The Benefits of Green Roofs are Making Them Popular in Cities and Suburban Areas

From leaving less of an environmental footprint to reducing energy bills and adding some aesthetic green space to the environment, a green roof offers many advantages. New buildings typically take away natural living space for local wildlife. A green roof provides a natural habitat for bird life and insects to live and feed. As a thick layer of insulation, a green roof helps structures maintain heat in the winter and cool in the summer. It also helps eliminate the problem of overheating in cities on warm, sultry days. Its roofing membrane blocks UV rays and adds longevity to the roof.

Cities get a storm management system and improved air quality with a green roof. Flooding is caused when large amounts of rain run into rivers or storm drains that cannot handle all of the water. With a living green roof, this water is soaked up and either evaporates or is moved slowly into the drainage system. With plants in the living green rood, pollutants from factories and cars are removed from the air. Residents can all breathe easier. These natural roofs also provide excellent acoustic insulation and reduce the levels of external noise. All around, the benefits of green roofs are many. As a result, green roofs are quickly becoming the norm in many cities and for private residences.

Basically, living roof installations come in four styles, including extensive, semi-intensive, intensive and pitched. Extensive green roofs create an ecological landscape using a thin substrate along with perennial grasses, herbs and sedum. They are easy to maintain. It just requires the same maintenance that you would give to a garden. Semi-intensive green roofs are a combo of an ecological landscape and roof garden. Generally, they are more expensive and require a bit more maintenance. Intensive green roofs are typically installed as a garden on the roof of a building. These types of living roof installations offer a broad range of planting, such as a formal lawn area, small trees and small shrubs. Although they do require frequent irrigation, they are also easy to maintain. As long as a pitched roof can handle additional weight and has a pitch above 15 degrees, a green roof can be installed.

Along with environmental benefits, living roof installations add natural beauty to any home or building. Planting schemes can include sedum, perennial herbs, grasses and wild flowers. Sedum is a hardy plant and can be grown on both pitched and flat roofs. It's also available in a nice variety of colours and leaf sizes. Perennial herbs like parsley, basil and oregano provide an attractive foliage along with adding a special flavour to your culinary delights. Just about any grass can be grown on a green roof and looks great when mixed with colourful wild flowers.

For living roof installations, the roof is assessed by a professional for suitability. Then, the roof is completely waterproofed with a membrane. It is also topped with a protective mat, and a drainage board is installed to allow water to drain from the underneath. A substrate is added and usually consists of both plug plants and seeds. With proper maintenance, these rooftop gardens thrive well.