CA2923193A1 - Permanent four season self-watering flat green roof - Google Patents

Abstract

All commonly called green roofs were prone to damage from the sun, mold, accumulated snow, ice expansion, torrential rains and being walked on plus needed frequent watering but this invention solves all of the above mentioned problems in the following ways: a structurally reinforced permanent rain water catchment reservoir that is formed by dams and a walkable hard, mold resistant, multi-layered, waterproof floor containing soil which continually moisturizes the vegetation plus the following angled walls, eavestroughs, dams, ice-deflector, and ice fracturing panels prevent ice expansion damage plus the gravel in the oversized eavestroughs slows rain overflow preventing soil erosion while the overflow eavestrough spouts remove winter surface meltwater runoffs plus all parts are covered either by soil or gravel preventing sun damage plus the low fascia walls allows wind to blow the snow off this walkable green roof plus optional roosts and electrical fence.

Description

Detailed Description of this Invention [0001] In the particularly advantageous embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIG. 1 through to FIG.6., there are several methods of building this permanent four-season self-watering flat green root but all follow the same unique multi layered process to ensure a permanent supply of rain water to the mixed soil while surviving without structural damage for many decades, from torrential rains and water freezing to ice.

[0002] In order to create this unique, robust, permanent, four season self-watering flat green roof, FIG.1, this invention must be built in the following multi layers listed below.

[0003] First the flat roof support structure, 3, is reinforced with more and larger joists, cross members, diagonal cross members, and triangular shaped support wedges, 3, to easily hold the additional weight, FIG.1, of this green roof.

[0004] The fascia, 2, support structure, 3, is reinforced with a triangular shaped support structure material, 3, with the longest side facing towards the, 11A, perimeter gravel.

[0005] This, 3, triangle shaped support structure material is also used to help form and reinforce the bottom side or sides of the, 5, eavestrough. This causes the runoff water to move more quickly helping to remove debris, plus if the water freezes and expands, this ice will rise up the sloped walls without causing structural damage.

[0006] The, 6, reservoir dam or dams are triangular shaped materials with the widest side being securely fastened to the, 3, flat roof support structure close to or part of the, 5, eavestrough. The outer, 6, reservoir dam or dams' sides that slope upward are at an angle not greater than forty-five degrees. This, 6, reservoir dam or dams hold back the, 10, rain water reservoir's water while allowing the excess water to flow over top the, 6, reservoir dam and exit by means of the , 5, eavestrough, unlike other green roof designs that use pipe and valves which can easily be plugged by debris and or be broken by freezing water.

[0007] The height of the, 6, reservoir dam will determine how much rain water is held in the, 10, rain water reservoir. This height will be locally determined by how much rain water needs to be restrained in the, 10, rain water reservoir to guarantee enough water to supply the plants growing in, 13, mixed soil between precipitation events.

[0008] The minimum depth of the, 6, reservoir dam is one-third the depth of the, 13, mixed soil depth. The minimum, 13, mixed soil depth should be one and one-third the depth of the average gardener's shovel.

[0009] All of the above-mentioned, 3, flat roof support structure parts, which includes the eavestroughs, inner fascia walls, dam or dams' outer walls, reservoir floor supports, and perimeter floor supports, are then covered by a solid rigid robust low resin, 7, flat roof sublayer. The low resin flat roof sub layer allows the, 8, flat roof top layer to chemically adhere to the, 7, flat roof sub layer.

[0010] This ,8, flat roof top layer consists of a double layered combo resin saturated woven, and or sewn, and or tubular, and or chopped fibre mat that in turn is covered by an ultraviolet, water and mold resistant reflective coloured gel coat which is then covered by several layers of waterproofing, ultraviolet, and mold resistant coatings.

[0011] This, 8, flat roof top layer is then covered by a robust, 9, horizontal perforated dimpled protective roof covering in order to protect the, 8, flat roof top layer from being damaged by the gravel being placed on top this, 9, horizontal perforated dimpled protective roof covering.
This also protects this, 8, flat roof top layer by causing expanding freezing water to horizontally shear on top and below this, 9, horizontal perforated dimpled protective covering.

