Sedum mats sound interesting, but I'm still not totally convinced they'd survive our winters here. Did yours stay green year-round or did they brown out? Also, reflective coatings—do they actually make a noticeable difference indoors, or is it mostly hype?
Mine browned out a bit during the coldest months, but bounced back nicely come spring. Reflective coatings do help somewhat indoors, especially upstairs rooms...but don't expect miracles. Curious if anyone's tried combining sedum mats with extra insulation underneath for better winter performance?
I noticed the same thing with my sedum mats—got pretty brown and sad-looking around January, but perked right back up by April. Reflective coatings helped a bit upstairs, but honestly, nothing dramatic. Haven't tried insulation underneath yet, though it makes sense in theory. A neighbor of mine layered some rigid foam insulation under his green roof setup and swears it made a noticeable difference in winter warmth...might be worth experimenting with if you're already planning to redo things anyway.
I had a similar issue with my sedum mats last winter—looked pretty rough by February. Decided to try adding insulation underneath this past fall, just some rigid foam boards I had leftover from another project. Honestly, installation was straightforward: cleared the mats, laid down the foam panels snugly, then replaced everything carefully. Noticed less browning this January and the room below felt slightly warmer too...nothing dramatic, but noticeable enough to justify the effort. Might be worth a shot if you're already planning some roof maintenance anyway.
- Foam insulation can help short-term, but watch out for moisture buildup underneath—seen a few cases where rigid foam trapped condensation, causing mold issues later.
- Personally, I'd lean towards something breathable, like a drainage mat or moisture barrier designed specifically for green roofs. Bit pricier upfront, but saves headaches down the line.
- Also, keep in mind sedum mats naturally look rougher in winter months—doesn't always mean something's wrong. Sometimes it's just seasonal dormancy.
- If warmth is your goal, attic insulation upgrades usually give more bang for the buck than tweaking the roof layers.
- Not knocking your idea though—if it's working for you without issues, that's great. Just keep an eye out and check underneath occasionally to make sure you're not trapping moisture.
