Hobbit Home Progress.

Jay Angler wrote:Soooo... you don't have to mow artificial turf, but you do have to weed it - seriously! I met a guy on his hands and knees struggling to get tree sprouts out of his artificial lawn without damaging the lawn part.

Is the issue with plants dying that you have too many extremes? Dry, wet, cold, heat? Can you narrow down which of the extremes did in your early attempts?

I'm not convinced that you can't fix the roof problem other ways. Giving us permies a list of what you've tried, and what you think killed those tries, might give us ideas of how you can fix it naturally.

For example, have considered rocky mulch with succulents?

My first instinct is to agree with Jay.  There must be a way to fix your problem without resorting to artificial turf, which my gut tells me is a temporary solution at best.  It will degrade in time, needing replacement and, I suspect though I couldn't elaborate, giving rise to unforseen problems along the way.

Better in my opinion to have just mulch than to have, essentially, synthetic carpet on your roof.  Perhaps a rock mulch would be a good place to start, as Jay suggested.  Over time, observe what weeds establish in the rock mulch, and that might provide clues how to proceed with a green roof.

But in the meantime, yes, please elucidate: why do you believe your current green roof is dying?

Jay Angler wrote:
I'm not convinced that you can't fix the roof problem other ways.
For example, have considered rocky mulch with succulents?

Still doing research on this, but while i was doing that the turf idea came up.  

Researching different soil amendments, ground covers ( compost, straw ) to layer on top so perhaps the micro clover will not burn off so fast....

8 inch root depth is a limiting factor.
Full open sun adds to that.

Purchased some succulants from the garden center, planted last year - now dead.

I know you don't have the leak problem, but this article, after describing various problems with them, gives advice at the end on how successful living roofs have been done by them.

The most successful roof we have used is the one that makes use of a thick waterproof layer and then “planting trays” with pots of sedum.  The sedums are low-growing and make for easy replacement.

Maybe 'plant' the pots instead of the plants?

Are you allowed to have solar panels up there?

Dave Lotte wrote: Still doing research on this, but while i was doing that the turf idea came up.  

Researching different soil amendments, ground covers ( compost, straw ) to layer on top so perhaps the micro clover will not burn off so fast....

You are in a tough climate - very cold winters and very hot summers that are getting hotter.

Plus you're on a budget, both time and money, so Coydon's suggestion of "mulch and see what shows up" has merit. Not all succulents are created equal. I have a friend who has friends that are all succulent experts, so I'll bounce the question over to her and see if any specific suggestions come back. It *is* possible to start succulents from seed as she's doing that now in plastic take out trays so not high tech! This may have to be a multi-year project...

An organic straw spread lightly over the micro clover would add "shade" which may be helpful. Some punky wood inoculated with mushrooms, might add some mycorrhiza that would support plants also.

I'm also aware of the problem that if you add things to the soil to hold moisture during droughts, you're also adding weight to the roof when things are very wet! Generally, you're looking for the soil to drain, not hold water, and relying on the plants to cope without dying. Very tough requirements!  

To be honest, I would suggest that whatever you try, you do so in just a 3ftx3ft patch or so and see how it goes. Once you find plants tough enough to cope, you can expand from there.

Jay Angler wrote:
I'm also aware of the problem that if you add things to the soil to hold moisture during droughts, you're also adding weight to the roof when things are very wet! Generally, you're looking for the soil to drain, not hold water, and relying on the plants to cope without dying. Very tough requirements!  

To be honest, I would suggest that whatever you try, you do so in just a 3ftx3ft patch or so and see how it goes. Once you find plants tough enough to cope, you can expand from there.

Not too worried about weight right now... ever since i contacted the engineer and asked for the specific numbers.
This roof is engineered for 16 inches of topsoil - 88 tons - i only have 8 inches or 44 tons.
The snow load is rated for 3 feet of heavy wet snow - last year i did get a full yard stick depth - and then it rained. No movement inside at all.

Thinking the same thing for a test patch.  Center of roof -  4 inches of compost - 4 inches of straw- next spring throw in some micro clover seed and wait.

Coydon Wallham wrote:
Maybe 'plant' the pots instead of the plants?

Are you allowed to have solar panels up there?

Still looking into some type of grass to plant - already have 4 Kw of solar, and adding more is $$$

Matthew Nistico wrote:
But in the meantime, yes, please elucidate: why do you believe your current green roof is dying?

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Its not dying.  Its dead.  Planted micro clover, burned of off to dry soil.
Now its just whatever weed is up there. Planted a variety of test plants among the weeds - none survived.
Micro clover was REALLY NICE .... 5 different kinds of bees, lush and green with white flowers....
Going to try the mulch and straw idea next to bring that back.

Just came across this during my walkabout.

Two days ago this was gravel.  Will say it does look nice now....
What happens though in 4 or 5 years when there is a bit of composted nutrients in there and the weeds start getting a permanant hold ?

I would make an effort to plant things that aren't too invasive that will help to outcompete any weeds that come along. 'Hens and chicks' succulent comes to mind.

Dave Lotte wrote:Two days ago this was gravel.  Will say it does look nice now....
What happens though in 4 or 5 years when there is a bit of composted nutrients in there and the weeds start getting a permanant hold ?

What would be the worst part of just letting the weeds colonize your roof and calling that done?  It wouldn't look so great, but functionally it would serve the purpose, no?  A weed roof would require some maintenance, too, but you've already prepared yourself for a green roof maintenance routine.

Or perhaps, as I mentioned previously, let the weeds colonize temporarily and then use the most successful of them to guide you towards plant families that might work for you.

Matthew Nistico wrote:What would be the worst part of just letting the weeds colonize your roof and calling that done?  It wouldn't look so great.....