[0012] Next a, 11 A, gravel perimeter is poured over the, 9, horizontal, perforated, dimpled, protective roof covering. This gravel may consist of but not limited to being washed gravel and or aggregate. The size of the stones in this gravel, 11A, will be larger in heavier rainfall areas than in arid areas. This allows the excess rainwater to reach and exit faster down the, 4, eavestrough downspouts.

[0013] The, 17A, eavestrough downspout funnel screens allows torrential rain and meltwater on the frozen, 13, mixed soil to flow over and off the, FIG1, permanent four season self-watering flat roof in an orderly and controlled method.

[0014] The, 17, eavestrough downspout screen stops debris from plugging up the, 4, eavestrough downspout unlike other green roof systems.

[0015] Next a robust, long lasting, ultraviolet resistant, 12, perforated diagonal ice deflector panels are placed on the inside of the, 11A, gravel perimeter which not only deflects ice, but separates the, 11A, perimeter gravel from the, 13, mixed soil while allowing water through which is unique to this invention.

[0016] These, 12, perforated diagonal ice deflector panels and the, 10, rain water reservoir floor are then covered with a, 13A, landscape fabric which prevents the, 13, mixed soil and plant roots from passing through the, 9, horizontal perforated protective roof covering on the, 10, rain water reservoir floor and the, 12, perforated diagonal ice deflector panels while allowing water through.

[0017] This, 13A, landscape fabric is then covered with, 11, gravel up to the top height of the, 6, reservoir dam or dams. This separates the plant roots growing in the, 13, mixed soil from the water in the, 10, rainwater reservoir, lithe roots were in the water, it would cause them to rot.

[0018] This, 13, mixed soil is then placed on top this, 11, gravel bed. This, 13, mixed soil consists of top soil, natural fertilizers, and water absorbing fibres that will be favourable to the type of plants growing in this, 13, mixed soil. The water in the, 10, rainwater reservoir will be absorbed by the, 13, mixed soil and used by the plants.

[0019] Large roofs, FIG.6, in areas of torrential rains or areas that freeze should make their, 13, mixed soil beds no larger than around, 27, ten metres by, 27, ten metres with , 26, one metre wide, 11B, gravel walkways and half a metre wide, 11A, gravel perimeter to allow for drainage and ice expansion. When fresh water freezes it increases its volume by approximately nine per cent. The larger a, 13, mixed soil bed is, the more powerful and destructive its expansion during freezing can be. The above mentioned dimensions will prevent any, 3, flat roof support structure damage unlike other green roof designs that do not allow for ice expansion.

[0020] ,FIG1, shows an, 5, eavestrough design for moderate rainfall areas while FIG.4, shows a deeper, 5, eavestrough design for torrential rainfall areas and FIG.5, shows an, 5, eavestrough design for areas that water freezes. This angled, 5, eavestrough uniquely helps guide the expanding freezing water upward so it doesn't damage the , 3, flat roof support structure.
[00211 ,FIG.2, shows the deliberate guided, 15, direction of the freezing water's expansion.
The, 14, perforated vertical ice fracturing panels in conjunction with the, 12, perforated diagonal ice deflector panels create a section that becomes a, 16, pressure relief area allowing itself to be pushed upward by the surrounding freezing water. This will uniquely prevent ice expansion damage to the, Fig 1, permanent four-season self-watering flat green roof.
[0022] Large plants, 20, over two metres in height or plants with very aggressive roots should be housed in the, 18, expandable large plant tube with, 18A, overlapping expansion sides held in place by a, 1813, stretchable retainer bands to allow the, 18, expandable large plant tube to uniquely expand during freezing, unlike other green roof plant containers. It should be noted that the section of the, 18, expandable large plant tube placed in the, 11, gravel bed and, 13, mixed soil in the, 10, rainwater reservoir is, 19, perforated to allow water to pass through the, 13A, landscape fabric and enter the gravel so the, 13, mixed soil can absorb the water for the, 20, large plant. The walls of the, 18, large plant tube above the, 11, gravel bed are not, 19, perforated to restrain the, 20, large plant roots and keep the, 13, mixed soil from drying out especially if this, 18, large plant tube is higher than the surrounding, 13, mixed soil.
[00231 The low, 2, fascia walls allow the wind to blow the snow off the, FIG.1, permanent four season self-watering flat green roof, so dangerously heavy snowbanks do not form unlike other perimeter green roof walls.

