The maintenance is different—more about weeding than cleaning gutters—but it seems like a tradeoff that could make sense for some properties.
I’ve thought about a green roof too, but my main concern is the weight. My 1960s ranch barely tolerates a heavy rain, let alone a few tons of dirt and plants. I do like the idea of trading moss for weeds, though. At least you can pull weeds—moss just laughs at you. Anyone run into issues with critters moving in? I keep picturing raccoons treating it like their own private park...
I keep picturing raccoons treating it like their own private park...
That’s not far off, honestly. I’ve seen a few green roofs where squirrels and birds set up shop, but raccoons are the real wildcards—if they want in, they’ll find a way. As for weight, you’re right to be cautious. Most 1960s ranches weren’t designed for that kind of load. You’d definitely want a structural engineer to check things out before going green up top. Moss is stubborn, but at least it’s quiet... can’t say the same for a family of raccoons overhead at 2 a.m.
Moss is stubborn, but at least it’s quiet... can’t say the same for a family of raccoons overhead at 2 a.m.
That’s the truth. I had a squirrel move in under some old flashing once—sounded like someone rolling marbles at all hours. I get the temptation to go green, but you nailed it on the weight. I poked around my own ’67 roof structure and those joists aren’t exactly confidence-inspiring. Still, if you get the structure checked and beefed up, it’s doable. Just gotta be ready for the occasional uninvited guest...
Just gotta be ready for the occasional uninvited guest...
Ain’t that the truth. I’ve seen more wildlife condos in attics than I care to admit—raccoons, squirrels, one time even a possum family. They don’t pay rent, but they sure know how to make themselves at home.
On the green roof thing, I’m with you about the structure. Folks get excited about sedum and wildflowers up top, but a lot of these older houses just aren’t built for that kind of load. I’ve poked my head into a few crawlspaces where the joists looked like they were holding on out of sheer stubbornness. If you’re serious about going green, definitely get an engineer to look at it first.
Moss is annoying, but it’s mostly cosmetic unless you let it go for years. At least it doesn’t chew wires or drag half the yard into your insulation. I’ll take a little green fuzz over midnight rodent bowling any day...
Can definitely relate to the attic wildlife saga… Last winter, I was up there checking for leaks and nearly jumped out of my skin when a squirrel shot past me. Turns out, they’d chewed a hole right through the soffit. Had to patch it twice before they finally gave up. Never thought I’d see the day where I’d rather deal with moss than furry squatters, but here we are.
The green roof thing is interesting. I’ve read about all these cool projects with rooftop gardens, but honestly, whenever I look at some of these old rafters, I get nervous just thinking about adding more weight. Even a couple inches of wet soil can get heavy fast. Guess it’s one of those “looks awesome on Pinterest” ideas that needs a reality check for most houses.
Moss is everywhere in my neighborhood, but like you said, it’s mostly just looks—unless you ignore it forever. At least it doesn’t make weird scratching noises at 3am...