Living Green Roof Installation - Costs & Quotes

Table of Contents

Overview
Benefits
Systems
Installation
Costs
Deciding
Adding Value
Choosing
Getting it right
Home Insurance
FAQs
Quote Process
Gallery
Sample Requests

All living roof installations and repairs quoted for

A green roof is a flat or pitched roof with plants grown on a substrate that may range in depth depending on the weight capacity of the building’s roof structure. Green roofs promote environmentalism while solving the problems of other conventional roofs such as stormwater management. Green roofs bring a natural element in residential, non-residential and urban buildings.

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Green Living Roof Benefits

Nowadays, there are tons of options when it comes to roofing. A green roof is one of the options that has been adopted by people who want to build future proof and sustainable homes. Despite the suspicion around the whole idea of green roofs not serving satisfactorily the eco-purpose, it actually has numerous benefits that property enthusiasts cannot afford assuming. Some of these merits include:

Providing acceptable insulation - A green roof, as opposed to other conventional roofs, lowers the temperature of the roof and this, in turn, cools the entire building.
Improves air quality - The green roof can to some degree absorb co2 around the building.
Reduce urban heat island effect - The temperature especially in cities is relatively higher than the surrounding areas a phenomenon known as heat island effect. Green roofs absorb this heat and then transpire cooling the surrounding area.

Green roofs also absorb approximately 70% of the water that falls on them.

Due to these genuine benefits, green roofs are now being adopted in many regions around the world. London is a perfect example where regulations have been formulated requiring the building of a particular size and functions to have a green roof.

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Green Roof Systems

Green roof systems are categorized into intensive, extensive and semi-extensive.

Intensive (roof gardens, podium roofs)

This is the oldest category of green roof systems and is characterised by a thick (50-200mm) and a deep layer of soil or growth substrate in which a variety of plants, herbs, grasses and shrubs are grown. Due to their weight, intensive green roofs need a sturdy roof support structure. This type of green roofs also requires proper and frequent maintenance since they are in most cases readily available to people. The good thing with roof gardens is that they can either be used as a recreation space or a habitat for wildlife. Intensive green roofs have better water absorption and good insulation than other types.

Extensive (bio-diverse green roofs)

This is the lighter, shallow (20-100mm) variety of green roofs. The roof is generally designed to increase plants diversity and provide shelter for wildlife. These roofs are too light to be accessed by humans. The substrate for this kind of roof is modified to support low-growing and stress-tolerant vegetation. Extensive roofs require less maintenance but have relatively lower insulation.

Semi-extensive

This is a green roof with qualities of both the intensive and the extensive green roofs. Semi-extensive roofs are slightly deeper than extensive roofs hence allow for greater plant diversity and low maintenance.

Installation

While many people view green roofs as just the green vegetation, there are a lot of features that must be assembled to have a working green roof. A moisture retention fleece must for example be installed to keep soil in the water rather than letting it form a pool on the membrane surface. An aqua drain should also be included in the roofing system to carry away excess water. The leakage must however be leakage proof. A vapour control layer should be installed to manage the passage of internal water vapour through the roof. This helps prevent condensation on the inner side. In most cases, green roofs need to be pitched at an angle of at least 30◦.

How much time does it take to make a sedum roof?

The time needed to make a sedum roof may vary from days to weeks depending on the following factors:

The size of the project - Residential projects are relatively smaller compared to commercial projects and hence take relatively less time.
The structure of the roof - Some time must be delegated to condition the roof structure to the desired design and integrity.
The green roof buildup - The buildup weight and height affects the time needed proportionally.
The amount of labour available - If good amount and quality labour is available, the time taken will obviously be less compared to when skilled labour is scarce.

As long as your building is well built, fully waterproof and with a degree of edging or upstand on the roof, the project should not take long.

In a typical simple sedum matting buildup, two people are enough to install a green roof onto a garden shed within a few hours. The time could reduce if automation such as the use of lifting equipment is incorporated.

How Much Does a Green Roof Cost?