[0024] These, 2, fascia walls have a, 21, bird nesting ledge on the, 2, fascia wail's inner side that is properly spaced below the, 29, soffit and the adjoining, 28, exterior wall to allow a person's favourite local, 22, birds to land and nest on this, 21, bird nesting ledge.
Over seventy-five per cent of all urban, 22, birds are killed in their first eight weeks of life by domestic cats and other predators. This, 21, bird nesting ledge will greatly reduce this needless killing.
[0025] The, 21, bird nesting ledge can also be used to hide and hold a string of electrical lights that would light up the, 29, soffit and , 28, exterior wall without the lights being visible from below.
[0026] The, 2, fascia can also incorporate a plug-in or solar PV panel to power a unique electrified security system. The, 25, live electrical wire is separated from the upper outer side of the conductive, 1, fascia top cap by, 25A, insulated fasteners. This, 1, conductive fascia top cap is grounded by an, 23, electrical ground cable. If a, 24, conductive guard railing is used then you can also run the, 25, live electrical wire to the, 24, conductive guard railing provided you use a custom designed, 24A, guard rail insulator.
[0027] This unique, 24A, conductive guard rail post insulator is a sturdy, flexible, electrical insulating material that is slightly larger than the, 24B, conductive guard rail post mount and extends down into the pre-drilled countersunk hole, part of the pre-drilled fasteners hole. This fasteners hole is filled with flexible, waterproof caulking before the, 24C, fastener is screwed into this pre-drilled hole to hold and completely seal this hole when the, 24C, fastener is screwed through the, 24B, conductive guard rail post mount and, 24A, the guard rail insulator and then into the flexible caulking filled pre-drilled countersunk hole to completely seal this hole and insulate the, 24, electrified conductive guard rail post from the, 1, grounded fascia top cap.
[0028] This outer perimeter electrical security system will deter critters and burglars from climbing on to the, FIG.1, permanent four season self-watering flat green roof. This unique electrified security system can be easily turned off when the owner is on the, FIG.1, permanent four season self-watering green roof. The electrical shock from this system will not cause permanent damage to the critters or burglars.
[0029] Light coloured, shiny gravel should be used in the, 5, eavestroughs, 11A, gravel perimeter and the, 11, gravel walkway in hot climates to reflect sunlight thereby keeping the gravel cooler.
[0030] Dark dull coloured gravel should be used in the, 5, eavestroughs, 11A, gravel perimeters and the, 118, gravel walkways in cold ice prone climates. The dark dull colour will cause this gravel to retain heat from sunlight and melt ice quicker than light shiny coloured gravel would.

