That’s the thing—people see those rooftop gardens and think it’s just a matter of planting some sedum and calling it a day. But once water starts pooling or the membrane fails, you’re in for a world of hassle. I’ve seen folks spend more on repairs than the original install. Out of curiosity, has anyone actually had luck getting insurance to cover green roof issues, or is it always an uphill battle?
Insurance for green roofs is tricky, but not impossible. I had to jump through a few hoops—lots of photos, maintenance logs, and proof the install was done by a pro. It took patience, but my policy did end up covering a membrane issue. Hang in there... it’s a pain, but not hopeless.
Insurance folks really do love their paperwork, don’t they? I had to send in a whole binder’s worth of stuff for my last green roof claim—felt like I was prepping for a science fair. Did you run into any weird questions about plant types or drainage? My adjuster got oddly fixated on sedum varieties...
I get the paperwork thing, but honestly, I didn’t find the green roof claim all that bad. Maybe it depends on the company? Mine wanted photos and a maintenance log, but nothing too wild. The plant questions were pretty basic—just general coverage, not specific varieties. That said, I do wonder about the adjuster’s focus on sedum. Isn’t drainage a bigger deal for insurance than what kind of succulents you planted? I always figured they’d care more about whether your roof could handle the weight and water flow, not which ground cover you picked.
Curious if anyone else had claims where the plant type was such a big deal. To me, as long as you’re not planting trees up there, it shouldn’t matter much. Maybe some adjusters just get stuck on details that aren’t really the main risk.
Funny timing—just last month I was up on a client’s roof, checking out their green setup after a hailstorm. The adjuster came by and spent almost the whole visit talking about the sedum mix, barely glancing at the drains or the membrane. I remember thinking, “You’re worried about which succulent is up here? There’s literally a puddle forming by the scupper.” It’s wild how much focus some folks put on plant type when, in my experience, drainage and weight are what really make or break these roofs.
One time, I had a claim where the owner had planted some native grasses up there—nothing crazy tall, just stuff that could handle drought. The insurance company got all worked up about “root intrusion” and wanted proof that none of it would poke through the waterproofing. Meanwhile, there were spots where the flashing was already pulling away from the parapet. Priorities seemed a bit off.
I get that certain plants can be more aggressive with roots, but sedum is basically the gold standard for low-maintenance green roofs. Most of what I see is sedum or similar ground covers because they’re light and don’t need much water. If anything, I’d expect more questions about soil depth or irrigation systems than whether you picked Sedum album or Sedum spurium.
Maybe it’s just luck of the draw with adjusters. Some are super detail-oriented about stuff that doesn’t always matter for actual risk. Others just want to see that you’ve got coverage and aren’t growing pumpkins up there. Personally, as long as you’re not overloading the structure or blocking drainage, plant choice seems pretty far down the list of concerns.
And yeah, paperwork varies a ton by company. Some want every invoice since installation; others just ask for a few photos and call it good. Either way, I’d rather answer plant questions than have to dig up old receipts from five years ago...
