Tips for Rooftop Gardens

If you’re one of the lucky homeowners with access to a flat roof, you have a multitude of options for turning that previously unused square footage into an outdoor living space for you, your family and your guests.  Building a rooftop garden is just a one of the favorite options for transforming your drab, flat rooftop into the best view of the neighborhood and is becoming increasingly common in urban areas in particular.

The first thing you need to know before getting started is the zoning ordinances in your area.  Nothing else really matters if the city you live in doesn’t allow development on your roof but the good news is, most cities are all for rooftop gardens because of massive environmental benefits.

The second most important thing to consider is how much weight your roof can sustain.  Calling out a professional contractor is a wise investment in this project and can help you avoid damage and disappointment in the future if you’re roof just can’t handle the extra pounds.  Once you have confirmed the structure is capable of supporting added weight, remember, it’s still good practice to use lighter materials on the roof than you would on a patio or ground level garden.  Carrying materials, soil and water up to the roof can become physically taxing so do your self a favor to use the lightest materials possible.

That being said, you should also consider that the roof is going to be considerably windier.  So, if you’re afraid that those lighter materials just might blow away, be sure to secure them with weights (rocks, pots etc) or nail plastic chairs or pottery right to the roof.  You can also decrease wind flow with attractive trellises or a wind breaker.

Another thing you’ll want to consider is where your water will come from.  Are you responsible for lugging buckets of water up from the kitchen sink everyday?  Does it rain frequently enough to water the plants and fill up barrels for future usage?  Being aware of your water source is another way to protect yourself from getting in over your head in terms of maintenance after the project is completed.

Otherwise, it’s pretty much up to you to go all out and bring your vision to life.  A rooftop garden is not only a charming and refreshing addition to your home but it also helps to reduce flooding, lower the cost of heating and cooling your entire house (by reducing the temperature of the roof and therefore reducing energy cost) and gives you access to fresh fruits, vegetables and spices. 

Choosing the Best Roof Color for Your Home

Roof coloration is often overlooked as an element of the outdoor color palette but it can be a very important player in the overall flow and continuity of the design.  With house paint, trim and landscaping on the brain, many homeowners just don’t realize what an impact shingle shade will have on the rest of the motif once your outdoor space is completed.  So, before falling in love with a shade of paint that clashes horribly with your roof, find out what you can do to maintain a continuation of complimentary hues from top to bottom.

If you’re starting from scratch, a good place to begin is with universally acceptable color schemes.  Color swatches can be found at any paint supply or hardware store and these can be used to visualize which paint and shingle colors can live next to each other harmoniously.  These expertly coordinated color swatches are the next best thing to having an interior (or exterior) designer and pretty much take all the guess work out of matching – an excellent option for the color blind homeowner.

  For example, a house with a green tinted roof would coordinate well with gray, green or white paint colors – and maybe a pop of burgundy for interest similar to the home pictured below.  It has a green roof and so the siding was painted in a grayish-green with primarily white trim.

It’s also important to ask yourself if your home is warm or cool in terms of coloring.  Answering this simple question will help protect you against any major eye-sore of totally mismatched hues.  The house above is composed of all cool colors – the grayish-green, the bluish-red (as oppose to an orangey-red you’d see in a sunset).  If your home is gray, green or blue, you’ll want to use shingles that also sport cooler tones.  If your home is red, orange or beige, then brown or tan shingles may be the best selection.

If you’re still looking for further options, your neighboring homes are an abundant and accessible resource to test-drive color combinations.  Whether you love it or hate it, checking out nearby houses can be an excellent way to gauge your taste, stimulate ideas and if nothing else, give you some clue of what you don’t like.  Besides that, it’s also important to maintain continuity within your neighborhood - avoid clashing against your neighbors if at all possible.  A disconnect between neighboring houses can decrease your curb appeal even if your house looks better.

Roofing Shingles - What and Why?

If you’re looking to repair or replace your roof, one of the first decisions you will be faced with is what type of shingles you wish to use.  Similar to the various classes of tile that are available for the indoors, there are a number of shingle-types to choose from for the outdoors.  So what are the types and why should you choose them (or not)?

1.      Asphalt/Composition Shingles:

These shingles are an excellent choice and utilized widely in neighborhoods all over the country - and for good reason.  You can choose from a range of colors and styles to compliment the construction and paint color of your home and are often available in recycled content.  Asphalt is also inexpensive but still incredibly durable against rain, snow, hail and fire with one exception – they can be vulnerable to high winds and can potentially be ripped off or damaged during a wind storm.

2.      Clay Tile Shingles:

Picture Florida or Southern California for these red, stylized shingles.  These shingles are fabulous for complimenting southwest, Italian or Spanish design and it’s no mistake that you often see this type used in warmer climates.  Clay tile doesn’t absorb as much heat from the sun as the other shingle options, keeping your sunny home significantly cooler while still providing fire protection and durability.  It’s also no mistake that you never find them in frosty climates since they can be prone to water damage or even breakage.

3.      Concrete Shingles:

Protecting your home from extreme wind, weather and fire, concrete shingles give you just about everything you need for a long lasting, low maintenance roof.  Concrete tiles can mimic the appearance of traditional wooden shingles while vastly improving upon the protection wooden shingles can provide, making concrete an increasingly popular option.

4.      Slate Shingles:

While it may be one of the most costly choices for your new roof, slate is universally considered to be a chic and stylish option – slate is extremely heavy (which means you may pay more not only for the material but also for the installation) and you also need to make sure your roof can withstand the additional weight.  However, it still provides superior protection against weather, fire, insects and like the asphalt tiles, you can enjoy a wide selection of colors and styles to choose from.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of available roofing materials on the market.  Some people are still using metal and wood as solutions to their roofing needs but these four types will be readily available at any home improvement store for a fair price, whatever your budget.