Summary of Invention [0001] This invention provides an improved robust, permanent, four-season, self-watering, flat green roof that can be cultivated and or walked on for many decades, unlike past fragile designed green roofs. This invention is designed to repeatedly withstand torrential rains and being frozen solid for many decades without causing any damage to the green roof or its building's structure.
[0002] The unique multi layered way this self-watering green roof is built is the reason for its maintenance free longevity. It starts with a reinforced support structure that is built to hold this robust mold resistant permanent green roof.
[0003] Next the support structure is covered with a low resin, solid, rigid, flat roof sublayer.
This includes covering the perimeter fascia walls, built-in eavestroughs, plus reservoir dam or dams that form the perimeter around the rain water reservoir. This flat roof sub-layer includes the rain water reservoir floor.
[0004] This flat roof sublayer is then covered by the flat roof top layer consisting of double layered, resin saturated combo fibre mat that is then covered by an ultra violet resistant and mold resistant gel coat, which is then in turn covered with waterproofing coating which is also ultra violet and mold resistant.
[0005] Next a perforated, dimpled, shock resistant, robust, protective, mainly horizontal roof covering is applied over the flat top roof layer.
[0006] Then washed gravel and or aggregate is poured around the perimeter.
[0007] Next the perforated, robust, diagonal ice deflector panels are placed around the inside of the gravel perimeter at approximately a forty-five degree angle. These diagonal panels also separate the mixed soil from the gravel perimeter.
[0008] These diagonal ice deflectors and rain water reservoir floor are in turn covered with a landscape fabric.
[0009] This landscape fabric is then covered with gravel to the top height of the reservoir dam and or damns while placing the perforated vertical ice-factoring panels in this gravel that covers the reservoir floor.
[0010] Next the water absorbing mixed soil is placed over this gravel and rain water filled reservoir to a few centimetres below the top of the fascia cap .This completes this permanent, four-season, self-watering, flat green roof.

[0011] It should be mentioned that the low fascia walls allow the wind to blow the snow off this green roof, preventing dangerously heavy, large snowbanks from forming.
[0012] The low fascia walls also uniquely incorporate a bird nesting ledge on its inner side properly spaced below the soffit so the birds can land on this nesting ledge.
[0013] This bird nesting ledge can also hold an electrical lighting system that will illuminate the soffit and adjoining exterior wall without being visible from below.
[0014] A unique plug-in or solar powered electrified security system is connected to the upper, outer side of the electrical conductive top fascia cap, plus if used, a conductive railing can also be electrified. This deters critters and thieves from climbing onto this green roof.
[0015] In the drawings, which form a part of this specifications FIG. 1 is a side view of the permanent four season self-watering flat green roof.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the permanent four season self-watering green roof showing the direction the freezing ice, soil, gravel, perforated vertical ice fracturing and diagonal ice deflecting panels, would take.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the permanent four season self-watering flat green roof.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view showing the larger eavestrough design and larger washed gravel used in heavier rainfall areas.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view showing an eavestrough design for cold freezing areas plus the electrified security system powered by a plug-in or PV panel powered system. This figure also shows the perforated, self-watering expandable large plant tube and a bird nesting ledge that can also conceal an electrical lighting system.
FIG. 6 is a top view showing the layout patterns for soil, reservoir dams, walkways, perimeter gravel and eavestroughs for a large roof.

Claims (52)

The Embodiments Of The Invention In Which An Exclusive Property Or Privilege Is Claimed Are Defined As Follows:

1. The flat roof support structure is specifically reinforced with heavier and or larger joists, vertical cross members, diagonal cross members to uniquely hold the weight of the rain water reservoir, dam or dams, fascia, built in eavestroughs, sub and top layers of the flat roof plus the perforated, horizontal, diagonal, vertical, protective and ice deflective panels plus the gravel, mixed soil, and water that make up the heart of this permanent four season self-watering flat green roof, plus if applicable, snow loads.

2. The fascia and or bottom of the eavestrough support structure has a robust, rigid, triangular shaped piece or pieces helping to hold the vertical fascia sides to the horizontal sides of the flat roof support structure. The widest part of the triangle faces inward towards the inside of the eavestrough and or gravel perimeter.

3. The flat roof sublayer is fastened to the flat roof support structure and can be made from a number of different materials, but this sub roof material must uniquely consist of a low resin, rigid, sturdy, flat, smooth material that can hold the materials on top this material without bending or cracking. This flat roof sublayer uniquely becomes the, inner fascia walls, inner eavestrough walls, dam outer walls, rain reservoir floors, gravel perimeter floors and walls.

4. This invention's dam or dams are built of rigid, robust, triangular shaped materials. The widest part of this triangle is securely fastened down on top of this roof s support structure and or the sub roof.

