Brown Roofing

Brown roofing leaves nature to take its course, providing the perfect environment to capture blown seeds and attract local wildlife. Recreating the brown field on flat roofing is rising in popularity across the UK – and we’re here to help.

We’re committed to making the UK a greener place, one roof at a time. We can help you with high performance waterproofing to form the perfect base layer for brown roofing. Talk to our team about environmentally friendlier roofing systems today.

Brown roofs and other eco roofing systems rely heavily on the waterproofing layer for longevity. Installation involves a complex process of layering across the roof deck and above the membrane. Membrane failure following installation could prove a costly mistake, both in terms of time and money. Getting the waterproofing right, first time is the only option for this type of project.

RubberCover EPDM membranes from Elevate offer an exceptional service life expectancy of more than 50 years. This type of longevity is ideal for brown roofs, which are designed to be left alone once installed to develop naturally.

Membrane requires some protection from any objects that may puncture it. This includes stones, roots or burrowing and foraging animals. Insulation provides additional thermal properties, and it is common for insulating boards to be installed over membranes in these types of projects.

Fleece backed EPDM membranes have a higher puncture resistance than other membranes and are also popular for brown, green and other eco roofing.

Using a liquid waterproofing system is already highly popular in commercial eco roofing projects. Liquid PU-based coatings are durable, flexible and can be worked into complex roofing designs where membrane can prove difficult or impossible to install.

Brown roofs, like many eco roofing systems, carry additional weight due to the number and nature of the layers needed. Typically, brown systems can amount to around 150mm across the entire roof. For this reason, it is recommended that a thorough assessment of the roof deck is made to ensure structural integrity.

For the additional weight and load requirements, typical of brown, blue and other types of eco roofing, an inverted roof design is ideal. This is because it allows for movement and protects the underlying membrane – it is a variant of the ballasted roof system. Here we demonstrate using a concrete based flat roof as an example.

1. Ballast layer – in a brown roof design, this would consist of the biodiverse top layer, stones or other selected ballast
2. Geotextile protection matting
3. Insulating layer to achieve thermal performance requirements
4. Waterproofing membrane installed over the vapour barrier/deck
5. A vapour control barrier may be required to protect the membrane
6. The surface of the concrete should be primed before application of the vapour control layer (if required)
7. The concrete deck should achieve a required minimum slope to facilitate efficient drainage – ideally this will not exceed 10%.

EPDM offers a long-lasting and low maintenance approach to domestic flat roofing. With a life expectancy of more than 50 years, EPDM could outlive some types of projects, such as shed roofing.

Many homeowners must keep a close eye on felt roofs and ensure they are looked after and examined regularly for signs of damage. Common domestic felt is often tacked in place, which is not conducive to keeping water out, so as a result, many shed roofs need to be stripped back and replaced every few years.

EPDM delivers 100% waterproofing performance over its expected lifespan of over five decades and requires little or no maintenance once correctly installed.

Like many other projects, your flat roof will benefit from careful planning, preparation and installation of the right materials. Whether you’re taking a DIY approach or you’re a busy trade roofing professional, PermaRoof UK is here for you.

PermaRoof UK supply EPDM membranes, accessories and high-quality adhesives to help you get the most from your projects – large or small. We support both trade and DIY roofers with a range of roofing and building products, services and technical support from a team of uniquely qualified representatives.

We offer genuine EPDM membranes at the same price as the people that are selling ‘similar’ membranes, that’s right. With PermaRoof price promise, we are guaranteed to be the best priced, for the same product, with a CE certificate, membrane warranty, and the peace of mind that the products are genuine. Why would you need any other supplier?

PermaGroup has established links with some of the biggest names in our industry thanks to our reputation of excellence. Read more about becoming a supplier or stockist here.