I’m interested in any info you found on sod roofs…Thanks
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The best tool for straight, splinter-free cuts is made even better without a cord.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
I am currently working on design of project for client and am incorporating sod roof at second level terrace level. Does anyone have any recent experience with sod roof construction or can anyone point me in the direction of some good reference material/construction details/etc for this type of construction. I have checked archives and back issues don't seem to have much info. thanks for any assistance.
mitchel s.
*You're kidding right??
*b TVMDCMake certain you install davits for the power mower.Seriously, though, earthen covered semi-subterranian CNC buildings make a lot of sense in So. Calif where we have a lot of fire exposure. I saw an article on such a house that went through a huge Malibu fire unscathed.But you may be fighting a lousing battle with drainage and water intrusion below to say nothing of the additional engineering required for the earthen surcharge.That said, why do you/the client want a sod patio?
*Mitchel, I think the Taunton Press builders series book on "Roofs" has an example of a sod roof. Look around the site, books are here somewhere. Joe H
*Nope! The house is a straw bale design and rather than look out onto the membrane roofing, the owner expressed an interest to have this "living roof" design. this area will be planted with wildflowers and provide some greenspace at the second floor terrace. We are also anticipating that this will stabilize the temperature of the floor area below and provide a more constant inside temperature. I've never done this before, but have had an interest and now have a client who is also interested in testing this out. So, I kid you not.
*bill,don't worry about the davits,we'll use an old push mower(like in "no engine"). to answer your question, the house is a straw bale design and to fit in aesthetically and architecturally, I felt this would be a good solution. It will help the house blend into the hillside on which it sits, and maybe provide some thermal insulation and help with passive cooling for the house. As for water intrusions, I have used waterproofing membranes before on commercial projects with much success and would anticipate this assembly to be similar. Someone has told me of a whole installation system for this type of roof, if I can only locate the literature, where it comes complete with drainage mat, (like Enka drain mat), soil stabilizer to keep dirt in place so to speak, etc. So now I'm trying to locate such information and find other sytems that folks may have tried.
*Sounds interesting when you put it that way. I haven't ever done one of these myself but have seen many, mostly of the western and northern log cabin type. What you propose though doesn't seem that far removed from the landscaped terraces around many large hotels, etc. These are done on the roofs of parking garages, lower floors and so forth. So, it sure sounds feasible as long as the vegetation is absolutely, positively kept from penetrating the roof structure.
*look into concrete plank set with a pitch..the concrete plank deck will have to be completely waterproof with drainage matt carrying the water away..the sod will have to be in the area of 6 inches so it will retain enough moisture..the prairie grasses have root systems that go deep.. yours won't .. so you will have to have some type of watering system to maintain it..a lot of this was done in the '70's with earth bermed and ""underground "" houses...check the solar literature..
*The only thing I know about sod roofs is what I have read in stories about the "soddies" who built their houses on the prairies during the expansion westward. The worst problems were the heavy rains, which caused the sod to become very heavy and resulted in badly constructed roofs falling in, and the "melting" of the sod during rains, as they turned into goo and then just ran off as muddy water.Walls were known to fall in/over also. Not the most stable building material, good for butterflys and available, but not very long lasting. Adobe walls yes, they are still standing, soddies, no, not that I know of.
*Michael,I think I saw something from Monsey-Bakor (Man. of water proofing products) concerning the use of one of their products for sod rooves. Give them a call.Jerry
I'm interested in any info you found on sod roofs...Thanks