Remember this?…

…When I come home feeling tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet…
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space.

On the roof, it's peaceful as can be…
And at night the stars, they put on a show for free...
Up on the roof. (1)

It used to be that escaping to the night sky up on the roof was an urban phenomenon, but no more. The increasing popularity of flat roofed modern architecture to the suburbs and the wilds of North America has created new opportunities to address new needs.

Before we go there, let me assure you that flat roofs do not collapse under the weight of snow (unless they are not engineered to the local roof loading codes), and they do not leak (unless they are poorly built). The Lindal building system actually includes a rigid foam roof underlayment that form a drainage plane on the exterior, even though the interior is flat. And every house is engineered to carry the roof load required locally by code.

How do modern consumers make important and productive use of their roofs, and what are some of the design considerations for these uses?

Roof Decks: Your best backyard

The use of roofs as outdoor communal spaces is not new, but today roof decks serve many more purposes than urban star gazing retreats. Consider a few:

Water viewing spots that enable sightlines over neighboring houses closer to the water;
Barbeque and outdoor lounging areas on sloping sites where the main living areas are a full story above the rear yard;
Spacious communal areas when the site is too steep, too wooded or too small for terraces or yards;
Secure and safe play spaces for children.

When planning roof decks, we position them to the side of a major interior living area so as not to obstruct the view from that space. The images above illustrate that technique when both the roof deck and the adjoining great room enjoy unobstructed views of the treetops.

Roof decks should have a durable surface for everyday use: the roof itself should not become the trafficked deck. The deck surface should float above the finished roof to maintain an unobstructed drainage plane below. The surface could be a floating deck or tile surface. Recently we have recommended the use of square wood or porcelain pavers that have small adjustable "feet" on each corner to maintain an unobstructed drainage plain below and a level surface above.

Planning a roof deck is essential when the house is being designed and engineered, since the roof must be engineered for the live load and the weight of the deck surface above the roof. For example, the adjustable deck tiles weigh 3 pounds per square foot (wood) to 7 pounds per square foot (concrete). The weight of the roof top furnishings (e.g. seating, planters, outdoor kitchens and bars, swing sets) must be considered as well.

Photovoltaic fields: Toward energy independence

A growing number of clients are taking advantage of the reduced cost (and sometimes state rebates) of photovoltaics as a reliable source of renewable energy to create electricity. This can be a small array for hot water, electric car-charging or swimming pool heating or a larger array to provide all of the home’s electricity.

The initial cost typically runs in the $25,000 to $60,000 range with a payback period of 10 to 25 years, depending on the cost of electricity purchased from the local power company and the number of sunny days on your site.

One benefit of "siting" photovoltaics on a flat roof is that the they can be oriented in any direction and at any angle to catch the sun optimally. The array can be hidden with parapet walls (exterior house walls that continue above the level of the roof

Like roof decks, the weight of the array (3-4 pounds per square foot) should be accounted for in the initial house design and engineering.

Catchment Systems: When nothing else can do

Fact: an average American household pf four “consumes” an average of 116,000-140,000 gallons of water per year.

In the last three years, I’ve had the privilege of working with three clients whose projects included catchment systems.

A catchment system involves the collection and storage of rainwater from the home's roof in several huge (as large as 2500 gallons each) tanks and using that water in lieu of municipally supplied water or well water. If unpurified, the water, called grey water, can be used for washing cars, landscape and garden irrigation and in some communities, toilets.

When purified, the stored water can be used for all domestic water needs.

Many communities with municipal water systems do not allow catchment systems with purification to replace the city water. Others allow the systems, but also require that the home be connected to the municipal water system.

My two Lindal clients did not have potable water available to their rural sites: the well water in one was contaminated with arsenic and the other delivered only saltwater. The cost of their catchments systems: $35,000 to $40,000.

The design and installation of a catchment systems is work for an experienced professional. Catchment system specialists typically begin with a feasibility study at the cost of about $1000. The study will tell you how much roof area will be necessary to meet your household needs and will estimate the cost of the completed system that they propose to install.

Warmmodern Living can recommend catchment system professionals in many areas, and we will work closely with them to ensure that your roof's area, design, and materials will help optimize the efficiency of your system.

Green Roofs

A green roof —one planted with live grass and other plants — is one way to reduce a home’s carbon footprint.

Up to a foot of moist soil and plants will add 100 pounds per square foot for the roof to support, more than doubling and in some areas tripling the required design strength of a roof. That and the increased precautions needed to waterproof green roofs discourage most consumers from considering them.

As the cost of building increases each year — as do heating, and cooling costs — making intelligent use of every square foot an assumed mandate. Don’t ignore the exciting opportunities presented by the roof over your head. Warmmodern Living and the Lindal building system are ideal partners to help you realize those opportunities beautifully, connecting you to the natural environment and adding joy to your daily life.

(1) Lyrics by Carole King and David Geffen