Maybe one of the best reasons for a green roof system of some type is that it just looks so cool. Sometimes these roofs also ended up as heath-topped or even acted as water cisterns. Nothing lasts forever, but the 'traditional' roofing methods often have great durability compared with asphalt shingle roofs, EPDM membranes, etc.Įven in the Mediterranean, it was common to build up flat roofs with beams, then branches and twigs, layer it flat with oiled clay and maybe plaster or stone on top of that. Turve houses, roofs and coverings all have a long life, as well, depending upon construction and ongoing maintenance. This actually greatly extended the life of the roof, contrary to what the 'moss removal' industry would have us all believe (they want us to pay them to remove it, after all. The Welsh Roofing Moss, as it came to be called, would grow and fill in around voids, building up thick layers which in lower levels became peaty, dry and waterproof. In Wales-and also across the Irish Sea-it was common to use slate, thatch or stone and to work in moss that would in time take over.

Sod roofs, turve roofs, green roofs, mossy coverings-these are all traditional methods of providing water-proof, thermal roofs.

From these reservations, sod roofs have begun to reappear as an alternative to modern materials.Įvery year, since 2000, an award is also given to the best green roof project in Scandinavia by the board of the Scandinavian Green Roof Association. At the same time, open air museums and the preservation movement created a reservation for ancient building traditions. A new market was opened by the demand for mountain lodges and holiday homes. But just before extinction, the national romantics proclaimed a revival of vernacular traditions, including sod roofs. Corrugated iron and other industrial materials also became a threat to ancient traditions. Tile roofs, which appeared much earlier in towns and on rural manors, gradually superseded sod roofs except in remote inland areas during the 19th century. In rural areas sod roofs were almost universal until the beginning of the 18th century. During the Viking and Middle Ages most houses had sod roofs. Roofs in Scandinavia have probably been covered with birch bark and sod since prehistory.

Turf roofs in Norway are a tradition and you will see them everywhere. They are very heavy, so they help to stabilize the house they provide good insulation and they are long-lasting. The advantages of turf roofs (also called sod roofs) are many. A number of turf roofs have flowers mixed in with the grass, and a few have small trees. Others are golden and look like they’re growing wheat or oats. Some are bright green and almost velvety. For hundreds of years houses in Norway have been covered with turf. Norwegians have their own way of going green, and quite literally.

Grass roof home