Garden Roofs

What are Garden Roofs?

One of the most interesting roof types being proposed and installed as a solution to mitigating the Urban Heat Island phenomenon is the Garden Roof, a better descriptor than the broader term Green Roof that can refer to reflective cool roofs as well.

Essentially, the low-slope roof area is covered with a roofing membrane but installed on top of that roof membrane is a series of planting containers that are filled with growing medium and plants.

Types of Garden Roofs

Intensive - are planned and designed roofs incorporating planting media up to several feet in depth requiring extensive maintenance. These roofs are intended for public access and use; usually built-in-place

Extensive - have planting media eight inches or less in depth with few maintenance requirements and are not intended for public access; usually composed of recycled plastic modular planting units

Benefits of Garden Roofs

- Mitigate Urban Heat Island effect - saves energy, reduces rooftop temperatures
- Manages storm water runoff
- Aesthetic improvement -adds value
- Reduces glare to surrounding buildings
- Increases oxygen production
- Plants absorb CO2
- Absorbs sound - due to increased mass
- Reduced HVAC requirements