5. This triangular shaped dam rises up from the sub floor at an angle not greater than forty-five degrees. This is to help withstand the rain reservoir's water pressure and deflect the ice upwards if applicable, without causing any structural damage. No other green roof invention has this.

6. The height of this dam will dictate the depth of the rain water held in the rain water reservoir.

7. This rain water reservoir forms on the inner side of this dam's angled walls. This rain water reservoir can also be formed by a dam joined to two parallel fascia walls.
Which combination will be used will be decided by the size and shape of the applicable roof size.

8. The excess rain water is removed by allowing this rain water to flow over this dam's top edge and into the built in eavestroughs where this water exits by the eavestrough downspouts.
There are no complicated pipes and control valves that can plug up or freeze and break like some other green roof designs have.

9. The dam's height will be locally decided upon depending on the amount of the local rainfall.
This dam's height will be high enough to hold enough rain water in this rain water reservoir between rainfalls to easily supply enough water to the plants growing in the mixed soil on top this gravel and water-filled rain water reservoir.

10. The minimum height of this dam or dams will be one-third of the height of the mixed soil on top of this invention's gravel and rain water filled rain water reservoir.
This mixed soil will not be less than one and one-third the depth of the average garden shovel's depth.

11. This invention's flat roof top layer is chemically bonded to the whole flat roof bottom layer by using resin saturated double layered combo, and or weaved, and or sewn, and or tubular, and or chopped fibre mats.

12. These mats are then in turn covered and chemically bonded to an ultraviolet and water resistant reflective coloured gel coat. This gel coat is applied at least twice over these mats.

13. This gel coat is then in turn covered and chemically bonded to an ultraviolet and mold resistant, waterproof coating that is applied at least twice. This waterproof coating chemical structure consists of molecules that bond together so closely that no water molecule can pass between them.

14. This waterproof coating is resistant to damage from sunlight and to water freezing into ice.

15. This waterproof coating that covered all of the flat roof top layer is then completely covered by a robust, long lasting, perforated, dimpled, mainly horizontal, protective flat roof covering.
This protective covering prevents the gravel that is dumped on top the waterproof coating and the other layers of the flat roof top layer from being damaged.

16. The perforations in this protective covering allow water to pass through.

17. These perforations also prevent ice from forming strong bonds with the ice that forms above and below this protective covering. This means that as this ice above forms and expands, it will easily shear away from the ice that forms below this protective covering, thereby preventing any structural damage to this flat roof's components.

18. A washed gravel and or aggregate stone is used to fill the perimeter and walkways to a height of a few centimetres below the fascia cap, unlike other green roof designs. This allows the winter winds to blow the snow off the permanent four season self-watering flat green roof, thereby helping to prevent dangerously heavy and deep snow banks from forming on this roof.

19. This washed gravel and or aggregate stone also fills the eavestroughs allowing water to pass easily through, but prevents leaves and other debris from clogging up the eavestroughs.

20. This washed gravel and or aggregate stone in the eavestrough and or perimeter helps to dissipate the destructive force of the fresh water as it freezes and expands by approximately nine per cent by volume. When fresh water molecules freeze, they not only expand but form a strong structural bond to the adjoining water molecules. The larger this area is of these freezing fresh water molecules, the structurally stronger and more destructive they become as they expand. This washed gravel and or aggregate stone, separates the water into smaller areas, thereby significantly reducing the freezing fresh water molecules' destructive force.

21. This washed gravel and or aggregate stone size can be uniquely calibrated locally to allow the excess precipitation to be quickly removed by this style of roof. This means the larger the local rainfall is, the larger the diameter of the stone pieces in the washed gravel and or aggregate would be.

22. This washed gravel and or aggregate stone also forms a vertical structural wall around the perforated eavestrough downspout funnel. This funnel not only allows water to pass through it's sides, but over it's top. This becomes very important when there is excess water flowing over the gravel and mixed soil from torrential rains or when the mixed soil and gravel are frozen and there is surface melting runoff water. There is a perforated cover over this funnel's top to keep out debris.

