"Just make sure you get someone experienced—heard a few horror stories about leaks from poorly installed green roofs..."
Yeah, can't stress this enough. Seen a couple of those leak disasters myself—usually comes down to improper waterproofing or drainage setup. If you're ever considering it, here's what I'd suggest: ask your roofer exactly how they'll handle waterproofing, drainage, and root barriers. If they hesitate or give vague answers...might wanna keep looking. Better safe than sorry, right?
If you're ever considering it, here's what I'd suggest: ask your roofer exactly how they'll handle waterproofing, drainage, and root barriers. If they hesitate or give vague answers...might wanna k...
Yeah, learned this the hard way myself. Our first house had a green roof installed by someone the previous owner recommended... turned out they skimped on drainage. First heavy rainstorm, we had buckets everywhere. Definitely worth grilling them on specifics beforehand.
Had a similar issue myself. The roofer we initially talked to was all confident about drainage and waterproofing, but when I asked about root barriers, he seemed genuinely confused—like he'd never even considered it. Ended up doing the research myself and realized there's a lot more nuance to green roofs than typical roofing jobs.
Curious if anyone has experience with modular green roof systems? I've read they're easier for DIY installation and maintenance, but I'm wondering if they hold up well long-term compared to traditional builds. Seems like it could be a decent alternative if you're wary of unknown contractors...
"Ended up doing the research myself and realized there's a lot more nuance to green roofs than typical roofing jobs."
Yeah, you're spot on there. Green roofs are definitely their own beast—seen plenty of roofers underestimate them. Modular systems can be decent, especially if you're handy and want to avoid contractor headaches. But honestly, long-term durability depends a lot on your climate and how well you prep underneath. Seen some DIY modular setups hold up great, others... not so much. Just make sure you don't skimp on the waterproofing layer—trust me, that's one shortcut you'll regret later.
You're definitely right about that waterproofing layer—seen too many people learn that lesson the hard way. Had a client once who went DIY on a modular green roof, thought he'd save some cash by cutting corners underneath. Looked great at first, but after one heavy storm season... let's just say he ended up paying double to fix water damage inside the house.
Honestly, though, modular setups can work fine if you pay attention to details and your climate isn't too extreme. But if you're somewhere with harsh winters or heavy rainfall, I'd strongly recommend getting someone experienced involved from the start. It's tempting to skip contractors altogether, I get it—dealing with networks and unknown names can be a pain—but sometimes spending a bit more upfront saves you headaches (and money) down the road.