😁😁  
Looks like wether i like it or not, that is what is happening
😁😁

Had to take the weed eater up there and chop it all down, and it still went brown in the heat ,  but it is a green roof.
Once i get to work outside it will be a different matter....

Edit :  the sun is too bright .... i couldnt see my thumb in the way 😂😂😂

With the completion of the walkin shower and main bathroom,  a major headache is off the to-do list.
Infrared sauna needs a good dusting, but should be good to go !

So far so good.

Hydro, water and sewer all connected.

May have to add a light switch for the shower lights ....

So this is what it looks like .....

Congratulations!

Matthew Nistico wrote:Congratulations!

Thank you.

Now to make a house - a home.

Easy to get used too....

First picture, what i used to see when i wake up in the morning .....
Second picture ....  what i see now.

I am going to take this as a good sign....

In bed this morning, and i look up .....

My house is smiling at me.

Dave Lotte wrote: My house is smiling at me.

This is one of the important benefits of using real wood. Instead of a monochrome of colour and texture (think "Millennial Grey" ), you get variations of colour, texture and design, all naturally produced!

I have a cupboard door which looks like a billy goat!

One of my many road side finds has a new home....

Drywall is not done, and the door needs to be framed out, but its starting to feel like a home...

Fot those of you who are wondering if i worry about the 44 tons of earth above my head every day with more to add  ....  not one bit.

Pictures to help explain....

You see, once i made my layout clear to the architect that i wanted post spacing along the beam at 15-15-10  - she wanted to evenly space the posts along the I beam,   10-10-10   or  15-15-15  -  after explaining to her that the engineer will engineer the largest span for the load .... in this case, the 15 foot living room and kitchen are engineered AND rated for TWICE this weight ( i could double the top soil up to 88 tons ).

Here is where it gets interesting - the bedrooms are only 10 feet wide.  With the extra wooden beam worked in there as well - the bedroom roof can hold far more snow load or topsoil since it is 5 feet shorter.
Also, with the wooden beams closer together  ( 24 inch on center instead of 32 inch on center )  it is the strongest part of the building.

The first picture shows the 15 foot span for the main rooms.  Green dots are 32 inch on center beams,  purple dots are the 15 foot span.  Nice and solid -  verified by the engineer to carry the load.

Second picture shows blue dots for the 10 foot span ( shorter and stronger )  while it also shows the red dots ( 32 inch on center beams as required )  but then you have that bit of extra space - so you need an extra beam - which the yellow dots are 24 inch on center.

Making the spot directly under my bed the safest,  strongest spot in the building.

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If you use Facebook ....

To all my friends and followers, please follow these instructions and see if facebook is looking at all your pictures on your phone.

Menu
Settings and privacy
Settings
Sharing suggestions
Creative ideas

This is what i found on BOTH my personal account AND the Hobbit home account.
Both turned on.
Now turned off.

Randomly looking at my videos and pictures - i dont think so.

To be clear, this is specifically within the Facebook app if installed?

Coydon Wallham wrote:To be clear, this is specifically within the Facebook app if installed?

Yes.

Both of my accounts gave access to my pictures and videos, so they could " suggest" what i share.

Dave Lotte wrote:

Coydon Wallham wrote:To be clear, this is specifically within the Facebook app if installed?

Yes.

Both of my accounts gave access to my pictures and videos, so they could " suggest" what i share.

Have you examined all of the other privacy violations the app might allow through permissions it grants?

Might want to access Fakebook through a FOSS browser (like Firefox) with security settings on to limit what Meta has access to on your device.

Thank you Stieble Eltron !

The plan is to use the 20 year old on demand water heater from the old house, to run the radiant floor heating in the new house.
Ran into a bit of a snag.  The water heater has worked flawlessly all this time, but when moved over and installed, the slow ..., steady flow of water was not enough to turn it on.   Turns out the flow sensor was the issue.
All searches led to the same conclusion ... discontinued, no longer available.... just when i thought i was stuck with an orphan - i contacted Stiebel Eltron U.S.A.
Not only did they quickly locate the part i needed, but then worked out a discount as well.

The heater is now back up and running, ready to heat the house for the winter.

The president in the U.S.A may be despised by most, but i don't blame the people who live there.

Now awaiting the bill for the tariffs.

Dave Lotte wrote:Thank you Stieble Eltron !

The plan is to use the 20 year old on demand water heater from the old house, to run the radiant floor heating in the new house.
Ran into a bit of a snag.  The water heater has worked flawlessly all this time, but when moved over and installed, the slow ..., steady flow of water was not enough to turn it on.   Turns out the flow sensor was the issue.

All searches led to the same conclusion ... discontinued, no longer available.... just when i thought i was stuck with an orphan - i contacted Stiebel Eltron U.S.A.

Not only did they quickly locate the part i needed, but then worked out a discount as well.

So glad that you were able to continue using this venerable old water heater.  Since I see no vent attached to it in your pictures, I assume this is an electric model?  Encouraging to know that it still works for you after 20 years!

I also have an electric Stiebel Eltron instant water heater, and have also had good experience with their customer service.  My own model - a smaller, point-source model that I press into service as a whole-house water heater for my small, one-man cottage - stopped working correctly once.  This was many years ago.  I called Stiebel Eltron and they immediately sent a replacement, even though I was a few months beyond the warranty period.

So how were you able to overcome the minimum flow cut-off built into your heater?  I have similar problems in my domestic setup.  My flow sensor works correctly, but in some use cases I struggle to provide enough flow rate to keep it happy.  It definitely limits one's ability to adjust water temp at your sink or shower when the heater is always on the verge of cutting off.  I've largely solved the problem by splicing a switch into the curcuit for one of my unit's two heating elements.  It's a crude solution - giving me two heating options: full power for winter months or half power for summer months - but it works.