Roofconsult Website Green roofing has never been simpler ! by Steve Cleminson of SIG Design & Technology
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Green roofing technology has now been simplified to enable specifiers to select cost effective systems that deliver green good looks when it comes to turning plans into reality.
Green roofs are becoming an increasingly popular method of finishing flat or low pitched roofs.
Apart from looking good in both rural and urban environments, they provide tangible benefits for owners of the building, for the environment and for wildlife.
The combination of plants and soil on the roof’s surface can substantially increase the life expectancy of the roof’s waterproofing membrane by protecting it from UV degradation and the extremes of climatic conditions.
Planting is a very effective method of insulation which reduces energy bills and carbon dioxide emissions. It can also improve sound insulation by as much as 8 dB compared with a conventional roof system and is particularly valuable in areas of high noise pollution.
A green roof reduces rainwater run off which helps to prevent localised flooding and evaporation lowers the building’s temperature. Additional green space and absorption of airborne pollutants provide a further boon for nature.
Green roof systems are no longer prohibitively expensive as a new generation of modular systems has been developed specifically for large roofing areas.
Suitable for extensive and semi-extensive applications, they are made up of 0.5 metre square module trays. The substrate consists of egg-box shaped cells, which overlap and slot together to provide a seamless finish and provide plant drainage.
The planting usually comprises sedum or a mix of sedum, wildflowers and natural grasses that are indigenous to the locality.
The module trays are pre-grown by a professional nursery over a three to nine-month period and supplied as fully-established units which means the plants are strong, robust and well anchored into the medium. The modular Green Roof system from D & T is pre-grown, easy to install and comes in 0.5  sq m modular trays
Strong plants mean less shock, less risk of wind uplift or erosion in those first few critical months after installation.
The modules are installed over a geotextile filter fabric, which sits on top of the waterproofing.
The weight of the system and the clever interlocking cells mean no fixings are required for the modules, so the membrane stays watertight.
For further information on SIG Design & Technology see www.roofinfo.co.uk/sigdt
 
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