Green Roofing Facts

Intensive green roofs feature additional layers of protection and deeper soil to sustain a wider variety of plants.

Green roofing facts.

An intensive green roof is heavier more expensive and more complex than its counterpart. Green roofs are also known as vegetative or eco roofs. A green roof or living roof generally incorporates a system of layers that include waterproofing drainage soil and growing vegetation. Depending on the structure the green roof is being built on green roofs can either be intensive or extensive.

Green roofing systems consist of several layers including vegetation growing medium and protective root barrier. Adding a lovely aesthetic to neighborhoods and urban construction areas aa well as helping to feed the masses if gardening is incorporated into the green roof. The green roof acts as a bio filter basically as a big sponge that sucks up dirt and pollution in the air. A green roof is a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system that is installed on top of a flat or slightly sloped roof.

Extensive green roofs have a shallow soil base usually a formulated compost two to six inches deep. For example a grass roof with a 4 20 cm 1 6 7 9 inches layer of growing medium can hold 10 15 cm 3 9 5 9 inches of water. In winter they retain between 25 40 percent. Green roofs are comprised of plants and soil and will help to reduce sound.

They act as a kind of trap for storm water absorbing 50 to 80 per cent of rainfall and cooling the excess before it washes into the storm drain system. Green roofs transform the tops of houses and businesses into urban gardens. Image courtesy of earth pledge.