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All-we're just working through a new garage design and our architect has proposed a seedum roof. We're quite keen on the idea for a variety of reasons but thought it would be worth asking the hive mind if they have any experience positive or negative.
They're great. We have one on our extension as an alternative to a shallow angled flat roof.
Ours is north facing, so careful selection of sedum types is needed to make sure they thrive, but it only took about a year to cover over from a few trays of plants.
Ours is parts way through. Its a DIY project and still a while off being finished but I'm still in the positive camp at the moment.
That's good, i assume the devil in the detail is making sure the underlying roof membrane is well put on. We can see the benefit and from a visual aspect it will soften the view from upstairs. Are they warmer ? Not that i care as its a garage but ....
Make sure you're roof is designed for the sedum you intend to use, i've seen wet weights vary from 75-150kG/m2.
Why.?
There are many other ways of achieving reduced run off, that are cheaper and more sustainable.
They add thermal mass but not much insulation (esp in winter when wet).
They increase materials required for build due to extra structural needs - so less environmental.
They look OK.
I like green roofs, I just think people often are not told the full story, or the alternatives, and like air source heat pumps (and other "eco") often do not get the downsides...
mos - wife is an engineer and thus it will be well overspecced.
m_o - the question I asked. We're in a conservation area and have a property built in 1880 which this will sit beside. The main reason is to minimise the view from the upstairs aspect of the house as we will look down onto it. A pitched roof will not work as it will block light and views so they know that the planner will prefer to have something like this to soften it.
The main reason for us is biodiversity. We live in the city and green space is at a premium. By extending we've just pinched a bit more so this should balance it out. We have combined sewers and this will be part of reducing out run-off to zero. It should also increase the life of the roof.
Not sure I agree with the increase in materials thing. For us it was an extra inch of timber.
mos makes a good point. Sedum tends to be the lightest and can often be done with no modification to the structure but proper green roofs can add quite a bit of weight
Make sure your insurer will accept the design/ understand what rating they will give the extension (Seedum roofs increase fire load)
Contact Tim at Riley Growers in Newent.
[i]*cough*[/i] for technical advice, of course...
blurty- thanks we will look into that.
There are some 'eco' buildings near me that have seedum on them - from the front they look like they're derelict and have been left to rot (like a house that hasn't hadn't the gutters cleaned out for years)!
I'm all for modern looking buildings too, but in the above case the straggly roof looks rubbish above the crisp glass and wood below it.
They certainly need a bit of weeding every now and again. Just like every other STW garden.