Roof Gardens

Roof gardens or their structures must have these qualities before you are able to commence with any work.

They must;

Be structurally able to support the weight and use of landscaping.
Be weatherproofed, dispersing rainfall to a suitable outlet.
Be secure and safe on all perimeters for safety.
Be practical in its accesibility.

Without having all of the above, or being able to provide it you'll be wasting a lot of time and money contemplating landscaping this type of project.

If you only have window access to the roof of a room below, consider having the opening altered to house a door which can have the appearance of either a door or window.

The structure of the opening (unless you're creating one) will already have a lintel above, so it's just a matter of cutting down the brickwork and re-structuring to take your new door or window style door. There are some damp proofing issues here both vertically and horizontally with advice needed from a competent builder.

Once you have access to your roof garden it must be structurally sound, weatherproofed and secure on all perimeters. If you have any doubts consult a builder and be aware of encroaching on your neighbours privacy.

All set to go?...Let's take a look at the floor.
It can remain as it is, presumably with bitumen or something similar or you can introduce a paved, terra cotta or tiled finish.
As the underside has a tendency to expand and contract you'll probably have to use a flexible mix or additive to ensure a good bond to the surface. Likewise with the grouting mix.

Decking on roof gardens is an attractive feature which must be raised underneath to ensure adequate drainage and be aware that when laying your initial framework to absolutely seal where fixing to the substrate, avoiding leaks. Alternatively lay on panels, covering all or part of the roof.

There's no reason why you can't have grass to part of your roof garden assuming you have adequate drainage AND it's laid correctly on an appropriate base.

As safety will be an issue you must ensure that the boundary has secure rails, walls or panels that are able to sustain constant weight and pressure. The consequences are severe should you ignore this requirement.

The roof garden can then be 'planted up' with various shrubs, plants and flowers. Use plants where they will be accessed easily for maintenace and possibly introduce screens and trellis as backdrops to maximise the effects of colour and foliage.

Whatever you intend using the space for such as dining, casual seating or simply relaxing, plan your furniture well and give yourself adequate room for comfort.

Lighting should definitely be used in such an attractive setting highlighting seating areas, water features, walkways and borders. All electrical work should be carried out by a qualified electrician.

Mike Lyons.....Any questions! Please contact me.

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