Imagine the view from the office skyline that had lovely green rooftops instead of cold cement surfaces. My thoughts go beyond grass to flowering gardens and fresh vegetables growing from the flat tops of buildings across the city. The advantages of natural sun protection and soothing aesthetics are numerous. We could all daydream at our desks and take breaks amid the flowers on the roof! These are the thoughts of those who want to "green" our air and rooftops. Carole Cohen in Cleveland and Elaine Reese from Worthington, Ohio, each recently wrote interesting pieces on greening rooftops.
The experts agree a roof must have a waterproof barrier before grass is planted, but I can't help but remember an old landlord's experience every time someone talks about "greening" a roof. The building was a duplex. The main floor housed a long term tenant who seldom complained about the property. A new resident had occupied the second floor for about 7 months. One afternoon the owner received a frantic call from the main floor resident. The ceiling over his living room had been discoloring for a couple months but he had ignored it. The call came to the landlord when the ceiling had started to drip and appeared to be sagging! The tenant couldn't figure it out as the kitchen and bath were not over the living room.
Further investigation by the landlord found a full fledged vegetable garden growing under lights on the upper level. (For the suspicious, it was not marijuana.) The immigrant family did not realize the damage the soil and water would create in their dwelling (Their homes were constructed of concrete.), but knew they needed to grow some of their native vegetables that could not easily be purchased here. The landlord was shocked. The insurance company didn't believe it, but in the end it all got sorted out.
The moral of the story is that if you want to make your roof "green" make sure you get professional advice on how to first waterproof the building below it!
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