Living Roof Foundation

My last two columns have been about the timbers and posts that hold up our roof. As our construction progresses, we can now talk about that living, green roof.

A green roof is one of the primary reasons to build an earth-sheltered house because this kind of roof is an insulator from winter's cold and summer's heat. The rest of the time it can be a garden, a patio or a soccer field.

Unfortunately, a green roof isn't just a case of piling dirt on your shingles. There are many considerations, including insulation, waterproofing, drainage, soil depth, slope and enough moisture retention to support the plants you want to grow. A green roof is a many-layered thing.

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