That edge detail really is a headache, isn’t it? I ran into something similar when I first tried a green roof—thought I’d nailed the waterproofing, but the first hard rain proved otherwise. It’s wild how much those little bulges can mess with drainage. Shims were a smart move on your part. I’ve found that even the best caulk just can’t keep up once winter hits and things start shifting. You did the right thing not ripping it all up—sometimes “good enough” is actually just what you need to get through another season.
Man, I feel you on the “good enough” approach. I used to think every project had to be perfect, but after my first winter with a new skylight, I learned the hard way that sometimes you just gotta patch and pray. Those edge bulges are sneaky—mine looked fine until a squirrel decided to investigate. Your shims idea is clever. Honestly, if it’s holding up and not leaking, I’d call that a win for now. There’s always next season for round two, right?
- Totally get the “patch and pray” vibe.
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Those edge bulges are sneaky—mine looked fine until a squirrel decided to investigate.
- Squirrels are relentless, man. Had one chew through my vent flashing last fall.
- Curious—did you have to get permits for your green roof? My boss says some towns are strict about drainage and weight.
- Wondering if you ran into any weird local rules or just went for it?
Permits were a headache for me, honestly. The city wanted stamped structural drawings, drainage calcs, and even a letter from a soil engineer about the weight load. I get why—some of these older buildings aren’t exactly built for extra dirt and water up top. But man, it felt like every department had a different opinion on what counted as “sufficient drainage.” Ended up having to tweak the plan three times just to satisfy their stormwater guy.
Funny thing, the squirrel issue you mentioned? Our inspector was more worried about critters nesting than actual leaks. I had to show how we’d block access at the edges, which isn’t something I’d have thought about if not for that conversation. Curious if anyone’s run into pushback from insurance? Mine tried to hike my premiums at first because they claimed green roofs are “high risk,” whatever that means. Did you have any luck getting your policy sorted, or was it smooth sailing?
Insurance was a pain for me too—my provider flagged the green roof as “unusual construction” and wanted a bunch of extra documentation. Took some back-and-forth, but once I showed them the engineering reports and maintenance plan, they finally relented. Still, the premium bump stung a bit. It’s wild how much more scrutiny these projects get compared to a regular re-roof. The critter thing made me laugh—never thought I’d be brainstorming squirrel-proofing with an inspector, but here we are.
