Green Roofing 101: A Complete Guide To Sustainable Roofing

Green roofing is a great way to incorporate some sustainability into your property. Whether it be your family home or a commercial property that you want to breathe some life into, a green roof is the perfect way to do so. We have broken down the key things you need to know before you decide to install a green roof, as well as a few tips and tricks to help you care for your new roof! Keep reading to find our complete guide to sustainable roofing.



Reasons To Invest In A Green Roof

Aside from their unique aesthetic and interesting features, there are a range of sustainable reasons that a green roof could benefit your property.

●    Better Air Quality - Plants are naturally good for air quality, filtering out any harmful air pollutants like carbon dioxide even from rainwater.

●    Durable - A properly installed green roof can be even stronger than a traditional roof. Their life expectancy is around 40 years! Which is far longer than the 20 year estimate given for standard roofing.

●    Increased Property Value - A green roof can be an attractive asset to some buyers. If you are thinking about selling your home soon, or at some point in the future, installing a green roof can be a good investment to help you sell your home for more later down the line.

●    Money Saving - Due to their incredible ability to insulate, your green roof can help you to trap more heat in your property, especially on colder days, reducing the overall heating bills too and saving you money. Additionally, they are good for cooling as well, helping overall with a building’s energy efficiency, reducing harmful impacts on the environment.

●    Promotes Biodiversity - A green roof is a brilliant way to promote biodiversity too. With a range of plants, shrubs and trees, it’s the perfect way to encourage wildlife in a safe environment.

How Do I Know If I Can Have A Green Roof?

It is usually flat roofs that green roofs are developed on. Due to the materials and development that is being used on the roof, including the plants, drainage systems and the different materials involved, it’s important that the roof can support all of this weight. Tiled roofs, for example, cannot be used for green roofing. And, extremely steeply inclined roofs will be developed as a green wall rather than a green roof.

There are also external factors such as the placement of your building, and if it is too in the shade, or surrounded by other buildings, a green roof may not be suitable. This is because shadows, noise and any kind of pollution can potentially harm your green roof and the ecosystems within it.

We would recommend speaking to professional consultants or surveyors or an installation company to help you establish whether your roof is suitable for green roofing. They will be able to guide you through the process and help you to find any problems before you start the process.

Planning Permission

Typically, planning permissions are not usually required for green roofing, however, speaking to a consultant for clarification is definitely the best idea. This way, you won’t run into any unexpected issues during the commencement of your project, or any hindrances down the line.

Can I Still Have Solar Panels?

If you are thinking about solar panels and a green roof, you may think you need to sacrifice one or the other, but these two sustainable sources work in perfect harmony together!

With the excellent insulation from the green roof, dew and rain that collect on the roof actually bring it to an ambient temperature, which is perfect for optimising your solar panel efficiency. Research has shown that a combination of solar panels with a green roof can actually lead to a 4-5% energy efficiency gain. Plus, these two additions to your home are brilliant for the environment and for increasing the value of your property.

Types Of Green Roof

There are a few main types of green roof that you should be aware of before you decide to go through with your installation.

Intensive vs Extensive

So, the main two types are intensive and extensive green roofing. Intensive green roofing means that the green roof has a deeper planting layer, so it can withhold a wider variety of plants, like bushes, shrubs and trees. Intensive green roofs will require a little more maintenance, making them a popular choice for a lot of commercial properties. They are good for terraces and open rooftop areas, but a survey and inspection should be carried out beforehand to make sure that the roof can sustain all the plants.

Next we have extensive roofing which is a much shallower installation, incorporating different kinds of plants such as moss and grasses, which are excellent for promoting wildlife and natural ecosystems. You may see extensive roofing on both domestic and commercial properties, and these kinds of green roofs require very little maintenance once they have been installed.

Brown (Biodiverse)

Brown or biodiverse roofing is similar to extensive roofing styles. It is used as an alternative habitat, or a method of conservation in cases where building developments have infringed on brownfield land. But, the planting and process used is similar to that of extensive green roofing.

Tips For Caring For Your Green Roof

There are some key things to remember when it comes to maintaining your green roof. If you have opted for an extensive roof, although it requires little maintenance, keeping an eye on how your green roof is doing will help you to get the most out of it and help your shrubs and plants to reach their full potential.

Watering Your Plants

Keeping your green roof properly hydrated and watered is essential to keeping it alive. In rainy seasons, there is little for you to do, as the roof is already being naturally watered. However, in the summer, it’s vital that you check in on your plants to make sure they are well hydrated.

Doing your research will also help with this, as the amount of watering that your roof needs will highly depend on the variation of plants you have. Some plants will require different levels of care in comparison to others. You can ask you installers about this and they should be able to advise you well.

Generally speaking, in hotter seasons, two weeks without any water can start to cause problems with your roof. (Additionally, it's important not to overwater your green roof either)

Drainage

Drainage is essential to your green roof, and the drainage systems need to be able to cope with the amount of water passing through the green roof. Typically, a HDPE membrane is used, storing the water in small cups, so that the roof can pull water from these stores if need be. And, excess rain will pass through the perforations in the membrane.

If you’re feeling unsure about any of the elements that come with a green roof, speak to your roofing company to gain more information and advice about your personal situation.

B & D Roofing

Here at B & D Roofing, we are a team of experienced and qualified roofing specialists. With years worth of combined experience and knowledge, we are here to help you with your next roofing project. From commercial and industrial roofing to green roofing and renovation services, we offer a range of different options. No matter what your requirements or specifications, our roofing company is here to help.

For further enquiries about our green roofing services, advice or any questions, feel free to contact us and speak to one of our team members today. If you are interested in any of our other services, you can look into these further on our website, or give the team a call on 0800 294 3696 for more information.