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Google
Flat Roof
+2
Zmoore
trolleydriver
6 posters
Page 1 of 1
Flat Roof
For many years we had a tar and gravel flat roof over the top of our attached garage. There was a door on the second floor of the house that allowed us to walk out onto that roof. A few years ago the roof started to require some repairs. As well I was concerned about heavy wet snow accumulation on the flat roof. We decided to remove the flat roof and put a peaked roof over the garage. The house certainly looks a whole lot better with that new peaked roof.
Looking back now I can see that the flat roof would have made a good location for some SFG beds. With a south-west exposure the roof warmed up quickly in the Spring but got very hot during the summer. Perhaps we could have turned it into a "green roof". Alas, by the time I came across SFG it was too late to use the flat roof for gardening.
Looking back now I can see that the flat roof would have made a good location for some SFG beds. With a south-west exposure the roof warmed up quickly in the Spring but got very hot during the summer. Perhaps we could have turned it into a "green roof". Alas, by the time I came across SFG it was too late to use the flat roof for gardening.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator-
Posts : 5390
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: Flat Roof
"green roof" WOoohooo! 
Definitely a cool idea and could be fun to play with, but don't feel too bad. If you were already concerned about heavy snow on the existing roof, think about adding the weight of garden boxes in addition too. You may have avoided a disaster and in the long run the right call. It's not advisable to take just any existing flat roof and "convert" it to a garden. There can be structural "issues". Some may be "good to go" and the extra weight is no problem, others....

Definitely a cool idea and could be fun to play with, but don't feel too bad. If you were already concerned about heavy snow on the existing roof, think about adding the weight of garden boxes in addition too. You may have avoided a disaster and in the long run the right call. It's not advisable to take just any existing flat roof and "convert" it to a garden. There can be structural "issues". Some may be "good to go" and the extra weight is no problem, others....
Zmoore-
Posts : 225
Join date : 2015-04-14
Location : Virginia Zone 7a
Re: Flat Roof
Figured I have something to share about this so here goes.
As zMoore said structural issues should alway be addressed.
Have a look at these two brochures from the Perlite Institute about green roofs. You may find them interesting. Rooftop gardens are becoming very common in urban areas. Many hotels, hospitals and new construction projects are happening nationwide incorporating these gardens. I think it would be very cool to do if I had the right kind of roof to try myself.
https://perlite.org//library-perlite-info/horticultural-perlite/Gardens-in-Sky_Perlite.pdf
https://perlite.org//library-perlite-info/horticultural-perlite/Gently-on-Roof_Perlite.pdf
Take care,
Mike
As zMoore said structural issues should alway be addressed.
Have a look at these two brochures from the Perlite Institute about green roofs. You may find them interesting. Rooftop gardens are becoming very common in urban areas. Many hotels, hospitals and new construction projects are happening nationwide incorporating these gardens. I think it would be very cool to do if I had the right kind of roof to try myself.
https://perlite.org//library-perlite-info/horticultural-perlite/Gardens-in-Sky_Perlite.pdf
https://perlite.org//library-perlite-info/horticultural-perlite/Gently-on-Roof_Perlite.pdf
Take care,
Mike
Re: Flat Roof
I noticed in the second article that for those who like to use some soil in their mix, the ratios are 1/3 perlite, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 soil with additives. Now if they would just use 1/3 blended compost . . . 

Re: Flat Roof
Absolutely. What it will really come down to is what load the roof can bear. Mel's mix would work very nicely with the right structure.
Re: Flat Roof
PVPInd, very interesting articles. Thanks for sharing!
Last edited by Scorpio Rising on 2/10/2016, 6:52 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Forgot a P)
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Flat Roof
PVPInd ... thanks for those articles. Very interesting. Maybe worth a try on the patio next to my SFG beds as an experiment.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator-
Posts : 5390
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: Flat Roof
One of the stadiums has a roof garden. They use black milk crates. Can't remember where it is though... But I bet if you do a search on Youtube, you'd find it.
Re: Flat Roof
Fenway in Boston is one stadium with a mil crate roof garden.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3d45c50b00c6467e8d0b2e03ca9c827f/big-green-monster-cukes-rooftop-garden-thrives-fenway
More info
http://www.instructables.com/id/Milk-Crate-Air-Pot-Square-Foot-Urban-Container-G/
http://modernfarmer.com/2013/08/meet-tom-colicchios-urban-rooftop-farmer/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DcVHVjp8ZI
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3d45c50b00c6467e8d0b2e03ca9c827f/big-green-monster-cukes-rooftop-garden-thrives-fenway
More info
http://www.instructables.com/id/Milk-Crate-Air-Pot-Square-Foot-Urban-Container-G/
http://modernfarmer.com/2013/08/meet-tom-colicchios-urban-rooftop-farmer/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DcVHVjp8ZI
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator-
Posts : 5390
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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