How Do I Convert a Flat Roof into a Roof Garden?

Are you the type dreaming of a garden but have limited space? What kind of roof do you have? Is it pitched or flat?

If you have a home which roof is flat, you will realise that there is much space for your long-dreamt garden and that in no time at all, you will be enjoying your small landscape journey. When you can’t have a garden because you think there is no allowable piece of land in your lawn is really frustrating. But brood no more, because your flat roof can make it easy for you.

To do this, you need the right materials to make it work, because not all flat roof can accommodate a garden. If your roof is made of traditional felt, you will encounter some problems because the composition of felt is prone to some elemental damages. Thereby, you need to make things new in order to develop your outdoor space.

You need the help of a professional roofer before you embark on transforming your deck into a garden. Landscaping on a certain elevation will have implications on weight. Your engineer knows better if your rooftop meets the requirement when you begin with the garden. Consider that a garden involves additional soil, patios or decking, plants, and even trees; and these elements will have a significant on the overall weight of the roof.

Why waterproofing is essential

Tanking or waterproofing should be the primary consideration that comes with your rooftop garden. When you employ earth sheltering, the humidity will be too high, and you don’t want water accumulation to harbor molds. We know already how mold and moisture can compromise quality. Therefore, start waterproofing right from the foundation of your roof to protect its membrane from further damage.

Your roof garden

So how can you start with your roof garden? What are the techniques you need in order for your flat roof to be garden compliant? If you have the privilege to convert your deck into the garden, list down these tips:

Have your roof get inspected by a roofing expert for possible roof repair or modification. Make sure what kind of floor material you need for the walkway.

Fix waterproofing by checking roof membranes. It is crucial to make a mistake fixing the layers as it is a costly job to reverse job when things go wrong.

Check drainage and fix where water should be routed. It is vital to ensure that the drainage system is properly working.

Are green roofs the same as roof gardens?

When you see a roof covered with vegetation, don’t be fooled that it is a roof garden. Yes, gardens have grass, but a grassy roof does not mean it is a roof garden. Most flat roofs, such as buildings have styles of either a garden roof or green roof. A green roof’s primary objective is to establish an energy-efficient roofing system. Since the vegetation is planted over a membrane, such membrane should be waterproof efficient. Like the garden roof, it should comply with the drainage and waterproofing system.

The most common problems of most conventional roofs, whether pitched or flat, is heat. The roofing industry has been keen through the years in adopting smart technologies to make every roof an environment-friendly roof. In this case, the concept of green roof is more applicable in the aim to insulate the home or building against heat. That’s why having a green rooftop is one solution to divert heat away and then to reduce energy costs.

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With regard to roof gardens, the objective is quite different from having a green roof. At the first part of this article, we mentioned the need to utilise the space of a flat roof for a more practical purpose. Thus, converting the roof deck like a roof garden supersedes the use of the green roof in attaining an environmentally friendly roof (by reducing the urban heat island effect), with more amenities and benefits in one package—ultimately, making sensible use of a neglected space.

Roof gardens in Birmingham

If you live around Birmingham and its surrounding areas, a roof garden on a flat roof is beneficially possible. It may compromise a few things, but our roofing engineers will find a way to figure out how your flat roof will adapt when it is converted into a roof garden. Who doesn’t want to have an extra space that will bring you comfort and luxury while getting a good view of the cityscape? If not, who would not want a nicely made deck with all the elements of a traditional home garden landscape that connects you with nature? Ask us for more details about roof gardens, and we will be more than happy to help. Call us here are Roofers Birmingham for a no-obligation quote, and then keep your informed decision to good use.