Roofs that are entirely or partially covered in vegetation and plants are known as "green roofs." Other names for these include live roofs, grass roofs, and sedum roofs.
In addition to other layers like root barriers and waterproofing chemicals, the vegetation is typically planted over a drainage membrane that is placed on top of the roof. When applied properly, this product combination promotes plant growth on the roof without endangering the structural integrity of the building. A modular green roof tray system, on the other hand, combines all of the necessary components into a single, self-contained unit that can be put immediately on top of a waterproof layer. We go over the benefits of green roofs a little later in case you were curious what they do.
What kinds of green roofs are there?
Green roofs come in three primary varieties: intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive.
Every kind of green roof has a distinct function. When deciding which kind of green roof is best for you, you'll probably need an extensive one because these cover the majority of smaller, residential projects like garages, extensions, and green shed roofs. Anything from an "all-in-one" sedum roof tray system to a rolled-out drainage membrane and sedum blanket might be considered an elaborate system. However, let's take a closer look at how the three primary types differ from one another.
What distinguishes intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive green roofs from one another?
Large green roofs are incredibly low-maintenance and lightweight. Grass, moss, sedum, or wildflowers make up their typically appealing low covering of vegetation. Because they are low maintenance and durable, sedum roofs are the most popular option.
On the other hand, intensive roofs are far more complex. They are often referred to as "roof gardens" because they are designed to hold larger plants, such as small trees and bushes. They frequently require a much deeper layer of soil or growth material to maintain the much thicker vegetation layer, and they may include hard-planted areas for humans to access the roof. Generally speaking, practically anything may be placed on an intensive roof as long as the structure can support the weight.
Semi-intensive roofs fall somewhere in the middle, combining aspects of both. Growing medium depths are a little deeper than extensive and can accommodate slightly larger plants and bushes.
