Green roofs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. From garden sheds and bus shelters to eco-homes, warehouses and retail outlets, its a joy (and a relief) to see that more and more buildings are sporting living roofs. But a badly designed or badly built green roof will never meet its long term objectives. That’s why, the team here at GRO are on a mission. We aim to ensure that every single green roof is specified and built in the most sustainable way possible.
Designing and building a living roof is a combination of engineering and ecology. No matter what stage of the planning and installation process you are at, it’s important to choose a green roof company that understands your needs and knows how to create the perfect green roof for your project. One that will suit your structure, meet your objectives and fall within your budget.
Visitors to a trade show examining a miniature green roof to understand its structure.
Familiarising Yourself With The Green Roof Industry
If you are new to green roofing, it’s well worth attending a short course to learn more about the design and structure of these architectural wonders. A living roof can represent quite a big financial investment. And so before embarking on a project and putting your faith in a green roof company, it’s a good idea to gain a basic understanding of what’s needed.
GRO have teamed up with LANTRA to create an affordable online course that is packed with information. Subject matter includes slopes, drainage, insulation, materials, plants and installation techniques. Discover more here.
Alternatively, take a look at some of our training videos for in-depth information on different types of green roofs and how they can be installed.
An essential document for anybody creating or caring for a living roof is the GRO Code Of Best Practice. This available to download from our website for free and will help you to understand how the sustainability of any green roof is dependent on its design, construction and ongoing maintenance.
Who To Consult At The Various Stages Of Design And Construction
The term “green roof company’ is really very loose. Within the green roof industry there are many, many specialities. And you may need to speak to a different company at each stage of the design, development and ongoing care of your living roof.
For a small green roof on a structure that is neither lived in nor used by the general public, it’s perfectly possible to design and build your own living roof. For peace of mind though, you should always talk to a structural engineer first to make sure that your shed, porch, bin store or whatever structure you have chosen, is actually able to take the weight of the drainage layer, edging, saturated growing medium and mature plants. And don’t forget to let your insurance company know what you are doing.
Download the following table to help you determine which stage of your green roof project you are at, and who you might need to talk to next. You’ll see that we’ve included a column for each of two scenarios. If you are planning a smaller project, perhaps on your flat roofed extension or your garden office, focus on the’ small domestic build’ column.
If, on the other hand, your green roof is to be a commercial project, you will likely be dealing with planners, ecologists, structural engineers and the like. In which case you will need consultants and contractors who are experienced with large scale operations and all of the regulations that go with them. Please refer to the Commercial Build column in the table below.
Download table as a pdf document.
Choosing A Green Roof Company
Once you have ascertained what sort of organisation you need to talk to in order to get your green roof project started, you will need to choose a green roof company to help you. Communication is key in the success of your project, so never be afraid to ask questions and consider suggestions.
- Pick an appropriate sized contractor for the job. If you are planning a small domestic installation, a smaller, local company may be more appropriate than a large contractor. Talk to the team at GRO who will be happy to help you find a reputable installer.
- Take the time to learn about the principals of green roofing. That way you can have some input into the design and specification of your green roof.
- Be prepared to ask questions over what is achievable. An ‘off the shelf’ solution may not be the best fit for your project. Bespoke solutions are always available if you ask.
- Aim for maximum biodiversity, don’t limit your plant choices to just sedums. Diverse, low maintenance landscapes can be achieved with plenty of consultation in the early stages of design.
- Make sure your chosen green roof company understands how to make your living roof climate resilient.
- Discuss substrate depth with your green roof company – it’s key to the success of your living roof. Your design should have minimum depths as set out in the Green Roof Code Of Practice. (Note, this is settled depth, measured after installation once the roof has ‘bedded in’.
- Do not underestimate the importance of regular maintenance. Your green roof company should address factors such as access, safety and maintenance plans.
- When you create a mental picture of how your green roof might look, remember that green roofs are dynamic structures. Their appearance will change from year to year and season to season. And so will the creatures that visit the roof. Be prepared to enjoy a constantly changing eco system of flora and fauna.
Where To Find A Good Green Roof Company
Make sure to request that any green roof you have is compliant with the GRO code of best practice as this will minimise risk of disappointment. If you would like independent technical advice, or have any issues with work by a GRO member that you are unable to resolve with the company directly, please contact our team and we will respond as soon as we can.
Visit our website where you will find an extensive list of manufacturers, contractors, suppliers and associates to help you with your project.