Green Roof Structure

A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium planted over a waterproofing membrane.

Green roof structure. Also you need to protect the building structure so this is my recipe for making a living roof. The structure of a shallow pitched green roof differs slightly from the structure of a flat roof. It replaces the ecology the new house sits upon thereby replacing the habitat that a house takes away. Because water runs off the roof more quickly a thicker substrate layer is needed.

0 x insulation i had to put in some thermal insulation because our council building control couldn t calculate the u value for insulation of the living roof after installing it. The substrate gives the right amount of nutrients to the plants so your green roof stays nice and green. A green roof is a green space that is created by adding various layers of plants and a growing medium to the top portion of a traditional roofing system. 1 x roof it d be a normal garden if it wasnt on the roof.

They also deliver a whole range of benefits. A green roof is a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system that is installed on top of a flat or slightly sloped roof. Note that it is not like a traditional roof garden in which planting is done in free standing containers as well as planters that are placed on an easy to access roof terrace. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.

The layered structure may be built on site or arrive at the site in pre constructed modules which are raised to the rooftop and joined together. Green roofs for healthy cities grhc is the north american industry association for the green roof and wall sectors. Grhc develops and protects the market by increasing the awareness of the economic social and environmental benefits of green roofs green walls and other forms of living architecture through education advocacy professional development and celebrations of excellence. A green roof is in ecological terms a great and simple thing to do.

They fall into three main categories extensive intensive and semi intensive. Intensive green roofs require the deepest soil and have the greatest impact on the structural design but they also accommodate all types of plantings including large shrubs and trees. All green roofs have a layered structure built upon a roofing base structure. Intensive systems allow the designer to create a park like setting so they are the best option for roof gardens that will be occupied.

Green roofs extend the life and improve the performance of the roof cutting energy costs. A green roof is a great way to create an attractive design feature on an outbuilding like a shed or garage or transform your home. Used over a whole roof a green roof will be the single overriding design influence on the house as well as impacting on the construction right down to the foundations.