23. This washed gravel and or aggregate stone covers all or part of the dam or dam's walls. This allows the excess water from the rainwater reservoir to easily flow over the dam and quickly exit via the gravel-filled eavestrough. There are no complicated valves and pipes that can plug or freeze and break in this excess water overflow design like other green roof designs.

24. The inner side of this washed gravel and or aggregate stone that covers the dam or dams, is at an angle not greater than forty-five degrees. This is so it can securely support the perforated diagonal ice deflector panels that are laid on top this inner side. These diagonal panels rest against the horizontal, perforated, dimpled flat roof covering and rises up to the top height of the gravel these panels are laid against.

25. These perforated diagonal, ice-deflecting panels allow water to easily pass through.

26. These perforated diagonal, ice-deflective panels also prevent ice from forming strong structural bonds with the ice on the panels' inner and outer surfaces. This causes the expanding ice to fracture and push harmlessly upward along these perforated diagonal ice deflector panels.

27. Landscape fabric is then placed on the inner side of these perforated diagonal, ice deflector panels and over the rainwater reservoir floors. This allows water to pass through it but prevents the mixed soil particles from passing through this landscape fabric and plugging up the eavestroughs.

28. Gravel is then poured over this landscape fabric in the rainwater reservoir to an even depth that is equal to the height of the dam's highest point. This allows the excess rainwater to flow easily through this gravel and over the dam.

29. This dam also captures and holds enough water in the rain water reservoir to add the right amount of moisture to the mixed soil that is on top this rainwater reservoirs' gravel. This type of dam and rainwater reservoir is unique to this invention.

30. This rainwater reservoirs gravel prevents the plant roots in the above mixed soil from sitting in the rainwater reservoirs water. This would cause the plants roots to rot if the roots were actually sitting in the water.

31. The mixed soil that is poured over the rainwaters reservoirs gravel is added to a depth equal to the top height of the perimeter's and or eavestrough's gravel highest point. This mixed soil consists of topsoil, natural water absorbing fibre and fertilizer that is favourable to the plants that are going to be grown in this mixed soil.

32. Perforated vertical ice fracturing panels are placed from the perforated, horizontal, dimpled, protective roof coverings straight up through the rainwater reservoir gravel and mixed soil to the top surface of the mixed soil. These vertical panels are placed on the inner side of the perforated diagonal ice deflector panels at an approximate distance of one-tenth the width and or length of the mixed soil, according to what is applicable. These vertical panels allow water through but prevent ice from forming strong structural bonds to the ice on either side of these perforated vertical panels. This allows the ice to easily fracture along the sides of these vertical panels as the water freezes and expands.

33. As the water freezes in the rainwater reservoirs gravel and mixed soil, the section between the perforated diagonal ice deflector panels and the vertical ice fracturing panels can be easily pushed upwards as the freezing water expands. This prevents any harmful pressure building up against and damaging the perimeter fascia and or eavestrough walls.

34. These perforated vertical ice fracturing panels in conjunction with the landscape fabric can also be used to separate plants that have aggressive roots from other plants in the rainwater reservoirs mixed soil.

35. Large plants that are over two metres high should be placed in the large plant perforated expandable tube. This tube is made of a robust, ultraviolet, and mold resistant flat material that is rolled into a circular tube-shape with overlapping sides that are held together by one or more stretchable retainer bands. This uniquely allows the large plant's soil to expand when frozen.

36. The large plant tube is placed directly on top the perforated, horizontal, dimpled protective roof covering. This tube is perforated and covered with landscape fibre. This large plant tube is then filled with gravel to the same height as the rainwater reservoirs gravel that surrounds this large plant tube. The perforations are only as high as the surrounding gravel to allow water to enter and moisten the mixed soil that is placed on top the gravel in this large plant tube. This will contain the large plant's root ball while keeping this root ball from drying out, especially if the large plant tube is higher than the rainwater reservoirs mixed soil that surrounds this large plant tube.

