Flat roof garden

Hi all.

On the side of my house we have a single story out house with a flat roof. It's a decent size for a small garden.

I can't affort to do anything with it this year, but I was thinking for next year I might build a wooden staircase from the back garden up to the flat roof, put some safety rails around it so its harder to fall off, and make a garden up there.

What do we know about planning requirements, making sure the roof can take the weight, preventing trapped moisture from rotting the building etc? The outhouse is literally stuck on the side of the house, so I guess I need to also think about moisture getting into the brickwork of the main wall at the side of the house.

I don't think I'd put a layer of soil up there, probably lots of containers, or I might look at sedum turf to gover the lot, then a few containers.

Another thing to consider is that it would be in clear view from the street, but I don't know if that affects anything.

What do we reckon?

 

Blimey, if we didn't live so far away from each other, i'd be round there giving you a hand with it Dave.

Didn't stop this guy,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiaU4O91yfE

I've posted his video before and invited him to join GC, but no reply, so I guess the whole roof colapsed:DOH:

As long as the stucture underneath has 6"x2" timbers it should be ok. building regs won't like it but make sure there is no space that a toddler can fall through.

 

Cheers Ziggy. I'm not sure I got your point about the building regs though, are you saying I'd have trouble getting it approved, or just that I wouldn't be able to officially class it as living space?

 

Won't be a problem unless you are selling the place Dave.

Dont ignore the brick guards that are used on scaffold. They can make very usefull barriers for roof top gardens.

http://www.roofgardens.virgin.com/

 

Hello people, I've seen this really good article about making roof garden. Have a look!
Nomadic Permaculture & how to make a roof garden (on a narrowboat) Part 2 | Permaculture Magazine