Green roofs are also known as vegetated roofs or living roofs and essentially are roofs that are designed to support the growth of plants like grasses, mosses or various other lightweight plants that need very little upkeep, these are called intensive green roofs. Extensive green roofs are almost like gardens or parks and can support heavier plants like trees! These need regular maintenance.
Green roofs are gaining favour with many because of their gorgeous aesthetic and their sustainability benefits. They also reduce water runoff, absorb heat and sound and offer a safe space for pollinators or local wildlife to eat from or live. This concept is also great for urban farming initiatives where space is limited but high-rise buildings are plentiful.
Should you cultivate a green roof though?
They have many benefits, but they also have a great deal of negative aspects too. They’re expensive to set up, you can’t just pop some moss up on your roof and expect it to thrive with no other effort. You need to consider the drainage and build provisions for that. There also needs to be soil, insulation and safeguards to protect the roof itself.
A lack of proper drainage can cause leaks, and it will be much more expensive if THAT is the reason your roof is leaking. I would not suggest extensive living roofs on anything other than commercial buildings as trying to plant a tree on top of a normal house’s roof is most likely going to end badly.
Living roofs offer better air quality than normal roofs as they pump oxygen into the environment. They also absorb the surrounding carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to climate change. But again, they’re much heavier than conventional roofs, which means you need stronger foundations and load-bearing walls.
This is not the kind of thing that is simple to pop onto a pre-existing structure, and more so something you involve your architect in helping you develop. They will reduce electricity costs as they cool the area more and create shade. They offer a habitat for local wildlife to live in, which is wonderful, but do you really want them on your roof? I’m not sure your neighbours will be pleased.
Living roofs are really great, but definitely something to think long and hard about before developing one.
WeatherpRoof Restorations focuses on maintaining, repairing and restoring conventional roofs. If you’re interested in having us, come out and have a look, get in touch!
