Flat roof with a box gutter down the middle is what we have on the house we have bought to move into after renovating - starting from the top down. i.e. A new roof. Present one a nightmare. Leaves from leafy garden - a major reason why we bought the place - pile up in box gutter, which overflows if not constantly cleaned out and anywhere the roof has been breached - e.g. Cable tv antennae and roof mounted airconditioner - somehow water trickles thro - no matter how much silicone gets poured into the crevices - or yet more flashing is replaced. We thought the place was tech-smart with everything controlled by remotes, but soon discovered the reason the 1980s house, built b4 internet, wifi, roller shutters, etc, is that it is impossible to hard wire thro the non-existant roof cavity ! Flat roofs tend to sit just cms above the ceiling. But none of that has permanently put us off the gorgeous minimalistic feel to the place - particularly as we have bought it, knowing it needed to be upgraded. . Aha, we thought. A nice big flat terraced roof with a fabulous view out over the treetops that we can use for a roof garden, entertainment area, etc - with easy access to the necessary box gutter to keep it free of debris, will be just the way to go ! Until our plans got to council - oh no, they said, roof terraces cause overlooking issues into neighbours' private spaces, and also they fear we might have a tribe of teenagers up there making a noise, or kicking a ball, disturbing the local amenity ! We were not that easily deterred. But it is not so easy, i have to warn those who have waxed lyrical about swimming pools and outdoor living with a view, etc, etc up on their roof ... we have had to compromise with 1800 high screening along one side, which fortunately we can camouflage amidst high overhanging trees, and pulling in terraced areas about a metre from the edge of the building - lessening the expanse of useable area considerably ... but we can still make it work, including solar panels on another part of the roof not in our terrace plans - they can easily be installed with angled brackets ( ie a flat or pitched roof is not really an issue when it comes to solar panels) - but turning a flat roof into a wonderful addition to the garden is turning out to be not quite what we originally envisaged And adding any extra weight on the roof, especially if it is going to be used as a living area, also invokes extra building regulations - like the earthquake code i.e think expensive engineers and extra strengthening of whatever is holding the roof up !

Thanks for your thoughts, they have helped us with our decision. We're now planning on using the barramundi roof tile (it's a grey, a bit softer than the soho nights black. And not so shiny) with matching gutter and fascia. And the cladding in paperbark. I was thinking cream windows instead of the timber, so there's some lighter colours on the brick downstairs to tie it to the top. We can't match it exactly to the paperbark cladding because we aren't using aluminium windows, but I'm hoping the cream (which is supposed to be more of an off-white with this manufacturer) will look okay in the clad dormers upstairs. Fingers crossed!

Contact Velux (skylights). Sounds odd perhaps but their installers are well experienced with water proofing, roof's, etc. or try a roof plumber experienced with terraces. Not just any roofer but one with terrace experience. I know a Velux installer and he makes up his own flashings, etc as well as being a great builder. Unfortunately he's no where near you.

It is crucial in your design that you get the lighting right with your cathedral ceiling. Unlike a normal roof there probably isn't a roof space between the ceiling and the roof for an electrician to make changes if you get it wrong. You only get one chance to get it right which is when the house is designed, unless you remove the roof to access the electrical down the track. Don't be like these people who wanted to save money on their lighting design for their cathedral ceiling! Some large lighting retailers offer free lighting design services that is linked to the purchase of their products. If you don't want to be tied to a particular retailer then you need to engage an independent design professional who can read your plans, understand the space and who can understand your retirement lifestyle. Even so, when I do a lighting design for a client I end up creating the lighting schedules from one or two lighting suppliers that I have worked with before, that I know and trust, and who will stand by their products for any future warrantee claims. I would hope that the person you have engaged to design your home would offer a similar service? Best of luck with your budget, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls/Dr Retro Virtual Visits