Living Roofs In The Desert

Creating shade and sheltering from the heat.

Living roofs in the desert.

Staying away from the sun is one of the most important things to consider when you re in a desert environment. At its most basic it is a thin layer of soil spread across a roof of a root barrier waterproof membrane with drainage and irrigation systems topped with thick colonies of drought tolerant sedums sempervivums both cold tolerant or ice plants or aeoniums more heat resistant less cold tolerant. Municipalities in the united states and abroad are using green roofs to enhance urban sustainability. Roofs made of living plants also release oxygen into the air making it less toxic and harmful than row upon row of petroleum based shingles atop paved streets.

They re vulnerable to intense heat cold wind and drought plus they can t support a lot of weight so the plants need to grow in. There s a reason this roofing material is so popular throughout the southwest and it has nothing to do with its appearance. Animals tend to stay under the sun as little as possible finding creative ways to stay hidden from it in a place with little or no vegetation to use for shade. Adding a metal roof over the top of the entire building prevents the sun s rays from beating down on the house all day while allowing air circulation under the reflective roof and over the house.

Water runoff also serves to cool the buildings and the entire system protects the base roofing underneath adding to roof longevity. A living roof eco roof or green roof is a carpet of succulents used especially on flat rooftops. Rubber roofing will be painfully hot if you are working on it in the summer and it will draw heat into the house. While roof materials include tile metal and 10 inch thick sip panels one innovative development in modern desert homes has been used for years by owners of old mobile homes.

Although it s possible to find light shades of asphalt shingles they are still darker than many metal and tile colors. Terra cotta tiles and ceramic roofs. Green or living roofs incorporate a waterproof membrane filled with soil and vegetation intended to cool naturally through soil temperature and growth of greenery. But while a few living roofs have been installed in new mexico the state s heat and low rainfall.

The best way to find or make an artificial shade is to stay away from surfaces that absorb heat and are directly under the sun sand absorbs heat and radiates it making it hotter. The severity of the elements challenges the viability of the most long wearing surfaces. Living roofs with plants blooming atop buildings are the glamorous side of green roofing. Maintenance free materials such as precast concrete pavers for exterior decks and river rock covered flat roofs are requisite for desert homes.

Rooftops are tough place for plants. Homeowners in extremely hot desert climates need a roof that will not absorb heat and draw it into the house.