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Gardens - Rooftop

In today’s real estate environment where land prices are becoming ever more prohibitive and space becoming a rare commodity in many urban environments, why not look to a different part of the home to gain some more outdoor space?  Rooftop gardens are a great way of utilizing part of the roof or the top of the garage – and best of all, you are adding on to the resale value of your home.

Things to Consider

When building a rooftop garden, you have basically the same options as you would have if you were creating a traditional courtyard as far as the design goes but there are some structural things to consider.

You will need the services of an engineer as you will need to be sure that the roof is capable of holding the additional weight.  Drainage is another consideration, especially if the shape of the roof is being altered.  However, the most important thing is the waterproofing, which is absolutely vital.

You will also need the services of professionals when it comes to things such as fences, walls and shade structures, as these need to be a lot stronger than they otherwise would be due to factors such as wind resistance.  Any lighting or electrical cables will also need to be strategically placed.  This is because burying them underground is simply not an option and you will want them to be as inconspicuous as possible.

The body corporate will need to be involved if you live in an apartment building or similar as you will need their approval.  You may also require council approval for things such as fences and shade structures.

Design Elements

The major advantage of having a rooftop garden is the additional views that you will gain, whether it is of the beach, mountains, or simply the existing city surrounds.  However, in order to take full advantage of the extra views gained, you will need to carefully design the necessary windbreaks, shade structures and privacy screens so that they work effectively without impinging on the view.  A design professional such as a landscape architect will be able to help you with this.

If you are choosing an element such as a water feature or a sculpture for your rooftop garden, be careful to ensure that it will fit the space.  Anything too large will dominate the space.  Also remember to take into consideration how much noise water features make, and that sounds are amplified at night.  In the same vein, you should opt to keep a sense of scale around all other objects in your garden, whether it is a shade structure, furniture or pots.  Use lightweight alternatives wherever possible, as natural stones can place a heavy burden on the roof’s structural members.

If you do not want to install garden beds, then potted plants are the perfect choice for your rooftop garden.  You will also have the added flexibility of being able to rearrange the garden layout to suit your needs.  However, remember to choose the right plants for the weather conditions, which are more extreme than in traditional gardens.  Drought-resistant coastal, desert and Mediterranean plants are perfect.

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