Roof top garden

[Bill HH]

I am looking enviously at all the space on my flat roof double garage. I have room to build a staircase at the back end and fancy using the roof space for raised beds. At the moment it is covered with the usual felt but I dont think this is up to being regularly walked on.
Has anyone got experience of suitable coverings? Fibre glass or thick rubber etc.I intend doing this myself.

luv Bill

[veggiechicken]

Make sure your roof is strong enough to take the weight of the soil...........and dare I say it, you!!
We put a greenhouse on the flat roof of a kitchen extension once. The roof needed re-roofing so we had twice the normal number of joists or rafters or whatever they are put in to make it strong enough. Can't remember what the roof was covered in - felt and gravel probably.

[Bill HH]

Make sure your roof is strong enough to take the weight of the soil...........and dare I say it, you!!
We put a greenhouse on the flat roof of a kitchen extension once. The roof needed re-roofing so we had twice the normal number of joists or rafters or whatever they are put in to make it strong enough. Can't remember what the roof was covered in - felt and gravel probably.

Thats a good point but I think its pretty strong it has large joists, If it does collapse it wont be the end of the earth because I havent been able to get a car in there for years! Its too full of what my wife describes as rubbish but I refer to as stuff I may need one day.

[Two_Sheds]

I've been thinking about a green roof on our garage, but I don't like the usual plants (sedums etc)

Turning a garage roof to a green roof | Home & Garden | The News Tribune

[Potstubsdustbins]

Having read the American article I would have to say I don't know what slates/ tiles they use over there but there is no way a slate/tile roof in this country would weigh 25lbs per square foot, couple of pounds max would be my estimate.

VC is right about bracing. No one I know in the building trade would use 'more' than is necessary to do the job. Someone will have worked out the span/weight ratio and installed timbers with a 10% over burden use. Sticking a growing medium on top of that will almost certainly cause collapse especially when it rains and the water is retained on the roof, one gallon of water will add 10lbs to the weight of the growing medium.

Potty

[wendyjames2]

Roof garden is the solution for the green thumbs who are stucked in the busy and concrete jungles. I have started my own in my apartment and the stress it saves me from is huge. I simply love it. I had a professional design it for me.

[Lifanne]

Extra joists, 18mm OSB boards and at least two layers of fibreglas mat,resin, and paint. That should be strong enough to have a small pond up there too.