Planting within urban areas or cities is highly recognized to reduce overall heat and improve air quality. However, overpriced landmarks and lack of space are obstacles to increasing the number of natural areas and parks. Then the idea of rooftop gardens came in and has become more popular over the years, particularly in more developed cities.
Rooftop gardens have a great view and provide a quick and intelligent way to enjoy a quiet retreat in the middle of the city. Aside from their decorative and aesthetically pleasing benefits, they have various other essential and impressive advantages.
Whenever you plan to transform the rooftop into a garden, you must carefully consider some essential factors. Rooftop gardens have unique challenges that might surprise even seasoned gardeners. Typically, it consists of large plants filled with shrubs, evergreen, flowers, grasses, and outdoor furniture. It is thought of as an outdoor room as it commonly exists in flat roof surfaces because of the weight of its materials and the way it uses the space.
Factors To Consider For Rooftop Gardens
Rooftop Load Capacity
The most basic requirement in designing a rooftop garden is to know how many pounds per square foot the roof can hold and determine how much load it can withstand for furnishings, decking, and plants. The developer, architect, or building manager can provide this information. If it’s not available, you need a roofing builder or a structural engineer to conduct an assessment to determine this valuable information for its overall safety.
Utilities Required in Rooftop Garden
Rooftop gardens require utilities like an automated garden irrigation system and outdoor faucets to efficiently water, grow, maintain and make the plants healthier. They help to extend their longevity in the garden. Electrical outlets and connections are also essential to incorporate outdoor lighting landscaping. Adequate height of safety railings and safe and easy access to the rooftop is also part of its utility requirements.
Safety
Considering that it is a rooftop garden, safety is a vital priority. Its design and features should abide by the local building codes, such as galvanized steel roof hatches for safe and easy access to the rooftop. The height of its edge safety railing needs technical and careful considerations.
The Importance and Benefits of Roof Hatches to a Rooftop Garden
Roof hatches are a valuable addition for every rooftop garden in providing convenient, fast, and safe access from inside your space. Installing a roof hatch offers various benefits such as:
1. Provide Safe Access to Rooftop Garden
Accessing the rooftop garden through a roof hatch is one of the safest things since you can freely choose a strategic location to place this entrance. It is also suitable to incorporate interior stairs and ladders to ensure this benefit. It helps you whenever you want quality time in a rooftop garden and can help maintain the plants and their pleasing look.
2. Dampen Outdoor Noise
Most of the designs of roof hatches dampen outdoor noise to keep the interior spaces quieter. It is essential, mainly if the location of the rooftop garden is in the city. High traffic noise and the sound of building utility components such as HVAC systems from the adjacent buildings are only some of the sounds that roof hatch successfully damps.
3. Provide Security
Roof hatches come from durable materials and have a rigid design. They incorporate different heavy-duty locks depending on the security level requirement in the building. They ensure that no person or intruders can break in or have unauthorized access.
4. Withstand Harsh Weather
Nowadays, most roof hatches have excellent designs and special features to withstand harsh weather conditions. Another unique design of modern roof hatch includes double skin construction with efficient insulations for its weather/draft gasket seal features and supports adequate live load weights.
Consider several factors whenever you plan to turn your rooftop into a garden. Aside from the local building codes, every rooftop garden must have convenient and safe access. As a result, roof hatches provide many benefits to your interior space up to your rooftop garden.
