I hear you on the “permanent” thing—my last attempt at a “lifetime” sealant lasted maybe two summers before it started peeling up. I did try one of those hybrid polymer types last year, mostly because I was curious if it’d handle the wild temperature swings here. It’s holding up better than the butyl so far, but I’m still seeing some grime build-up around the edges. Have you noticed any difference in how easy it is to clean those spots, or is it just me? Sometimes I wonder if the green roof plants help or hurt with all this mess...
I honestly think the green roof plants are part of the problem with the grime, at least on my setup. I get way more gunk around the edges now than I did before I added them. The polymer sealant does seem to hold up better, but cleaning that edge is still a pain—almost feels like it attracts the dirt sometimes. Maybe it’s just the combo of pollen and plant runoff? Hard to say, but I wouldn’t call it “low maintenance” yet.
Maybe it’s just the combo of pollen and plant runoff? Hard to say, but I wouldn’t call it “low maintenance” yet.
I get what you’re saying about the grime, but I’m not convinced it’s just the plants. On mine, the buildup seemed worse before I had any greenery at all—it was mostly dust and whatever blew in. Once I added sedum, the runoff changed, but honestly, the polymer edge felt easier to wipe down than bare metal. Maybe it’s a climate thing? I’m in a drier area, so less pollen overall. Still, “low maintenance” is definitely a stretch...
I’ve noticed the same thing with the so-called “low maintenance” claims. When I first put in metal edging on my green roof, I figured it’d be a set-it-and-forget-it situation. Not quite. Before I had any plants up there, the dust and debris would just collect along the edge, especially after a windy week. I’m in the Midwest, so we get a fair bit of pollen in spring, but honestly, the worst buildup was always after dry spells when everything just kind of settled.
Once I added some drought-tolerant sedum and a few native grasses, the runoff definitely changed. I started seeing more organic gunk—bits of leaves, some greenish residue after heavy rain—but it didn’t seem to stick as much to the polymer edge compared to the bare metal. The polymer has a bit of texture, which I thought would make it harder to clean, but it actually seems to repel the grime better. Maybe it’s just less static or something? Not sure about the science there.
Still, “low maintenance” is a stretch. I’m up there every couple months with a brush and a bucket, especially after storms. The metal edging does seem to corrode a bit faster where water pools, even though it’s supposed to be coated. I’ve had to touch up a few spots already, and it’s only been three years. The polymer edge is holding up better, but it’s not immune to UV fading.
Climate probably plays a big role. My cousin out in Arizona barely gets any buildup at all, but he’s got a totally different setup—almost no rain, and his plants are all succulents. Here, between the humidity and the mix of pollen and dust, it’s just an ongoing battle. I wouldn’t call it a nightmare, but it’s definitely not as hands-off as the brochures make it sound.
If I had to do it over, I might look into a different edge material or maybe even a slightly raised lip to keep runoff from pooling. Live and learn, I guess...
Man, you nailed it with the “low maintenance” myth. I swear, every time a storm rolls through, I’m up there picking out twigs and mystery gunk like I’m on some weird rooftop Easter egg hunt. Midwest weather just loves to keep us humble. I tried metal edging too—looked great for about a year, then the rust started creeping in right where water pooled. Polymer’s holding up better for me as well, but yeah, that UV fade is real. At this point, I just call it “patina” and pretend it’s intentional...
