cause problems, and need replacement.

Flat roofs are cheaper to buy at first, but expensive if done right. For roofs to be built right, they have to be perfect.  Flashing on flat roofs have to be sealed perfectly; the slope allows leaks. “They’re less practical than a more sloped roof,” said Chris Conklin, my dad, a self-employed construction worker. “With a steep roof, you can have any hole and it will still drain pretty good; A flat roof demands perfection.” Flat roofs have to be inspected regularly; debris builds up and water can pool (if it’s damaged). “If you have a flat area with a little tiny slope with just a little bump, ponding will happen,” Chris said. “The point is, flat roofs have a lot of problems with sweating and rotting.” David Douglas High School has flat roofs; This is most likely due to high expenses of building a school. This was a mistake because the roofs have rot damage and occasional leaks; they’re very high maintenance. “Water and moisture can be extremely destructive,” stated an article on www.lyyonsroofing.com. “Flat roofs do not shed water as readily as pitched roofs.”

Flat roofs are usually done poorly and don’t last many years, yet they can be useful. Flat roofs use less material, initially cost less, are quicker to install, take up less space, are more stable with small buildings, and have an architectural appeal. Pitched roofs may cost more initially, but they hold up longer. “Sometimes you have to have flat roofs,” Chris said. “My question is: Is it cheaper in the long run?”

A student, who chose to be anonymous for embarrassment reasons, had an incident in ceramics. “There’s nothing really to it,” the student said. “I went over to the pug, which mixes clay.” There was a hole in the ceiling where four panels had fallen above the pug. “I was going over to the lever of the pug, and I felt a drip on my head,” they said.

 Yet very unlikely, this school-wide problem is solvable. Though time and money consuming, the roofs could be re-made to be pitched. If the roofs are taken care of properly, roof change isn’t necessary.