I hear you on the appeal of green roofs—they’re pretty fascinating from both a thermal and stormwater angle. But have you run into any issues with freeze/thaw cycles causing root damage or leaks? I looked into a sedum retrofit for my 1950s bungalow (also Midwest) and got spooked by the extra weight and potential for water infiltration. Maybe tech’s improved since then, but the upfront engineering assessment alone was a bit of a wallet-buster. Still, if you’re redoing the roof anyway, it’s a cool option for sure… just not a slam dunk for every old house.
Freeze/thaw is the sneaky villain for sure—seen more than a few “green” roofs turn into “leaky” roofs after a Midwest winter. The weight’s no joke either, especially on older rafters. I’ve patched up more than one ceiling where roots found their way in after a rough spring. If you’re set on it, definitely get that structural check and don’t skimp on waterproofing layers... but yeah, sometimes the old asphalt shingles are just less headache when the ice hits hard.
Had a client once who wanted a “living roof” on their 1920s bungalow—looked great until February hit and suddenly it was Niagara Falls in the attic. Midwest freeze/thaw just laughs at most waterproofing. I’ll take boring old shingles over surprise waterfalls any day.
I hear you about the waterfall effect—seen that myself, and it’s a nightmare. But I’ve actually worked on a couple green roofs that held up in the Midwest, even with the crazy freeze/thaw. The trick was overkill on drainage and using a serious waterproof membrane, not just what the architect spec’d. Shingles are easier, sure, but sometimes folks want that extra insulation or just like the look. If it’s done right (and maintained), it can work... just takes way more planning than most folks think.
Totally get what you mean about the planning—my first time helping on a green roof, I was shocked at how much more goes into it compared to laying shingles. We had to redo part of the drainage after the first winter because water pooled up and froze, which led to some gnarly leaks. Learned the hard way that just following the specs isn’t always enough, especially with Midwest weather. But yeah, when it’s done right, those roofs are pretty cool... literally and figuratively. Still, I kinda miss how straightforward asphalt shingles can be.
