DIY Green Roofs- Is This a Good Idea?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.17.07
This Old House looks at GreenGrid, a green roof system that they suggest can be done do-it-yourself. The GreenGrid system is based on a 2 foot by 2 foot plastic container with dimples on the bottom to provide drainage. The GreenGrid site doesn't particularly note that it is for DIYers, so we might point out a few things to worry about:
-it is heavy at 15 to 18 pounds per square foot- can your roof take it?
-how many drains or scuppers do you have? If the soil gets through the filter cloth and the drains get clogged, that can quickly increase the weight on the roof and cause structural failure.
This old house says "everyone loves an option that cuts out extra labor, materials, and middlemen" but sometimes it is nice to hire someone with experience and lots of liability insurance. ::This Old House and ::Green Grid Roofs
Funny, I spent an enormous amount of time on this company's website the other day trying to figure out how to actually purchase the tiles. No luck. Anyone know how?
interesting...and where'd you find out about this exactly? because i feel as if i saw this exact same product, via this old house, on another blog...
This system seems to be available through ABC supply a national roffing supply company.... and they also may of helped to develope it but atlas i cant find it on there site ( abcsupply.com )
It is all about marketing - marketing before function, that's why you get lost on a website with nice pictures and confusing information.
You see a nice roof garden and someone talks about additional 15 to 18 pound per square foot which is only the half truth. Why do people always think in a box? In Germany there are at least 75 square miles! of green roofs and no box. I call that free thinking. jbi