[SeanOChuinn]

Hello all,

We're currently at the latter stages of our house design phase. We are trying our best to build a home that is passive and tries to not make a huge footprint in the earth. We have a portion of our house that contains a flat roof and we've been toying with idea of maybe using a grass roof in that roof.

We've read the online blurbs and the various advertising from the installers trying to sell their particular "product", but I'm curious to hear opinions, experiences, pros and cons etc. We love the idea of sustainability, longevity of roof, energy reduction etc. but we're not sure if its all worth it.

We do have a limited budget so this may not be financially possibly but we still have it as a romantic notion at least until the hard economics conversations start, so we'd love to try understand the whole idea a little better.

So what do people think???

Thanks.

[tagwex]

A sedum roof?

[SeanOChuinn]

Yes probably so, we're thinking grass 'like' so sedum would be the closest to that. Also there seems to be some variation in colour with sedum over the seasons. Not sure how it changes in winter time though, don't like the idea of a barren brown roof during those periods!!!!

[Sue Deacon]

Sedum plus sempervivum, Cheddar pinks and creeping thyme. I have all of these growing well in very poor conditions - all self sown.

[Greengage]

Take a trip to Dublin Have a look at the Teageasc building in the National Botanic Gardens. Problem with roofs are wind blown seed especially scutch grass and valerian and Buddleia.

[SeanOChuinn]

Does it have to be specialised planting like Sedum, I've seen some pictures on line that would suggest there was nothing more than green grass on the roof...

[tagwex]

Have a look at Chamomile. Low growing, doesn't need mowing, grows horizontally. I agree with the creeping thyme too.

[Good guy]

Some companies sell roll-out mats of pre-grown young plants, sedum and such. A bit like buying rollout lawn. You need to ensure the structure supporting the roof is strong onough to support the weight of wet plants, growing medium etc.

[SeanOChuinn]

yes I'm sure additional weight in the form of wet bedding surface plus planter trays plus plants them selves plus rain water would all add up. We've contacted two larger Irish vendors to discuss price and get those kinds of questions answered. It may all boil to that price thingy unfortunately.

[Good guy]

Doesn't it usually? But it's a lovely idea. Our local council offices have a beautiful sedum roof. Changes all year round. Check Public Services Centre Letterkenny images.