Rooftop gardens make beautiful additions to urban areas. These gardens help the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide in the air and producing breathable oxygen. They also encourage urban farming, with fresh vegetables and herbs grown right from home. Yet rooftop gardens aren’t right for everyone. Find out if creating a garden on your roof is a wise decision.
You Should Consider a Rooftop Garden If…
Rooftop gardens have become popular for many reasons. They can make a significant difference in energy bills, because they provide natural insulation. A garden can keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter, taking pressure off of your HVAC system and saving electricity. Insulation also provides protection from outdoor noise pollution – a major factor in a big, loud city. They enable sustainable farming practices, where a homeowner can eat his or her own homegrown greens, vegetables, and even fruit. If these benefits sound appealing, a rooftop garden may be the perfect project for you.
If you have a flat roof, you’re already a step ahead of the rest when it comes to rooftop gardening. Flat roofs are the simplest to convert into rooftop gardens; it is as easy as purchasing planters or garden boxes and filling them with appropriate plants, flowers, and/or veggies. Converting a flat roof into a garden can expand your living space, giving you a serene oasis to retire to at the end of a long day. It can also boost your property value, and may result in tax credits.
If you want to do your part to help the environment – all while gaining personal and property benefits – then consider a rooftop garden. When done correctly, these gardens are beautiful, elegant, and incredibly rewarding. The best way to go about building a rooftop sanctuary is with help from a trusted local roofer. Able Roof can inspect your property and help you every step of the way, from choosing the right plants to modifying your gutters. The right roofing partner can make all the difference when taking on large-scale projects.
You Shouldn’t Consider a Rooftop Garden If…
Rooftop gardens take a lot of hard work, special roofing considerations, and dedication to the success of your vegetation. If you really want a rooftop garden, you must be willing to put in the work. If tending to a rooftop garden won’t fit into your budget or schedule, you may want to go with an Eco-friendly alternative, such as a green roof or installing solar panels. A rooftop garden isn’t the only way you can help the environment.
This might not be the route for you if you don’t have the right type of roof. When you imagine a rooftop garden, you most likely picture a flat roof. This is the easiest and most successful type of roof for this project. It is possible to plant a rooftop garden on a curved or slanted roof, but it wont be as easy. Either way, it can still improve your home’s insulation and energy efficiency. First step, you need to ensure your roof can withhold the added weight of a rooftop garden.
You may not want a rooftop garden if your location gets a lot of snow, wind, or rain. In these cases, your garden may not be able to withstand the elements. Conversion costs can be expensive – much more so than a typical roof installation. Your home will likely require more insulation, waterproofing, and/or structural alterations to hold the garden. After all this work, you wouldn’t want extreme weather conditions to destroy your efforts.
When to Hire a Professional
While rooftop gardens are certainly appealing, they aren’t right for every home. Hire a roofing contractor to come inspect your home or commercial building’s roof. Tell the contractor you’re interested in starting a rooftop garden. If the contractor tells you your roof does not have the structural support necessary to successfully bear the weight of a rooftop garden, it’s unfortunately not in your future. Ask your contractor how else you can help the environment, such as with Eco-friendly metal roofing or energy-efficient windows.
If you want a rooftop garden, you may also need to invest in special irrigation and gutter systems to direct rainwater to reserves for future plant watering. A professional contractor can help you install your new gutter system and understand everything that goes into sustaining your garden. There are many important considerations to make before embarking on this project. Able Roof has been in business for decades, and we are here for you and all your roofing needs!
