I thought I had a septic problem when my toilet and sink wasn't draining properly. This suspicion was confirmed when sewer water started backing up in my bathtub. I figured that this was a job for a professional, so I called a local sewer service company. Sure enough, my septic tank was full and this was causing the problem. After having my tank pumped out, my drains run freely and my toilet flushes better than it has in a long time. My name is Wesley Hammond and the experience that I had with my septic system is the reason that I'm writing this blog. Since sewage backup in the house is very unhealthy, everyone should be aware of the signs of a faulty septic system. As you read these articles, you'll learn about the different types of septic system problems and how you can keep them from happening.
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If you want a truly environmentally friendly home, installing a green roof is one of the biggest projects that you could undertake to help you achieve that goal. The benefits of a green roof are numerous. You'll save energy. You can collect rainwater and help promote healthy drainage. You may even be able to turn your roof into a vegetable garden and cut down on your food bill. There are lots of ways that green roofs can benefit your family, your environment, and your community – yet green roofs are still rare on residential buildings. Why? Because there are still a lot of obstacles that make green roofs impractical for some. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't have one if you want one, but take these important considerations into account before you make a final decision.
How Will You Care for It?
Green roofs require more of a time commitment than most other roofing materials. There are three basic types of green roofs: intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive. An intensive green roof is the kind that you're thinking of if you want large plants, non-native plants, and vegetable or flower gardens on your roof. These require at least as much care and maintenance as a similar garden located on the ground, if not more. A semi-intensive green roof consists of grasses and hardy, native plants that require less upkeep. These roofs are designed to need less maintenance than an intensive roof, but you'll still need to fertilize, prune, and irrigate.
An extensive green roof is the simplest to care for. These roofs consist mainly of a layer of native grasses and moss in shallow trays of soil. These roofs don't require much in the way of landscaping or pruning and irrigation, but even an extensive roof needs to be inspected for weeds and bugs a few times a year, and weeded or treated for pests if necessary.
Before you commit to a new roof, figure out who is going to be doing the work and how. Do you have the time and means to care for the roof yourself? If you are so busy at your job that you don't have time to work on your front lawn, you probably won't have time to work on your roof, either. If you're terrified of heights, you may not be the best person for the job. Do you have the money to pay someone to maintain your roof? Figure out if that fits into your budget before proceeding.
Is it Allowed?
Depending on where you live, you may have to get permission to install a green roof. In addition to getting the proper permits required by your city, county, or state, local communities often want to have a say in what other homes in their area look like. If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowner's association, you may find that difficult.
In recent years, homeowner's associations have made the news when they blocked residents from installing metal roofs or putting up rooftop solar panels. Metal roofing and solar panels are both fairly common residential roofing choices compared to green roofs, so it seems likely that if there are homeowner's associations that object to those choices, then similarly-minded associations might balk at green roofs. Before you commit to having a green roof installed, find out if there are any rules that might prevent you from having the roof you want, and decide whether or not you're committed enough to the idea to fight for it.
What About Resale Value?
Even if you have no plans to move any time in the near future, resale value is something that you should still consider. Someone – either you, or your beneficiaries later – will have to sell your home eventually, and a green roof could make the process much more difficult.
In terms of resale value, a green roof will probably figure in much like a backyard pool. Some buyers will love it, and will want to buy your house just for the roof. Other buyers will hate it, and won't make an offer on your house even if they love everything else about it. A green roof is a highly visible feature that will mean extra work for the new homeowners, so there isn't likely to be a lot of middle ground on the issue. Your house could sit on the market for much longer than the average house while you wait for a buyer who loves your roof and is willing to pay your asking price to come along, or you could end up selling it at a greatly reduced cost just to speed things along. There isn't much you can do to change that after you have the roof installed, so you have to be sure that you're willing to deal with the resale consequences before you install a green roof.
If you're certain that you can maintain the roof and that you're allowed to install a green roof where you live, and you're OK with your home being more difficult to sell, then a green roof may be perfect for you. If not, then a good roofing contractor should be able to help guide you to a less radical, but still environmentally sound, roofing option for your home.
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