Green Roof Systems
Tecta Roofing are keen to provide environmentally-friendly options for our clients. Green Roof Systems have many positive effects for the environment; they improve air quality, are eco-friendly, visually attractive and are lightweight and cost-effective.
The basic build-up of a Green Roof is three layered – drainage, filtration and vegetation.
There are two types of green roof systems:
- Extensive – lightweight, low maintenance and low cost.
- Intensive – thicker substrate, load bearing applications.
Extensive Green Roofs consists of a pre-grown vegetative blanket placed on top of an existing or new roof system. A variety of vegetation types can be used, depending on project requirements. Plants such as grasses, shrubs or low maintenance sedums are pre-grown on fire resistant, reinforced blankets to ensure plant health and quality. The most popular plant variety used on Extensive green roofs are sedums, favoured for their drought tolerance, their hardy low maintenance nature and wonderful flowers in summer. These are not roof gardens for recreational use. They are primarily planted for ecological reasons or increasingly, where planners wish to utilise the benefits of a green roof system for the environmental disguise of buildings.
Intensive Green Roofs can incorporate harder landscaping features such as seating areas, planters, walkways and amenity areas.
Here are a few benefits of a Green Roof System: 
- The use of plants in our environment is the only proven way to reduce Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere.
- A Green Roof provides an excellent habitat for local wildlife such as birds and insects.
- The vegetation layer traps airborne dust particles and air pollutants, encouraging a cleaner atmosphere.
Each green roof has individual requirements from design to completion of build - we advise you to contact Tecta Roofing with any questions you may have.
Frequently asked questions:
I have a rather unattractive, metal-framed outbuilding on my property – is this suitable for a Green Roof System?
Answer: Yes – depending on the existing roof system. An Extensive Green Roof would be more appropriate – This involves a thin blanket of sedums being applied to the roof structure, along with other layers of waterproofing, compost, filter fabric and root barrier fabric. It would also greatly improve the appearance of an unattractive building. An Intensive Green Roof will require a more substantial roof structure such as mastic asphalt or concrete.
Would I have to regularly water and feed the Extensive Green Roof?
Answer: Watering is necessary during initial installation, particularly when the system is installed during warm weather periods. For roofs with a fall below 10°, irrigation is not normally necessary. We do recommend considering a permanent leaky pipe irrigation system on roofs above 10° and consider it essential on slopes exceeding 20°, particularly if they are south facing. It should be noted that the use of this irrigation is limited to extended periods of very hot weather only. In such conditions the system should be turned on once every 4-7 days during the hot weather periods only. Irrigation systems are relatively inexpensive and use is infrequent.