Green roofs are underrated for sure. Did a job a couple years back where the homeowner went all-in with wildflowers and grasses—looked amazing once it filled in. Only downside was the initial setup cost, but long-term savings and storm performance were impressive. Birds loved it too...maybe a bit too much, judging by the noise every morning, haha.
I've seen a couple green roofs around town, and yeah, they do look pretty neat once they're established. But I gotta ask—aren't there some hidden downsides besides just cost? Like, what about maintenance? I mean, I've struggled to keep a few houseplants alive in my living room...can't imagine trying to maintain an entire roof garden. Do you have to climb up there regularly to weed or water it?
Also, you mentioned birds liking it "too much," haha. But seriously, does that mean there's a bigger risk of pests or rodents nesting up there too? I'd worry about critters deciding my cozy green roof is their new Airbnb...
And how does it hold up in extreme weather beyond just rain—like heavy snow or hail? Seems like metal or even shingles might be simpler when things get intense. I'm genuinely curious because as a first-time homeowner, I'm still weighing all the options. The long-term savings sound good on paper, but is the extra effort and potential headache really worth it in the end?
I totally get your concerns—I had the same worries when we first installed ours. Honestly, maintenance isn't as intense as you'd think. We rarely water it now that it's established, and pests haven't been an issue...yet. Fingers crossed, haha.
"Honestly, maintenance isn't as intense as you'd think."
Agreed, once our green roof settled in, upkeep became pretty minimal. We did have one minor hiccup after a heavy storm—some soil erosion near the edges—but adding a bit of extra edging solved that quickly. Haven't had pest problems either, though birds occasionally pick at the succulents...nothing major, just mildly annoying. Overall, still beats dealing with shingles flying off or metal roofs drumming loudly during rainstorms.
Totally agree about green roofs being pretty low-maintenance once they're established. That erosion issue you had is actually pretty common—seen it a few times after heavy storms, especially if the slope isn't quite right or drainage isn't optimal. Usually, fixing the edging or tweaking the drainage paths sorts it out. And yeah, birds seem to love those succulents...guess they're tasty? Still beats patching shingles or dealing with dents in metal panels after hailstorms, though.
