Green Dream: Installing a Rooftop Garden
Rooftop greenery guards against water damage and bland meals What’s a green home without actual greenery? I wanted my eco-friendly house to feel more connected to nature, so I turned the flat stretches of roof into gardens. Rooftop flora is not only scenic, but it can also protect a home against temperature extremes, absorb carbon dioxide, and triple the life span of a roof. The first thing to know about building a green oasis on top of your home is that dirt is heavy, and it gets even heavier when wet. Before I did anything, I consulted an engineer to figure out the maximum load my roof could handle. Standard green roofs hold four inches of soil and weigh 15 to 20 pounds per square foot. The deeper the soil, the more options for planting, but four inches is plenty of depth to grow a wide range of flowers and herbs. The next...