Roofs are probably one of the last things you think about when you start planning your homestead, right? You may think standard style roofing trusses or whatnot. Maybe you just think in terms of what you're going to need in order to place solar panels on top. There is, however, a lot to consider, and it needs to be done while, or maybe even before, you decide what the general building style and materials of your home is going to be. You must consider how large of a space you are covering, if it's going to work like a standard roof, if you want something simple where it's bare minimum with beams showing on the interior, if you want an attic large enough to maybe eventually turn it into an extra room, etc. The good news is that there are options for a green roof that are not only beautiful, but also relatively simple to build. Well, simple so long as a few - rather important - considerations are taken into account. So let's take a look at some options - and a lot of pictures.
The simplest design would be a dome roof. Dome? Simple? Actually, yes! Very much so! Most of the building styles we've looked at can easily be adapted to include a dome roof. The walls simply continue up, gradually working there way into a smaller and smaller area. Ideally this is done when the house design, itself, is a round house. It can be done with other shaped footprints. It just flows better (personal opinion) with a round home. Of course, it will take extra considerations in so much as any weatherproofing that should be done to protect a natural material, such as cob or adobe. The benefits of a dome go beyond just the idea of extending the walls up. For smaller domes, often times there is no need for extra support. Larger domes may need rebar or some other form of extra support. The design of a dome lends itself very nicely to building in areas that may be subject to earthquakes, and even hurricanes. This design has been used for centuries, showing that it can stand the test of time.
The next roofing idea is a reciprocal roof. If you are unfamiliar with these beauties, I highly suggest you get familiar. They are beautiful. In fact, they can be absolutely stunning! The idea, again building on a round house, is that timbers are stretched from the exterior walls to the middle of the space where they interlock with each other. It can consist of as little as three timbers, to pretty much as many as you want to have. It is self supporting, and surprisingly strong. A center support is not needed, although there are some who would encourage it for a larger space. A reciprocal roof can span as small or as large of an area as you need, assuming you can find timbers the length you need. You can even build a double reciprocal design. When done right, any weight on top of the roof pushes down, causing the timbers to press into each other as opposed to pushing out towards the walls. These timbers are left visible on the interior, creating a simple, rustic, and amazing design. What goes on top of this frame is up to you. While you could cover it with standard tiles or shingles, it can also bear the weight of a green, or living roof.
A living roof is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: it's a roof made of grass or some other living plants. A simple design: waterproofing, drainage, soil and plants. This option is almost a guarantee when choosing an underground or even an earth bermed home. Now, there are some very serious considerations with this one. The soil and whatever you choose to use in your living roof is going to vary depending on where you are. Because of that, there is no standard in determining weight load. This is vital to the overall structure of your home. Too much weight sitting on top of a wall that isn't properly supported will lead to disaster. With properly built walls, the next thing to consider is what is going beneath the soil and plants in terms of support across the expanse of the roof. This is where a reciprocal roof becomes a great idea. Since they can support heavy loads, they are ideal for heavier mediums used in green roofs. Another thing to consider with a green roof are dead loads and live loads. Dead loads would include the medium, plants, and snow loads (where applicable). Live loads would include people and/or animals that may walk across the roof. All of these things must be taken into consideration when figuring overall weight load. You also have to consider, and properly plan for adequate drainage. While the soil or other medium will absorb a certain amount, it's crucial to completely seal up the roof so that no excess water finds it's way into your home. For waterproofing, the most commonly suggested material will be the same waterproofing material that would be used with a standard roof, along with an extra layer of poly laid on top. Here, however, is a design that uses birch bark for waterproofing in a church built more than 130 years ago.
So there are three green options for your homestead roof. Of course, there are a number of other roofing options out there, including traditional standard roofing. These, however, are what I would consider the best green options. As with anything else, do some research and find what works best for you and your homestead. Please remember that I am in no way an expert or professional. I am merely here to provide a starting line for you to leap off of for ideas. I will be taking next week off for Christmas, but I will return after New Year. Here are a few places to do a little more reading on the roofs I've covered here.
Dome Roofs
http://ilovecob.com/archive/the-dome
https://www.intelligentliving.co/building-earthen-dome-homes-6-weeks-diy/
http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/faqs/domes.htm
http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/plans/envirodome.htm
Reciprocal Roofs
http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/10/01/the-reciprocal-roof-beauty-strength-and-simplicity-in-a-roof-frame/
http://www.thatroundhouse.info/reciframes.htm
http://www.theyearofmud.com/2008/11/26/how-to-build-a-reciprocal-roof-frame/
http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/reciprocal-roofs/
Living Roofs
https://www.gsa.gov/portal/mediaId/167831/fileName/Challenges_to_Green_Roof_Construction.action
http://straw-bale.blogspot.com/
http://www.livingroofsinc.com/
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