Green Roofing
For centuries, Frodo, Bilbo and the rest of the Hobbits enjoyed the benefits of green roofing. Fortunately, they are not alone now because modern homes are slowly adopting the use of vegetative roofing.
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Green roofing is not just your ordinary roof shingles painted in green. This is a type of roofing with real vegetation and greeneries. It is one of the best ways to minimize your energy bills and provides a stunning effect in making the urban landscape more beautiful.
Types of Green Roofing
Vegetative or green roofs come in two variants: intensive and extensive.
Intensive green roof gives you the ability to grow several plant species because the soil surface is deeper, about 1 foot or more. However, it requires stronger structural support and higher maintenance.
The most common type of green roof being used around the world is extensive roofing. This only requires 2 to 3 inches of soil cover. It can host sturdy plants that are drought resistant. Extensive green roof is self-sustaining.
How Green Roofing Is Made
A green roof is made up of several layers. The top layer comprises the vegetative cover such as grass, sturdy plants, and other species suitable for landscaping. The commonly used plant for green roofs is called sedum.
The next layer is the growth medium. This is composed of specially engineered soil and vermiculate. The growth medium is lightweight so it can be supported by the roof structure.
Underneath the growth medium are several layers including water drainage, root barrier, and waterproof insulator. Standard roofs need to be reinforced or retrofitted to accommodate the new green roof.
Best Methods of Installing Green Roofing
You can have a complete green roof system that includes everything from vegetation to the roof membrane. You can also take advantage of pre-cultivated green roof blanket which can be rolled over directly on the roof.
The cost effective solution is to get a modular green roofing system. This is similar to the pre-cultivated green blanket. However, modular green roofing comes in individual inter-lockable grass/plant tiles. These grass/plant tiles can be installed quickly and can be self-sustaining also.