Up on The Rooftop – Your Garden in the Sky

Urban living presents unique challenges, not the least of which is finding places to enjoy the outdoors.  Small patches of green can be added almost anywhere, including the top of buildings.  Perhaps you own an apartment building and would like to increase the value to renters by adding recreational or outdoor space with a rooftop garden or terrace.  There are some key concepts to understand before you begin your landscape design:

  1. Enlist an architect or a structural engineer to evaluate how much more dead and live load your rooftop can withstand.  This will inform how much landscaping and other improvements such as structures can be safely added.  An intensive garden roof mimics that of landscaping on the ground level with deeper soils, irrigation, and sun-loving plants of almost any size.  For rooftops in which the recommendation is to tread more lightly, an extensive rooftop garden will work better.  Shallower soils and xeriscape plants requiring little water can still make the rooftop a pleasant place to spend time.
  2. Obviously, we’re dealing with heights, so an architect will recommend the required barrier along the edge.  If the rooftop has a parapet wall of at least 42”, you may not need to add anything, but without it you’ll be required a railing with balusters at the very least.
  3. Anything you add must not penetrate existing waterproofing liners and sealing that already exists.  New landscaping, hardscaping, or structures must be designed with consideration for how the movement of rainwater will be affected with the improvements, and whether additional measures should be put in place.
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

LANDSCAPE DESIGN – SANTA BARBARA

When it comes to creating a landscape, homeowners generally fall into two categories:  those who itch to start putting plants into the ground themselves and those who recognize a need to hire out the work. Just as it wouldn’t be wise to  …

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Take care to respect existing ballast material, downspouts, and scuppers and work with an architect to develop a sound waterproofing system if your project is more extensive.

4. This is the fun part.  Develop a landscape design that responds to the size and type of the rooftop space, keeping the above limitations in mind.  If you’re tight on space or resources, consider potted plants, or planters that can be hung from parapet walls.  Choose areas where pavers might create a comfy area for furniture, being sure to provide an accessible connection from the entry point of the roof.

Living in a densely urban area does not mean having to give up on outdoor living.  With some diligence and creativity, a rooftop can be can be an apt place to create a lovely garden space.
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Jorge CortezContractor and Owner
California Landscape Licensed Contractor. Having grown up right here in Santa Barbara, Jorge Cortez graduated from Dos Pueblos High School in 2007 and went on to join the United States Marine Corps. After completing a tour in Afghanistan and receiving an honorable discharge, Cortez continued his education at Santa Barbara City College. Today, with over fifteen years of experience in landscape maintenance, he combines his passion for the land with his business acumen as owner of SB Evolution Landscape.
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