Yeah, green roofs aren't a magic bullet—seen plenty of cases where folks underestimate the maintenance side. Drainage is key, but I'd also stress plant selection. Some plants handle extreme weather way better than others. Sedums and native grasses usually hold up well. Also, don't cheap out on substrate depth—shallow setups dry out fast or flood easily. It's all about balance...
"Drainage is key, but I'd also stress plant selection."
Couldn't agree more on this. I'd add that proper edging and windbreaks are often overlooked—seen roofs where strong winds ripped plants right out. It's not just about surviving rain or drought... wind matters too.
True, wind is a bigger factor than most folks realize. Seen several green roofs stripped bare because whoever installed them didn't think about anchoring or wind protection. Drainage and plants matter, sure, but a solid parapet or some kind of wind barrier can save you a lotta trouble down the line. Learned that the hard way after a client's rooftop garden ended up scattered across their driveway after one nasty storm...
Wind barriers definitely help, but honestly, I've seen parapets cause their own headaches. Had one building where the parapet actually trapped water during heavy rains, creating a mini swimming pool up there. Ended up with leaks and water damage inside—total nightmare. Sometimes simpler is better. I'd say proper drainage and smart plant selection can do just as much good without complicating things too much.
Yeah, parapets can be sneaky troublemakers. Had a neighbor who added one thinking it'd shield his roof better—ended up with pigeons nesting and water pooling after storms. Total mess. I'm with you on keeping things simple. Maybe look into rain gardens or swales? They're budget-friendly, handle drainage naturally, and bonus: they look pretty nice too... beats dealing with rooftop swimming pools any day.
