Green Roof Systems

Vegetated roofs, or green roofs, have a layer of living plants on top of the structure and the waterproofing elements. There are really two types of green roofs, intensive and extensive.  Intensive green roofs often have a soil depth of a foot or more, can sustain a wide range of plant species and typically require a fair amount of regular maintenance. Extensive roofs are much shallower, typically only 2 to 4 inches deep, and are planted with particularly hardy plants.

Green Roofs help to reduce roof stormwater runoff and in some cases can help reduce the size of stormwater pipes and the amount of stormwater that needs to be treated by municipal water treatment. Green roofs also protect the roof membrane from sunlight, which breaks down the roofing material. Even a couple inches of soil helps to greatly extend the life of the roof. Green roofs keep the roof cooler, which helps to reduce the heat-island effect, which contributes to cities being hotter than the surrounding countryside. This can be beneficial to the building in reducing its summertime cooling load.