For a fully planted intensive roof, the cost may vary from £50 - £200 per square metre excluding any reinforcements and wall structures needed in the project. variations in this cost may occur if the green roof system changes.

Cost of Installation

The cost of the material used to make a sedum roof buildup may cost you around £35 - £40 per square metre. You should also factor in the delivery cost if you are far away from your supplier. The labour could cost you around £200 for each person you hire in a day.

For small projects, you must not necessarily pay for labour. If you can do say a garden shade project on your own, you can always ask a family member for a helping hand.

Cost variables for a Green Roof

As mentioned above, there many factors that affect the cost of a green roof. Let’s have a look at some of these factors.

The type of the green roof - An intensive green roof needs more vegetation and substrate compared to an extensive green roof. This is definitely reflected in the average cost of installing these systems.
The plant system used - Here, the most popular options are sedum and wildflower roofs. Wildflower roofs are more expensive compared to sedum roofs due to the large number of plants that they support.
Source of labour when installing the green roof - If you can manage to undertake the entire project all by yourself, then the price will cut the overall cost. In the case you will hire a contractor, then you must be ready to spend more. While installing the green roof by yourself seems a good deal, you must first ensure that you understand all the techniques involved to ensure that you install the roof correctly and to make sure that your building supports the roof system perfectly.
The green roof accessories used - If you are going to use auxiliaries such as edge retention trims and pebble borders, then you must be ready to fetch more from your pocket.

Is a Green Roof for me?

Building a house takes away the natural habitat of the area. Installing a green roof is such a satisfying investment as it among other things, reinstalls this ‘natural habitat’. If a green roof is correctly installed, then you can be assured that it will form the centre of attraction for your building and the entire property.

The good thing with green roofs is that they don’t need to be planted on the entire roof. A good number of property owners prefer to install this roof on a section of their building since it is more aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, the green roof is not only meant for the main building. You have the freedom to install it on a garage or a shed.

With this said, it is fair to conclude that the question that should be bothering you is actually what roof system is best for your project.

Adding value to a property

Each time a modification requiring money is done to a building, it is right to say that the value of the building will increase. Installing a green roof is not left behind in this. if this project is perfectly done, you will be speculating at least a 5% increase to its original selling price. A well maintained green roof contributes to this value increase.

An organisation called Green Roof For Healthy Cities projected that a green roof not only increases the market value of a building but also its saleability.

For commercial premises, installing a green roof needs a special design that adds to the total cost of the project. Here the cost projection differs depending on the size of the building. For large buildings designed and built by reputable artists in the region, the prices may be in the range of millions. For smaller buildings, the price may be similar to that incurred in installing a green roof on domestic buildings.

Another factor that increases the cost of installing a green roof building to a commercial building is accessibility. Considering the high number of floors featured in commercial buildings, unlike domestic houses, the commercial projects attract additional costs incurred in bringing the material up to the roof structure.

How to choose a Green Roof system

Here, you have to keep in mind the features of each green roof systems. If you take an example of an intensive roof, you will need a professional design before the installation commences. On the other hand, you may choose an extensive roof which requires less complex designing and installation. This however should be your choice only if you are comfortable with the less insulation and water retention it comes with.

In general, the intensive, thick green roof systems should be left for specialists applications while the thinner extensive systems should be left for domestic purposes. Considering that any medium will attract several foreign species, the maintenance procedures are almost similar in all roof systems. Although extensive green roofs still need conventional insulation and other modifications to deal with rainwater, many property owners still prefer them due to their good ecological benefits and pleasant appearance.

How to get Green Roofs right

The main points you should take home when it comes to choosing green roof systems are:

Intensive roofs are thicker and require relatively more maintenance that the thinner extensive roofs.
Despite the systems, green roofs tend to perform better when planted and seeded.
A functional green roof is made up of several layers including the waterproofing layer, the drainage layer and a substrate where the vegetation is planted.

Choosing the Right Plants

Now that we have extensively looked at what green roofs are and how they are installed, lets now discuss how you can choose the ‘green matter’ for your green roof. As mentioned above, the planted and seeded roofs perform better in the long run since they can adapt to any green roofing system.

