Did You Know That Green Roof Installations Can Help to Reduce Energy Bills?
Green Roof Installations
Green roofs have rapidly been gaining popularity for installation on new roofs and even the older ones. They have also acted to help in home insulation that saves on energy costs, and can extend the life of roofs and reduce the pollution that comes from runoff from roofs.
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Providing Natural Protection
Green roofs provide natural protection and provide a mechanical protection to the roof that helps it to last for longer periods. Before you start with the installation of a green roof, you need to ensure that your roof can take the additional dead weight that such installations can impose on the roof. This can be as much as forty pounds per square foot, especially after the rainwater is absorbed by the soil and plants installed.
The roof has to be prepared for the installation by ensuring that it remains waterproof. It may require the installation of a proper waterproof membrane. You will also need to ensure that your roof has a proper slope that allows water to run off easily and collect in any installed gutters. Flat roofs or roofs with low slopes are better for such additions. Steeper roofs can use terracing to hold the soil in place.
The Installation Process
Once the membrane is installed, a further sheet of 6mm plastic can serve as a root barrier. A drainage mat can also help to prevent excess water from damaging the roots. You then need trays or guards that will act to retain the soil that you are then required to place on the roof for accepting the plants. Design supports that do not penetrate the membranes placed over the roof. You can do this by having supports with horizontal legs that remain below the soil. The weight of the soil will then act to keep the support in place.
The depth of soil that you add on green roofs will depend on the sort of plants that you intend to use, and this advice is best taken from the nursery from which you will source your plants. You can even plant a lawn on a roof, but do understand that it will require proper maintenance and effort.
Health & Safety Implications
Make sure that you make proper arrangements for you to climb up on the roof and enable you to work safely when you are watering the plants or carrying out other maintenance or planting work. Trays are the most convenient way of setting up green roofs and it is possible to get such trays already planted and ready to install.
Please Note - The following article explores just how serious the implications of an incorrect installation can be - https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1975366/government-must-monitor-safety-green-roofs