Interesting experience with lavender—it's definitely picky about drainage. I've seen sedums and succulents do surprisingly well in wetter climates, provided there's decent slope and drainage layers. Wonder if anyone's tried mosses or ferns for shadier roofs...?
Yeah, mosses can actually be pretty great for shady roofs—seen them thrive naturally after storms in damp, shaded spots. Ferns might be trickier though, since their roots can get aggressive and mess with roofing layers...depends on the species I guess.
"Ferns might be trickier though, since their roots can get aggressive and mess with roofing layers...depends on the species I guess."
Yeah, gotta agree here. Ferns can be a bit of a gamble—I've seen them work their way into shingles and even lift flashing if they're the tougher-rooted types. Mosses, though...they're usually harmless, but watch out for moisture buildup underneath. I've inspected roofs where the moss looked great aesthetically, but underneath was damp and rotting.
If you're thinking about splurging on better roofing, I'd say it's worth considering something specifically designed for shaded, damp areas—maybe metal roofing or treated shingles that resist moisture buildup. A bit pricier upfront, but saves headaches down the road. Just my two cents from what I've seen in inspections.
Yeah, metal roofs can be great, but aren't they pretty noisy during rainstorms? I've always wondered how people deal with that. I do agree about the moss though—my neighbor had this gorgeous moss-covered roof, looked straight out of a fairy tale...until he found a bunch of rot underneath. Maybe there's some middle ground between splurging on metal and sticking with basic shingles, something affordable but moisture-resistant? Could save money and headaches long-term.
I've heard the noise issue with metal roofs can be pretty manageable if you have solid attic insulation or an underlayment that dampens sound. My cousin installed a metal roof a couple years back, and honestly, the rain noise isn't as bad as you'd think—more like a soft tapping than loud drumming. Have you looked into architectural shingles? They're a bit pricier than basic shingles but cheaper than metal, and seem to hold up pretty well against moisture and moss...might be worth checking out.