UK seed companies and nurseries supply plants for green roofs in the form of small plants or pre-grown solutions. With small plants, plug balls of about 55mm should be used to reduce the susceptibility of the plants to water stress. Pre-growth solutions on the other hand can be supplied in both sedum and wildflower blankets. Sedum blankets require at least 80mm of substrate while wildflowers require a substrate of at least 150mm.

The common varieties of sedums and wildflowers include:

Non-native alpines and bulbs- Examples include dwarf iris and crocus. These plants varieties are adapted to extreme weather conditions.
Other bulbous plants such as chives (a hardy plant even in droughts), Colchicum and cyclamen (autumn bulbs) can also be used in green roofs.
Muscari- This Turkish plant is adapted to very low temperatures and when planted in green roofs can withstand the cold winter conditions.
Viper bugloss and bird’s foot trefoil can also be included in the ecosystem to benefit the wildlife.

It does not matter whether the green roof is in sun or shade as there are plants for every adaptation.

The importance of drainage

Since a green roof is made up of several layers, some principles such as the installation of a protection layer on the waterproofing layer which is prone to damage by soil should be done.

A good drainage system must also be incorporated in the green roof to drain excess water. The conventional way to achieve this is by using plastic eggshell-style drainage layer. Natural alternatives for this include gravel and cockles. Since gravel adds much weight to the roof, the use of cockles is preferred.

To give some level of topography to the green roof, the drainage system may be installed as dry shingle river channels across the width of the green roof.

A filter sheet is installed on top of the drainage layer to stop the soils from washing out. the sheets also need to run to the perimeter of the building to enable retention of finer soil particles.

A downpipe must also be fitted in place to take excess water away from the green roof. To support this, water shingles should be installed around the perimeter of the green roof and terminate at the drain pipes. The water collection and drainage system should be frequently monitored to ensure that it is vegetable- free for easy water flow.

Home Insurance

Although there were complaints about insurance coverage for green roofs in the past especially due to fire risk, the government is now confident that the existing green roof code is adequate. In this regard, you should not have any issues with green roof insurance.

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Your frequently asked questions answered

How much maintenance does a green roof need?

Just as any other component installed in a building, a green roof needs maintenance. The extent of these practices mainly depends on the nature and content of the medium grown. The intensity of maintenance practices may vary from year-round care to two checks in a year based on this.

Does a green roof weigh more?

When compared to conventional roofs, green roofs weigh more due to the extra weight added by the substrate grown and their water retention capacity. For new development, this weight can be factored in the initial design. Existing buildings may need additional reinforcement to support this extra weight.

Do I need to consult a Structural Engineer?

In the designing and building arena, it is always advisable to consult a structural engineer when people will inhabit the space below the area you want to modify.

How do green roofs near me affect the lifespan of a roof?

A properly installed green roof can double the lifespan of standard roofing material. This reduces the need for repair and replacement. The green roofs act as a protective layer for harmful factors including corrosive UV rays.

Will plant roots grow into the original roof?

This does not happen since all green roofs are fitted with a roof resistant layer in form of specialist material for commercial buildings or a pond liner for DIY projects.

Does a Green Roof need planning permission?

It wise to explain what you plan to do to your local planning department and building control team. This is even more crucial when the green roof installation will be done on a permanent structure such as an office or a garage. If you are installing a green roof on an existing roof, you must not go for planning permission.

Is there any funding available to install a green roof?

Sadly, there no incentives or refunds are given for green roof installation in the UK currently. This does not mean that you are locked up from winning funding due to aspects such as habitat replacement or the introduction of urban agriculture.

Do Green Roofs leak?

Not unless the roof is poorly installed or there is an incorrect specification of the standard roofing material, a green roof should not cause leaks. Extreme care must be taken to make sure that damage is not caused on an existing roofing material when installing a green roof. Always ascertain that a roof resistant material in form of a chemical or a layer is present.

What actually defines a green roof?

A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.

The Quote Process

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