Green Roof Design Layers

Pitched green roof design considerations.

Green roof design layers.

Container gardens on roofs where plants are maintained in pots are not generally considered to be true green roofs although. Regardless of the depth of growing media soil and plant types used above the underlying architectural elements of most vegetated roof systems are typically the same with each layer playing a crucial role. 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.

To make this process work various green roof layers are created to give it the most effective and solid chance of being. Vegetative roofs also known as green roofs are thin layers of living vegetation installed on top of conventional flat or sloping roofs. Flat green roof design considerations. Green roofs are suitable for any pitch of roof.

You just need to build up the core layers as per manufacturer s instructions when constructing a green flat roof. Drainage and permeable green roof layers are essential considerations for green roof projects. 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. It also has plants and the like on top.

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. All three types of roofs require specific layers of roofing materials not found on regular 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. The layers of a green roof.

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. The systems are designed to ensure that stormwater can be used by plants for longer periods of time without oversaturation of the system. If stormwater is not properly drained it will pool and create structural risks. When constructing a flat green roof the design aspect is much simpler.

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. In short a green roof is made to purposely grow grass.