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David
and Deirdre (URI Master Gardener) Wrenn, Wickford, RI
What you will see!
Area 3: Roof runoff control - this
page
Existing
conditions and section 1 - front porch
Section 2 - kitchen entrance
Section 3 - back porch
Area
1: Coastal Bank -- sustainable plants
Area
2: Shade Bed -- sustainable plants
Back to demonstration sites
Area
3: Roof runoff control - front porch
Tip 5 - reduce runoff
Tip 6 - reduce soil erosion
Existing conditions:
The
turn of the century home contains gothic style roof peaks,
which are not readily adapted to a traditional
modern roof gutter system--both structurally and aesthetically. 
Roof
runoff concentrates and pours off three corners of the
house with enough force and volume to create temporary
ponding and bare spots where nothing will grow.
The
owners are not interested in collecting this rainwater
with various
rainwater collection systems, mostly to
preserve the aesthetics of the house. The soils around
the house
and yard are well drained, so problems with ponding
are due to poor grading along the house foundation
and surface infiltration being reduced by years of periodic
inundation
of roof runoff.
Goal: The plan is to skim the top three to six inches of soil
off of these runoff impacted areas, gently grade the existing
soil away from the house foundation and towards the lawn
and garden areas, and replace with crushed stone (3/8 blue
stone) to absorb the force of the runoff and help dissipate
and infiltrate
the
water into the ground. Landscape fabric will be placed beneath
the crushed stone to prevent weeds and fines from mixing
with the crushed stone layer. The perimeter areas surrounding
the crushed
stone will be planted to hosta
to soften the contours and provide scenic
enhancement.
The area has been skimmed and gently graded to drain
away from the house. Landscape fabric was placed beneath
the stone. October 2003. |
3/8
inch crushed blue stone, October 2003. Stone
was placed at a thicker depth at the point of direct
impact from
the roof runoff. Again, the area slopes gently away
from the house. October 2003.
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Hostas
from on site have been planted around
the permiter of the crushed stone to soften
and blend the edges of the stone work. These plants
can also tolerate the temporary inundation of stormwater.
May 2004
July 6, 2005
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Section
2 - kitchen entrance
Southern
edge of house next to kitchen entrance. This area around
the house foundation and kitchen
entrance pond due to poor surface grading and
the large runoff volume from a large roof area, July
2003. |
The plants in this area were removed and transplanted.
The soil was skimmed and graded gently away from the
house. October 2003. |
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Section
3 - back porch
The
northeast corner of house where it adjoins an enclosed
back
porch area, July 2003. |
The
daylillies in the area of impact were removed, the soil
was skimmed, landscape fabric installed, and 3/8
inch crushed stone was placed. October 2003.
May 2004
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Area
1: Coastal Bank -- sustainable plants
Area
2: Shade Bed -- sustainable plants
Back to demonstration sites
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