Green Roof Design Layers

The basic anatomy of a green roof consists of vegetation growing medium filter membrane drainage layer waterproof root repellant layer roofing membrane support for plantings above thermal insulation vapor control layer and structural roof support.

Green roof design layers.

Green roofs can help reduce energy costs for a building by acting as another layer of insulation between the inside and outside of the roof. Pitched green roof design considerations. Green roofs are suitable for any pitch of roof. In short a green roof is made to purposely grow grass.

We have chosen to use the word vegetative rather than the word green in this guide because a non vegetative roof could be considered to be environmentally green without being vegetative. In some areas green roofs are installed just to create a specialized recreation place for local communities it also contributes to the establishment of habitats for various insects. However the difference between green roofs and an actual green roof is that a green roof comes with various layers. It also has plants and the like on top.

When constructing a flat green roof the design aspect is much simpler. Container gardens on roofs where plants are maintained in pots are not generally considered to be true green roofs although. To make this process work various green roof layers are created to give it the most effective and solid chance of being. 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.

The systems are designed to ensure that stormwater can be used by plants for longer periods of time without oversaturation of the system. Drainage and permeable green roof layers are essential considerations for green roof projects. You just need to build up the core layers as per manufacturer s instructions when constructing a green flat roof. If stormwater is not properly drained it will pool and create structural risks.

Green roofs are constructed by merging a number of layers over a normal roof in order to create a proper root barrier an irrigation system as well as drainage. Layers of a typical green roof. This is most noticeable in intensive green roofs since there is a thicker and more consistent layer of soil which provides a higher insulating value. Flat green roof design considerations.

Vegetative roofs also known as green roofs are thin layers of living vegetation installed on top of conventional flat or sloping roofs. The design of the different drainage layers allows for a portion of the stormwater to be retained above where the water is allowed to flow freely off of the roof.