Traditional Sod Roof

They keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Traditional sod roof.

Its distribution roughly corresponds to the distribution of the log building technique in the vernacular architecture of finland and the scandinavian peninsula. Both of the roofs shown above use an eaves overhang but no roof gutters were present. Nordic sod roofs are not flat roofs. A sod roof or turf roof is a traditional scandinavian type of green roof covered with sod on top of several layers of birch bark on gently sloping wooden roof boards.

Lightly water the layer of sod placed on the roof. Make sure to check the roof periodically for watering and as funny as it sounds any need for weeding. Sod roofs also act as natural insulators. The name sod roof simply refers to its visual material that consists of peat with grass growing on it called sod or turf.

Maintenance is minimal and as long as you have excellent waterproofing beforehand most sod roof owners see an excellent return on investment over traditional roofs thanks to savings on their electricity bills. However roof gutters were used on traditional sod roofed homes at least over entrances as we show in this sod roof home photo. Don t leave sod overhanging the roof edge. The name sod roof simply refers to its visual material that consists of peat with grass growing on it called sod or turf.

Sod roofs are largely free for the labor the materials are easily found in most back yards sod is one of the most fireproof materials going and it makes excellent insulation for all but the most. These roofs are covered with sod on top of several layers of birch bark on gently sloping wooden roof boards. A sod roof is a traditional nordic type of green roof. During the warmer months sod roofs can help to cool down your house compared to other roofing materials.

The load of approximately 250 kg per m of a sod roof is an advantage because it helps to compress the logs and make the walls more draught proof. Our photo of a traditional sod roof above right shows the use of a wooden board and birch bark as a soil dam as well as a drip edge. Several layers of birch bark is placed on wooden roof boards and the sod is then added on top of the bark. The load of approximately 250 kg.

Until the late 19th century it was the most common roof on rural log houses in norway and large parts of the rest of scandinavia. However the material that performs the most essential task water proofing has historically always consisted of birch bark. Where necessary use your utility knife to cut the sod pieces to fit. Place sod pieces on top of the potting soil layer across the roof.

In addition sod roofs and the plants therein also help to protect your roofing materials. On a hot day for instance say 80 degrees fahrenheit sod roofs heat up to only 85f where are traditional roofs can go as hot as 180f.