Honestly, I'd say go for it. I mean, what's homeownership without a little trial and error (and maybe some colorful language when things don't go as planned)? I put in a small green roof section over my shed last spring—figured if it went sideways, at least the damage would be minimal. Surprisingly, it's held up pretty well through some nasty storms. The key really is picking hardy plants and making sure your drainage is solid. Worst-case scenario, you end up with a slightly soggy experiment and a good story to tell at barbecues.
Just keep in mind, even if things do get messy after a storm, fixing up a small green roof patch isn't usually wallet-breaking. Definitely cheaper than replacing shingles or dealing with water damage inside the house... trust me on that one.
Yeah, you're spot on about drainage being key. I've inspected quite a few DIY green roofs, and honestly, most hold up better than people expect—as long as they're not skimping on drainage layers. Even if you do get hit with a nasty storm, repairs usually aren't too painful on the wallet. Definitely cheaper than dealing with interior water damage (been there, not fun). Sounds like you're already on the right track with hardy plants too... good luck!
- Totally agree on drainage—can't stress that enough.
- Had a client last year who DIY'd a green roof, looked great at first glance, but he skipped proper drainage layers.
- After one heavy storm, water pooled badly... ended up seeping into the attic.
- Repairs weren't crazy expensive, but still a headache—around $800 for roof fixes and some interior drywall patching.
- Honestly, could've been way worse if he hadn't caught it early.
- Lesson learned: better to invest upfront in proper drainage than deal with the aftermath.
- Sounds like you're already ahead of the curve though, good stuff.
Yeah, drainage is key, but honestly, $800 sounds pretty lucky. Had a similar issue a few years back—water damage spread into insulation and wiring. Ended up costing me closer to $2k after everything was sorted... not fun.
$2k sounds about right, unfortunately. Had a customer last spring whose gutters overflowed into the attic—ended up replacing insulation, drywall, and some wiring. Storm damage can escalate fast... always better to catch it early.
