Green roofing, also known as vegetated roofing, involves cultivating low-growing plants on a roof. Far from just something that looks different from the norm, green roofing is good for you and the planet. It has the potential to lower energy costs, while adding a little more green to the planet earth. If it sounds like something new and unusual, you might be surprised to know that green roofs have been around for about 50 years.
Green roofs fall into two general categories: intensive and extensive. Intensive green roofing has at least a foot of soil on the roof and can really sustain a garden. Several different plant species can grow on an intensive group at one time. But as you can imagine, the weight of a foot of soil requires special structural supports and braces. And this type of roof takes a lot of maintenance and upkeep. These are the rare form of green roofing.
Extensive roofs, on the other hand, are becoming more and more common as the world becomes more environmentally aware. On these roofs, the soil only needs to be a few inches deep, and typically only certain species of plants, usually sedums, are grown. The plants that are grown on extensive green roofing are hardy, hard-to-kill plants that can flourish under almost any conditions.
Benefits of Green Roofing
One of the benefits of a green roof is much less stormwater runoff. The roofing material beneath the protective layer and the soil is no longer exposed to sunlight, which breaks roofing down. This means you'll replace roofing materials less frequently, which saves you money and spares the landfill. A roof with growing vegetation stays cooler, which keeps the home a little cooler as well. It serves as an extra layer of insulation. Green roofing attracts birds and animals, giving them back some of their habitat that has been lost. In some parts of Europe, people even let goats graze on their roofs.
Do You Have to Weed and Mow Green Roofing?
If you're picturing yourself trying to balance on your roof while killing dandelions with a weed popper or pushing a mower, don't worry: the shallow soil inhibits weed growth, and sedums are the typical plant life, which only grow to a certain height.
The biggest problem with green roofing is the impracticality of installing one on an existing structure. Because the roof wasn't built to support the kind of weight that 3 or 4 inches of rain-soaked soil creates, the roof of a home would almost have to be rebuilt. Green roofing is also currently much more expensive than a traditional roof, and not many contractors have dealt with installing one.
Certain types of roofs like steeply pitched or oddly angled roofing also present challenges for retrofitting a green roof. A contractor or architect experienced with these roofs would need to carefully evaluate a structure before changes could be made. But if you're planning new construction and you can find an architect experienced with green roofing, it's one option to consider.
Photo Credits: eaallen
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2 comments ↓
I think all contractors need to prepare for the use of Green Products and the practices that go along with it. We all have to understand that this will be the standard in the next decade and there is never a better time to start than now. Kudos to contractors who are implementing these techniques!!! Great Article!
Very nice post on Green Roofing. We have installed these and have seen some minor issues with weeds. It appears as if birds may have deposited the seeds for weeds to grow on a project. Fortunately the owner enjoys gardening.
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