Let’s just be perfectly frank about something. Flat roof valleys should never be built. The homeowner may have a strong desire for a specific design that can be achieved no other way than to build a flat valley and whether or not the contractor yields to that desire may determine whether the job is won or not. Despite this, flat roof valleys should never be built. The roof design is as essential to the proper function of a house as is the foundation, plumbing or electrical design. Building a flat roof valley is no different than a plumber installing a drainpipe that is flat for a few feet just to accommodate some aesthetic feature. The contractor that does such things opens the door for many problems in the future. They would be far better off refusing to perform a job with a faulty design than they would to perform the job and then pay for it for several years.
So what’s the big deal; aren’t there products to make a flat valley watertight? The answer here is a little more complex than it may seem. Flat valleys can be made watertight using one of several products including metal flashing and modified bitumen membranes. Most products designed for this purpose are good products and can be made watertight even in a flat valley. However the problem arises when something out of the ordinary, say an ice storm, occurs that causes water to backup in the valley. The valley then holds water until the water level reaches the top of the flashing or the membrane. On a relatively low slope roof (4-6/12) this may just be a couple of inches. The water then flows over the top of the flashing or membrane and right into the house. The homeowner then calls the contractor regardless of what time of day it is and wants the leak fixed. Now bear in mind, the contractor though he agreed to the design may have advised the homeowner that flat valleys are a bad idea. Forget it, don’t even try to reason with the homeowner, they forgot that advice the second that they heard it. All they will remember is that the contractor took the job and now there is a leak unless the contractor 
required a written waiver of liability. So the moral of this story is flat roof valleys should never be built. If you are a contractor bidding on a job with a flat roof valley, push for a change of design. If you cannot get the homeowner to agree to a change then don’t take the job. Remember, as a contractor it is not whether a homeowner can afford to hire you, it is whether you afford to work for them. Once a young contractor learns this lesson, they will stop chasing problem jobs and learn to take only jobs that make sense from a design, customer and contractor standpoint. This will result in higher quality, decent profit and satisfied customers. Likewise if you are a homeowner considering a design that requires a flat roof valley, don't do it. It will just be a thorn in your side.
required a written waiver of liability. So the moral of this story is flat roof valleys should never be built. If you are a contractor bidding on a job with a flat roof valley, push for a change of design. If you cannot get the homeowner to agree to a change then don’t take the job. Remember, as a contractor it is not whether a homeowner can afford to hire you, it is whether you afford to work for them. Once a young contractor learns this lesson, they will stop chasing problem jobs and learn to take only jobs that make sense from a design, customer and contractor standpoint. This will result in higher quality, decent profit and satisfied customers. Likewise if you are a homeowner considering a design that requires a flat roof valley, don't do it. It will just be a thorn in your side. Discover and share home improvement knowledge at www.HomebuiltHowTo.com.
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