37. In the bottom of the eavestrough the triangular shaped structural reinforcement pieces cause the excess rain water to flow more quickly helping to remove debris plus allow freezing water to expand harmlessly upward.

38. The moderate eavestrough design has it' s floor at the same level as the rainwater reservoirs floor, with only the dam or dams separating these two floors. This dramatically reduces construction costs but can only be used where there is moderate precipitation. This moderate eavestrough design can be filled with the same sized gravel as the rainwater reservoir.

39. The deep rectangular eavestrough design is for torrential rainfall areas and is filled with larger washed gravel stones to allow the excess rainwater to flow away faster.

40. The deep V-shaped eavestrough design is for heavy rainfall areas where the water may freeze. This V-shape uniquely allows the forming ice to easily rise upward without damaging the eavestrough.

41. This V-shaped eavestrough would be filled with large washed gravel stones to allow the rapid exit of excess rainwater.

42. The bird nesting ledge is a ledge that extends inward from the bottom of the inner side of the fascia and is horizontal to the above soffit and is far enough away from the soffit and adjacent building's wall to allow the desired birds to land and nest on this ledge.

43. This bird nesting ledge can also have electrical lights placed on this ledge's inner topside that connects to the inner fascia wall. This will allow the soffit and adjoining exterior wall to be electrically illuminated at night while hiding the lights from view.

44. A unique plugin or P.V. solar powered electrified security system that deters unwanted critters and burglars can be attached in two different or combined methods. In both methods, the fascia top cap is made of an electrical conductive material and has an electrical conductive ground wire attached to this fascia top cap. The first method is to attach an electrified wire to insulated fasteners that in turn are fastened to the grounded fascia cap. This will run the electrified wire beside and close enough to the grounded fascia cap to shock any critter or burglar that tries to climb between or over them, plus shock anyone who places a ladder against the electrified wire.

45. The second method is to electrify the conductive guard railing posts and conductive railings while using uniquely designed insulators to separate the railing posts from the grounded conductive fascia cap. This means that if a burglar places a ladder against or tries to climb over this railing, he will receive a deterring shock.

46. This unique conductive guard rail post insulator is a sturdy, flexible, electrical insulating material that is slightly larger than the conductive guard rails post mount and extends down into the pre-drilled, countersunk hole, part of the pre-drilled fastener's hole. This fastener's hole is filled with flexible waterproof caulking before the fastener is screwed into this pre-drilled hole for the purpose of completely sealing this hole when the fastener is securely screwed through the conductive guard rail post mount and the guard rail post insulator and then into the flexible caulking filled pre-drilled countersunk hole. This will completely seal this hole and insulate the conductive electrified guard rail post from the grounded fascia top cap.

47. This electrified security system will only produce enough of a shock to deter critters and burglars without permanently harming them.

48. By grounding the conductive fascia top cap, it will protect the house from being damaged by lightning strikes.

49. Most areas require a perimeter guard railing by law. The perimeter railing used on this permanent four season self-watering flat green roof should be made of materials that do not impede the wind so that this railing does not cause deep, heavy, snowbanks to form on this roof behind this railing. A railing that impedes the wind could also easily be damaged in hurricane force winds.

50. Other green roofs are on top of one of the following types of flat roofs:
E. P.D.M. or cement, or tar and gravel roofs. All of these will develop mold and or permanent wet surfaces that will prematurely cause these roofs to leak. Walking on these roofs will usually void their manufacturer's warranty. This invention has the only flat roof top layer that will never mold and will not prematurely leak from people walking on this green roof. This permanent four season flat green roof is the only green roof designed to permanently hold water for many decades without leaking.

51. Light coloured shiny gravel should be used in the eavestroughs, gravel perimeters and gravel walkways in hot climates to reflect sunlight, thereby keeping the gravel cooler than dark dull gravel would.

52. Dark, dull coloured gravel should be used in the eavestroughs gravel perimeters and gravel walkways in cold, ice prone climates. The dark, dull colour will cause the gravel to retain heat from sunlight and melt ice quicker than light, shiny coloured gravel would.