October 2019
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Advice: Green Roofs<br />
Above: Semi-intensive build-up.<br />
“Before any green roof can be installed, the roof<br />
itself must be in good condition and watertight”<br />
Above: Intensive green roof build-up.<br />
20mm drainage layer and 70mm of substrate. It<br />
will have a saturated weight of around 86-100kg<br />
per sqm.<br />
Biodiverse green roofs<br />
Those in the industry also may hear of Biodiverse<br />
green roofs, which, for all intents and purposes<br />
are usually considered a subcategory of Extensive<br />
green roofs, which have been tailored specifically<br />
to create or replicate a particular habitat.<br />
Biodiverse green roofs are low maintenance.<br />
Once established, they don’t require additional<br />
irrigation and will continue to grow into a selfsustaining<br />
plant community. This community can<br />
include a wide variety of succulents, grasses,<br />
herbaceous perennials, wildflowers, alpines and<br />
bulbs, which are typically initially installed as<br />
plug plants or pre-determined seed mixes.<br />
Typically, in Biodiverse roof installation, the<br />
substrate is mounded to offer localised habitat<br />
variation across the whole roof. This means that<br />
the depth of a Biodiverse roof could vary between<br />
92-170mm and have a saturated weight of<br />
approx. 115-215kg per sqm, depending on the<br />
depths of the substrate.<br />
Brown roofs<br />
A variation of Biodiverse roof, a Brown roof is<br />
installed without vegetation, allowing the<br />
installation to self-populate with plant life either<br />
blown in or brought in by birds, and carrys the<br />
same properties as any Biodiverse roof.<br />
Installation best practice tip<br />
Before any green roof can be installed, the roof<br />
itself must be in good condition and watertight. If<br />
installing a green roof over a flat roof that is<br />
already quite old and showing signs of wear, it<br />
will not yield a successful green roof.<br />
Alumasc recommends the highest quality<br />
watertight roofing be applied under a new green<br />
roof, for example Derbigum flat roofing<br />
membranes.<br />
Derbigum has the longest British Board of<br />
Agrément (BBA) certification of any leading flat<br />
roofing membrane brand, which is up to 40 years<br />
durability along with use at zero falls. Derbigum<br />
membranes offer enhanced performance<br />
properties including flexibility, excellent fire<br />
ratings, stronger reinforcement and ease of<br />
application.<br />
Above: Extensive sedum build-up<br />
Above: Extensive biodiverse build-up.<br />
Above: Brown roof.<br />
Contact Blackdown Greenroofs<br />
01460 234 582<br />
https://blackdown.co.uk<br />
@blackdownroofs<br />
52 TC OCTOBER <strong>2019</strong>
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