Green Roof Installation

Learn How Green Roofs Boost Your Eco-Friendly Initiatives

Rooftop garden construction has come a long way, and now many Americans are becoming aware of its benefits. Learn about the different types of roof gardens and how they boost the integrity and energy efficiency of your building.

What’s a Green Roof?

A green roof, also known as a garden roof, is a roof covered in plants, making it one of the most energy-efficient roofing options on the market. The plants sit on top of the roof’s five layers, which is made up of:

The roof deck
A soil filter fabric
Drought-tolerant plants
A waterproof membrane
Several inches of lightweight soil

Green roof designs range from basic to intricate, and there are three main types of green roofs:

Extensive Systems

Extensive roof gardens are low maintenance and largely self-sufficient. Extensive systems often have plants that are drought and frost-resistant, which allows them to thrive in every season. They also survive occasional overwatering and lack of nutrients.

Semi-Intensive Systems

Semi-intensive roof gardens require attention from time to time. They include a mix of plant types and fall in the middle of the green roof spectrum between extensive and intensive systems.

Intensive Systems

This type of green roof requires the most maintenance, much like any other garden you’d have to tend to. In terms of the various plants that can be used, intensive systems offer endless possibilities.
Although they’re just now gaining popularity in the U.S., many European countries have used green roofs for decades. There are countless advantages green roofs have to offer compared to traditional roof systems.

What Are the Benefits of Garden Roofs?

Green roofs can be installed on homes and businesses. You can choose a brand new green roof installation or get one retrofitted onto your existing roof structure. Aside from versatility and energy efficiency, other benefits of green roofing include:

Improved Air Quality

Since the plants on green roofs capture pollutants and filter noxious gasses, the air around the building is much cleaner and healthier. In turn, plants replenish the atmosphere with oxygen, and the rain runoff water is less toxic. Green roofs also drastically decrease the amount of carbon dioxide and other impurities released into the air.

Lower Surrounding Temperatures

The urban heat island effect (UHI) leads to higher temperatures in urban and suburban areas with less vegetation. Hotter environments increase heat-related medical conditions and raise energy demands for cooling. Green roof installations alleviate the UHI effect by lowering indoor and outdoor temperatures.

Reduced Utility Bills

A green roof installation has incredible insulation, which keeps humidity and cold drafts out of the building. Studies have shown that green roofs help buildings retain up to 50% of heat during the winter months, and air conditioning use during the summer is reduced by 75%. Since the protective membrane and plants shield the building from the elements, indoor temperatures stay stable without frequently adjusting the thermostat.

Extended Roof Service Life

The plants on a green roof shield roofing materials from harsh weather, which leads to fewer repairs. Green roofs soak up water from excessive rainfall, and the soil mixture and the plants protect the roof’s waterproof membrane. Because of this, substrates on green roofs last about two to three times longer than conventional roofs, on average.

ROOFCORP Helps You Achieve Energy Efficiency

If you’re ready to prioritize sustainability, call ROOFCORP to discuss your options.

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ROOFCORP Boosts Your Sustainability Efforts

ROOFCORP’s quality guarantee sets us apart from others in the industry—we strive for 100% customer satisfaction every time. We’re here to answer any of your questions about green roof installations. Call us to discuss your needs, then we’ll perform a roof inspection and plan out how we can transform your building. Let’s get started.

A Guarantee of Quality

Founded in 1985, ROOFCORP has always adhered to the highest standards of workmanship, materials, and professionalism. We are dedicated to safety and training, we never rely on subcontractors, and we stand by every project and every repair.