Green Roofs

Declan Foley
20028722
Construction Technology Systems
Construction Management and
Engineering
Year 3
Green Roofs
A green roof is essentially a roof that is covered with a layer of vegetation, which can
also be referred to as “living roofs”.

There are several advantages to having a green roof on a building:

 Green roofs absorb some of the rainwater and delay the rest.

 Air quality is improved due to lower CO2 levels.

 Insulates the building and therefore reduces the heating/cooling bills.

 The building is quieter as the green roof can absorb sounds.

 The rooftop waterproofing has an increased life expectancy due to the green
roof itself acting as protection from ultraviolet rays and mechanical impact.

 The green roof cools and humidifies the surrounding air and hance reduces
the heat island effect.

 Filters and binds airborne dusts and other particles.

 Provides a habitat for wildlife such as birds and butterflies, compensating

slightly to the loss of the landscape due to construction.

 Provides an aesthetic finish to a building.

There are 3 types of green roof:
1. Extensive Green Roof.

2. Semi-Intensive Green Roof

3. Intensive Green Roof

Extensive Semi-Intensive Intensive Green

Green Roof Green Roof Roof
Maintenance Low Periodically High
Irrigation No Periodically Regularly
Plant Moss-Sedum- Grass-Herbs and Lawn or
communities Herbs-Grasses Shrubs Perennials, Shrubs
and Trees
System build- 60-200mm 120 - 250 mm 150 - 400 mm on
up height underground
garages > 1000
mm
Weight 60-150kg/m2 120 - 200 kg/m2 180 - 500 kg/m2
Costs Low Middle High
Use Ecological Designed Green
Park like garden
Roof
http://www.igra-world.com/types_of_green_roofs/index.php
Extensive Green
Roof
 Extensive Green Roof

Ortorio, Canada

Extensive green roofs generally have a shallow layer (25-100mm) of substrate

planted with low-growing stress-tolerant grasses, mosses and alpine species. These
light-weight systems require little or no maintenance, and do not impose any
significant weight on the building structure. Rubble or wildlife roofs are another type
of green roof emerging in this expanding industry. Some of these roofs are
specifically designed to provide a valuable wildlife habitat and replace the 'foot print'
of the building on the roof using by-products of the development process such as
crushed brick and top soil.

Use for:
• Lightweight roof decks.

• Inaccessible roofs – for aesthetic and environmental purposes only.

• Inaccessible roofs.
• Suitable to use on flat or sloping roofs.
• Reducing the rain water run-off.
Semi-Intensive
Green Roof
 Semi-Intensive Green Roof

Semi-Intensive roof gardens are engineered to support a wider plant palette than
Extensive mix. The deeper rooting structure of grasses and wildflowers require more
organic content and media depth for moisture retention. Higher organic component
limits media porosity so Semi-Intensive media is 10 to 20% heavier than Extensive
green roof media.

Use for:
- Roofs that are visible and need all year round colour
- accessible roofs
- Flat roofs
- reducing water run-off
Intensive Green
Roof
 Intensive Green Roof

Intensive Green roofs (roof gardens) are roofs that have accessible gardens for
leisure and recreational uses. Landscaping these roofs are practically limitless in
both the design and use as it is possible to create a feasible garden at roof top
height as it would on the ground where land is expensive.

Any plants used on the green roof make a heavy demand and will require a certain
amount of maintenance, irrigation and management throughout their life to keep the
garden healthy and allow the vegetation to flourish.

The scope for design is very broad on intensive roofs except for making sure the
structure can take such a load. Before you decide on the structure design it is
important that a clear roof garden plan is made out so as no problems occur down
the line.

An integrated approach should be taken between the waterproofing and landscaping

components so as to get the outcomes needed.

Use for:

• Natural gardens – gardens to allow plants flourish and have a good

environment for birds to nest.

• Recreation and sport – can adopt a seating and barbeque area and an area
for a goal post for sport.

• Growing food – can grow own fruit and vegetables.

Hard Landscape Roof Garden
Build Up:

• Concrete Paving Slabs (open joints with spacers) provide a functional

finish to the roof area.
• Crushed Gavel is 3-5mm grade used at 30-50mm in depth.
• Bauder Filter Fleece is a filtration layer that prevents substrate fines from
washing into the drainage layer.
• Bauder PLT 60 (filled with Bauder Mineral Drain) creates an un-interrupted
system for free drainage across the whole roof area.
• The Bauder Mineral Drain provides additional support and drainage
• Bauder FSM1100 Protection Mat is a polyester and polypropylene fiber mix.
• Bauder PE Foil Separation Layer is a polyethylene foil separation and slip
layer manufactured from recycled granules.

(www.bauder.co.uk/uploads//HardLandscaping.pdf)
Soft Landscape Roof Garden

• Vegetation, specifically designed for each individual roof, from turf to trees.
• Bauder Intensive Substrate is a lightweight growing material which features
25% organic material and is manufactured and used in accordance to FLL
guidelines.
• Bauder Filter Fleece is a filtration layer that prevents substrate fines from
washing into the drainage layer.
• Bauder Reservoir Board is a water storage and drainage layer, either 50m
or 75m thick.
• Bauder Protection Mat is a protection layer manufactured from recycled
rubber and fibres.
• Bauder PE Foil Separation Layer is a polyethylene foil separation and slip
layer manufactured from recycled granules.

(www.bauder.co.uk/uploads//SoftLandscaping.pdf)
Vegetation

An intensive green roof is ideal for someone looking to have a totally unique design
to their property as they can choose what plants to use, their layout scheme and
what hard landscaping requirements have to be met.

Maintenance

The maintenance of a living roof will depend mostly on where the building is located
and the clients design specification with regard to the appearance of the garden.

Since a living roof is going to be subject the elements of the environment and is a
natural, living source, the maintenance of a green roof can vary greatly between
green roofs, no matter how similar they are. To deal with this it is necessary that the
maintenance contractor for the green roof, through the establishment period of the
green roof, updates the maintenance plan to meet specific requirements.
References:
www.greenroofstoday.co.uk (20-11-09)

www.citywindsor.ca/002746.asp (20-11-09)

www.ecomii.com (20-11-09)

www.roofsystemsconsultants.com (25-11-09)

www.igra-world.com (27-11-09)

www.energysmartideas.com (27-11-09)

www.heidler.com (28-11-09)

www.bauder.co.uk (30-11-09)