There are a lot of reasons why flat roofs have taken over housing design and architecture with the help of specialists in the field, but one of the biggest benefits is the versatility that they offer in housing construction.
A flat roof can become a rooftop balcony, a dining space, a patio or an effective storage space for HVAC and air conditioning machines, but what it can also do is become a living space in its own right.
The concept of green roofs is extremely old but was revived as an explicitly ecologically friendly design technique starting in the late 20th century with buildings such as the Waldspirale in Darmstadt, Germany.
One of the most important considerations to make before installing a green roof is structural capability; green roofs tend to be heavy, and engineers and specialists will need to assess the ability of the rest of the house to accommodate this additional weight.
For a bespoke project where a green roof is part of the initial design, this is not a problem, as the roof and general supports can be designed to carry the load of a green roof, but it is a factor to consider when retrofitting a green roof onto an existing building.
As well as this, a water drainage strategy needs to be considered, which may necessitate some form of maintenance access to the underlying support lining underneath the soil and plants.
Finally and most critically, it is essential to get in touch with your local planning authority and ask whether you need planning permission for a green roof and what specific policies and guidelines are available to guide its design.
It may also affect your house insurance and mortgage due to potential effects on the home’s value, so get in touch with them just to be sure that the project will get the go-ahead from them.