With more and more people turning towards eco-friendly living and making changes to their structures to accommodate such trends, we couldn’t help ourselves but to write about the Green Roof. Also known by other names, including eco-roofs, oikosteges, vegetated roofs and living roofs, this environmentally friendly roof is gaining some new popularity even though it is long rooted in history. First off, what exactly is a Green Roof? It is a roof partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It is an extension of an above grade roof, built on top of a human-made structure, that allows vegetation to grow in a growing medium and which is designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with a Construction Standard. The assembly includes, as a minimum, a root repellent system, a drainage system, a filtering layer, a growing medium and plants. There are three types of Green Roofs: intensive, semi-intensive, or extensive, with extensive being self-sustaining for the most part.
The benefits of a vegetated roof are many and include absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, creating a habitat for wildlife, and helping to lower urban air temperatures. In addition, they provide excellent insulation and this help reduce the need for heating and energy consumption during winter months, as well as cooling in the summer – both by 26%! Also, an eco-roof can help reduce stormwater run off while filtering pollutants and heavy metals out of rainwater. In addition, these roofs are great for soundproofing! With the many layers that are produced by green roofing, sound waves are absorbed, reflected or deflected. This is beneficial to the noise and sound from cars, trains and people in a populated city.
1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is a full service water damage restoration company that provides emergency water removal, water mitigation, carpet drying, mold remediation, fire damage, sinkhole and sewer cleanup services. 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is located in Port Richey, Florida, and proudly services the West Gulf Coast of Florida.
