How to Properly Install a Green Roof
It seems like up until recently, no one has even heard of green roofs, which is why people weren’t able to see that so frequently. Many have thought that these types of roofs were just something that was created in fairytales.
No one actually believed that they truly existed. Fortunately, in the meantime, things have changed for the better, and it appears to be that more and more people are turning to green roofs.
Green roofs have many benefits; hence, many environmentalists will encourage you to try them. A green roof can provide proper insulation for your home. This means that in summer, your house will be cooler; whereas, during winter, it could help keep your house warm. Can you imagine the huge savings you’ll get from your heating and air conditioning?
If you live in the city, your home will be an eye-catching sight; at the same time, the noise from the surrounding vehicles can be muffled by the gorgeous plants sitting on top of your roof. Birds, butterflies, and bees will be genuinely delighted with your green roof since they will have a place to get their food and gather with others like them. Who knows, you might also be able to attract rare migratory birds during the summer or spring, which can be something that could make you proud and your heart swells with pride.
And that’s for sure a great choice since they are very eye-catching, stylish, and sustainable, and what’s even better is the fact that they can help you insulate your house, save money on energy costs, and decrease runoff pollution. Sounds amazing, right? If you agree, and you think it’s time for some positive changes, then follow these tips to install this roof!
Practical Tips To Help You Install A Green Roof
Prepare The Roof
Every roof must have some type of pitch so that it can shed water towards the gutters, so if you’re planning to install a green roof then the pitch is supposed to be approximately ¼ inch per foot run.
Since this isn’t the easiest task in the world, it would be advisable to find an experienced and skilled structural engineer just to make sure that your roof can support all the plants you’re planning on having.
What about the permit? Well, that’s something you should see with the municipality, since these requirements usually vary, depending on the kind of membrane you’re having. Furthermore, once the waterproofing membrane is placed, make sure to test it immediately to make sure your roof can be planted.
Another important thing to remember is the durability of your gutters. It should withstand the weight and the soil that would constantly flow when the rain pours on the roof. Should your gutters get damaged, you may visit this website to get acquainted with a reputable and expert contractor to help with your problem.
Place Planted Trays
In this case, you’re supposed to be using polypropylene trays that were planted a few months earlier and cared for at a nursery. They should be covered with vegetation and should be piled up in racks.
Namely, these trays should be wrapped in plastic, just to make sure nothing bad happens to them during shipping. Once the trays are unloaded, the plastic should be eliminated to prevent the plants from overheating.
You can move the trays by using the crane, or forklift and putting them on the rooftop. Now, before you install the trays, experienced roofers suggest tightening up the L-shaped aluminum edging around the edge of the roof where it is going to be able to cover every side of the trays. Additionally, these trays are placed inside the edging and in rows of your roof.
The trays are supposed to be set at the lowest part of your roof, moving across and up your roof’s slope.
Adding More Useful Instructions Below
Now It’s Time To Connect Your Trays
If you want to carefully remove the trays from the roof to maintain them, yet you’re worried that you’re going to potentially disturb the others, then the safest option right now is to utilize a modular system.
Namely, in this system, plastic lips on the right side and on the front, imbricate the backside and the left side of neighboring trays for firmness and stability, developing a blanket that removes seams and decreases temperature changes.
Furthermore, feet that are embedded into the underside of these trays help them stay elevated, approximately ½ inch over the surface of the roof, in order for runoff to efficiently flow below towards the gutters.
Cut The Trays So They Can Easily Fit
This is completely normal because trays have to fit between the edging and the last full tray. An installer is supposed to carefully measure every end peace and then place the mark to a full tray by employing a wax pencil.
The trays are generally loaded with a growing medium that is made out of tough aggregate, usually, people use a gas-powered concrete saw that comes with a masonry blade to cut these trays.
During this whole process, the installer should lay the row of trays, while the other one is supposed to take all the necessary measurements for the end pieces. Furthermore, the third one should create cuts on the ground before placing a couple of rows’ worth of end pieces on your roof.
Get Rid Of Soil Elevators
Every single tray comes with a four-inch-wide band of plastic, has called a soil elevator that enables the growing medium to grow approximately one inch above the tray. Namely, the added height enables soil-to-soil contact between all these trays, so that useful organisms, along with the water nutrients can move freely among the trays.
Furthermore, sharing the water decreases the chance that extremely wet spots, as well as dry spots, are going to be developed. Once several rows of these trays are in place, the installer is supposed to extract the soil elevator at an angle to prevent eliminating the growing medium.
Namely, all of this lets the roof blend together almost immediately, and at the same time, decreases air space between these trays expanding the insulating R-value.
Adjust The Last Modules
Even though the planted sedums are very resilient and can resist some foot traffic, certainly, the best possible installation pattern is the one in which your installers can easily get off the roof without hurting the plants too much. When we say hurting, we refer to walking on them.
Then, while they are on the ladder they can ensure the edging to the sides of these modules by using the exterior-grade screws.
Don’t Forget To Water Properly
Once every single tray is installed, it needs to be watered properly so they can settle the soil. Generally speaking, green roof plants normally do not require any irrigation, unless there has been a lot of heat with less than one inch of rainfall.
During the hot and dry period, the growing medium has a tendency to become smaller and is become more susceptible to weeds, but let’s hope that something like this is not going to happen.
To those who have never dealt with green roofs before, all these tips and instructions may seem a bit confusing at first, however, if you go through them slowly and read them a few times, you will see that it’s definitely not as difficult as it may appear to be.
