Roof garden both DIY and gardening

MorningStar

Hi,

I have a garage with a flat concrete roof and a small garden. The garage roof currently leaks so I was planning to put bitumen on it but I was also planning to then put planting beds on top as it is wasted space.
THe problems I see are
1) Is it good or bad for the bitmun to be covered with soil? I heard two accounts one say it will rot and others saying it will be protected by the soil. Is there a better thing to use?
2) What kind of plants are best for not deep soil? I am primarily thinking veg,herbs and fruit but flowers are fine
3) It is also dark there so will anything do well

The main reason is to be a bit more eco friendly and actually have a place to get rid of my compost

JohnBoy

can the roof take the extra weight though?

soggy compost can be quite heavy, is the roof intended to be accessed like a balcony? if so you should be ok

MorningStar

JohnBoy wrote:

can the roof take the extra weight though?

soggy compost can be quite heavy, is the roof intended to be accessed like a balcony? if so you should be ok

Concrete roof should be able to do the trick but I guess I should also do some checking to be 100% but I doubt there is a problem. It originally is just a roof obviously done using suttering so I think it is reinforced too. THe only reason it leaks is becasue of the join at the houe

rooferPete

Hi MorningStar,

A lot more to it than a standard waterproofing when using a garden finish, you will need a product that has properties the roots can't break through.

Doesn't have to be the most expensive but not a project the average roofer if you want a roof that will last

.