Roof gardening is an activity that has been practiced predominantly for millenniums. If anything, the prehistoric hanging gardens of Babylon and sod roofs of Europe are evidence of this. Nowadays, living roofs are quite popular in urban dwellings, most likely due to the many benefits they come with. Read on to learn more about the practice of sustainable green roofing.
There are two basic types of green roofs. They are intensive living roofs and extensive living roofs. Intensive living roofs are those that have plants whose heights range from 1 to 15 feet. Their plant categories also include trees and shrubs.
Intensive plants are quite weighty and are therefore best supported by deep soil levels. Furthermore, the diversity of their species means they are more complex to maintain and require extensive irrigation. This type of gardening is only recommended for commercial buildings.
An extensive roof comes with easier maintenance because its plants are short, ranging from 2 to six inches in height. There is no need for long soil depths. This roofing option is recommended for houses, extensions, garages, sheds and balconies. It is less costly to construct as compared to the other type as well.
The construction of a green roof is pretty straightforward. The standard components you will need include a filter cloth, waterproof layer, moisture blanket, root repellent membrane, drainage system, plants and soil substrate. As the primary growing medium, the soil you use ought to be free draining and lightweight. Furthermore, it should be capable of withholding sufficient moisture for proper plant growth.
When it comes to elevation, you can either choose a flat or pitched roof. Flat roofs are more predominant than the latter as they are easier to maintain. Pitched roofs often take a maximum pitch of 45 degrees. This notwithstanding, they come with a host of drainage and soil loss issues that make them incredibly difficult to maintain.
The most favored plants for use in living roofs are the types that are short, spread rapidly, are drought resistant and contain fibrous roots. Succulents such as stonecrop and short perennials predominantly exhibit these qualities. These days, it is possible to get wildflower mats and impregnated sedum in most gardening stores, with their key advantage being the fact that they grow fast. Once you roll them on the soil, their roots take hold in a matter of days.
There are a plethora of benefits that living roofs have. The four commonest ones include storm water management, low energy costs, aesthetic appeal and enhanced durability. Homeowners who go this route get to save on their energy bills as living roofs have been proven to reduce the flow of heat into and out of buildings. This means they do not need to use house warming appliances.
Installing a living roof may appear a costly affair from the start. Nevertheless, the long term gains you stand to get make construction worth the effort. New York and other cities have tax abatement programs aimed at luring more and more builders towards this concept.
There are two basic types of green roofs. They are intensive living roofs and extensive living roofs. Intensive living roofs are those that have plants whose heights range from 1 to 15 feet. Their plant categories also include trees and shrubs.
Intensive plants are quite weighty and are therefore best supported by deep soil levels. Furthermore, the diversity of their species means they are more complex to maintain and require extensive irrigation. This type of gardening is only recommended for commercial buildings.
An extensive roof comes with easier maintenance because its plants are short, ranging from 2 to six inches in height. There is no need for long soil depths. This roofing option is recommended for houses, extensions, garages, sheds and balconies. It is less costly to construct as compared to the other type as well.
The construction of a green roof is pretty straightforward. The standard components you will need include a filter cloth, waterproof layer, moisture blanket, root repellent membrane, drainage system, plants and soil substrate. As the primary growing medium, the soil you use ought to be free draining and lightweight. Furthermore, it should be capable of withholding sufficient moisture for proper plant growth.
When it comes to elevation, you can either choose a flat or pitched roof. Flat roofs are more predominant than the latter as they are easier to maintain. Pitched roofs often take a maximum pitch of 45 degrees. This notwithstanding, they come with a host of drainage and soil loss issues that make them incredibly difficult to maintain.
The most favored plants for use in living roofs are the types that are short, spread rapidly, are drought resistant and contain fibrous roots. Succulents such as stonecrop and short perennials predominantly exhibit these qualities. These days, it is possible to get wildflower mats and impregnated sedum in most gardening stores, with their key advantage being the fact that they grow fast. Once you roll them on the soil, their roots take hold in a matter of days.
There are a plethora of benefits that living roofs have. The four commonest ones include storm water management, low energy costs, aesthetic appeal and enhanced durability. Homeowners who go this route get to save on their energy bills as living roofs have been proven to reduce the flow of heat into and out of buildings. This means they do not need to use house warming appliances.
Installing a living roof may appear a costly affair from the start. Nevertheless, the long term gains you stand to get make construction worth the effort. New York and other cities have tax abatement programs aimed at luring more and more builders towards this concept.
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You can find a summary of the advantages you get when you use sustainable green roofing products at http://www.lynchroofingcorp.com right now.
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