Green Roof Structural Details

Green roofs typically contain a layered system of roofing which is designed to support plant growth and retain water for plant uptake while preventing ponding on the roof surface.

Green roof structural details.

Additional structural support may need to be provided. There are many types of waterproofing membrane. Note that it is not like a traditional roof garden in which planting is done in free standing containers as well as planters that are placed on an easy to access roof terrace. You need to make sure that the structure can cope with the extra weight of your green roof especially when saturated with water.

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. Green roof and waterproofing details utilize many thin layers which might not be legible if drawn to scale. Architectural details photo by tommy hileman. The key to any good green roof project is a good waterproofing membrane.

The roofs are designed so that water drains vertically through the media and then horizontally along a waterproofing layer towards the outlet. We try to think of green roof details more as diagrams than perfect scale drawings. The substrate gives the right amount of nutrients to the plants so your green roof stays nice and green. And to ensure the appropriate green roof assembly relative to the membrane chosen is provided it is important to understand how they work and how they are installed.

The structural requirements for a green roof are the most important aspect to consider. Because water runs off the roof more quickly a thicker substrate layer is needed. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. A green roof is a green space that is created by adding various layers of plants and a growing medium to the top portion of a traditional roofing system.