Clematis - Destroyer of Roofing Felt?
Arthur Rose
I am not sure whether this is a gardening question. My wife planted a
clematis to disguise the unsightly drainpipe of our neighbour's flat-roof
garage. She did a good job, the drainpipe is a real beauty now. Over the
last couple of weeks the clematis has grown quite a lot. Now the problem:
our neighbours claims that this delicate plant has perforated the roofing
felt of his garage. Can that be? Or would it have simply grown through
existing cracks and holes? How powerful is that plant?
Thank you for your help.
Arthur Rose
Poole
Dorset
Arthur Rose
"Arthur Rose" <arthur...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:UxmAc.1599$eX3.1201@newsfe5-win...
So, how powerful is that plant?
Arthur Rose
nambucca
unless the felt was old ......find out when the felt was laid because any
Planning officer and builder will tell you Flat roofs have 10 years tops
.........our shed roof needs redoing every 5 years because the sun is full
on it so that could apply to your neighbours roof too
Emrys Davies
It is a gardening question and, more importantly, a common sense
question.
Whatever plant it is, simply prune it back so that it is not protruding
over your neighbours roof. Then you and your neighbour can get on with
your lives without quibbling about what is capable of causing damage or
what in fact is actually causing damage.
Already someone has mentioned a Planning Officer. What next. Try and
live your life in tranquillity.
Regards,
Emrys Davies.
"Arthur Rose" <arthur...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
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Chris Stewart
My clematis montana has a habit of growing under the flat top
roofing felt - you need to keep it cut back - my jasmine is trying to lift
off the shed roof - again no problem if you keep it cut back. Thin and
spindly they may be, but nature is strong :-)
Chris S
BAC
"nambucca" <namb...@nospam.com> wrote in message
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>
> "Arthur Rose" <arthur...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:eAnAc.233$Yx3.77@newsfe3-gui...
> >
> > "Arthur Rose" <arthur...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> > news:UxmAc.1599$eX3.1201@newsfe5-win...
> > > Dear gardeners,
> > > I am not sure whether this is a gardening question. My wife planted a
> > > clematis to disguise the unsightly drainpipe of our neighbour's
> flat-roof
> > > garage. She did a good job, the drainpipe is a real beauty now. Over
the
> > > last couple of weeks the clematis has grown quite a lot. Now the
> problem:
> > > our neighbours claims that this delicate plant has perforated the
> roofing
> > > felt of his garage. Can that be? Or would it have simply grown through
> > > existing cracks and holes? How powerful is that plant?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > Sorry, gardeners. It was not the clematis that did it. It was the
jasmine.
> > So, how powerful is that plant?
> >
felt
> unless the felt was old ......find out when the felt was laid because any
> Planning officer and builder will tell you Flat roofs have 10 years tops
I doubt that. There are numerous different weights and qualities of roofing
felts, and felt based flat roof covering systems, some of which come with
warranties of longer than 10 years. Our garage needed a new covering last
year, when it sprang a leak after 33 years (according to elderly neighbour
who saw it built), and the guarantee is for 20 years.
> .........our shed roof needs redoing every 5 years because the sun is full
> on it so that could apply to your neighbours roof too
Strikes me the best way to avoid disputes about climbing plants potentially
damaging a neighbour's building is to stop them from intruding on the
neighbour's property? Appearing to dismiss his concerns by suggesting his
roof may simply have been too frail to cope with the intrusive plant might
be counterproductive?
Spider
Hello Arthur,
Is the flat roof ever walked on during house maintenance or during the
monthly visit of the window cleaner? I should have thought this was more
likely to cause perforation. (My husband refuses to let anyone but himself
onto our flat roof. When hubby goes up there, he always lays down a
protective board first).
Does your neighbour put out bird food on the flat roof, causing it to be
perforated by beaks?
Certainly, some climbing plants can damage roofing, but they generally do it
by lifting the felt or tiles. I've never heard of a plant causing
perforations .. yet.
Spider
Charlie Pridham
>
> "Arthur Rose" <arthur...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:UxmAc.1599$eX3.1201@newsfe5-win...
> >
> >
> So, how powerful is that plant?
>
> Arthur Rose
>
through the little hole at the bottom where the clip goes and just gets
bigger with age until the slate goes under the pressure)
Just cut the top part back each year.
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)
Mike
> >
> Yes more than strong enough, I have seen it split slates as well (gets
> through the little hole at the bottom where the clip goes and just gets
> bigger with age until the slate goes under the pressure)
Charlie's comment here reminded me of a DIY tip.
When fixing something on a tiled surface, i.e. in the Bathroom etc, drill
the hole but make sure the little plastic plug goes 'through' the tile, and
NOT flush with the surface, otherwise when you put your screw in, as it gets
to the straight bit under the head, it expands the plastic plug and cracks
the tile.
Sorry for being OT
Mike
Arthur Rose
well cut back. I will never underestimate Mother Nature. And for my
neighbour and his rotting roofing felt I will get one of those repair kits
Mike mentioned.
Thanks again and happy gardening.
Arthur