Green Roof Medium

A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves at a minimum high quality water proofing root repellent system drainage system filter cloth a lightweight growing medium and plants.

Green roof medium.

They can sustain shrubs trees walkways and benches with their complex structural support irrigation drainage and root protection layers. Green roof growing medium is composed of mineral aggregates and only a small amount of organic material. A well designed green roof with proper drainage and water proofing will provide the expected results. A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium planted over a waterproofing membrane it may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.

A good green roof medium is made up of a well developed soil blends. Soil tests are integral part of the process and. The extensive green roof lightweight cost effective and probably the most popular of the green roofs. However the factors allowing for a lightweight roof can create a high stress environment for plant material.

Container gardens on roofs where plants are maintained in pots are not generally considered to be true green roofs although. It should also be light weight resistant to decomposition and compression and physically and chemically stable. In general the bulk of the water storage in a green roof buildup is in the growing medium. The green roof manufacturers should fully understand the various needs and specifications of the green roof medium.

The foot or more of growing medium needed for an intensive green roof creates a load of 80 150 pounds 36 68 kilograms per square foot.