What is a living roof?

Considerations are changing surrounding improvement projects in our homes. We are learning more about how our homes can run more efficiently, how we can save money on energy, how the way we live can directly affect the environment and how we can have a much more positive impact on the world around us.

There are a variety of ways in which you can make eco-friendly changes to your home, but one that you might not instantly think about is a living roof, also known as a green roof.

So, what is a living roof and what are the benefits of having one on your home?

What type of living roof – extensive or intensive?

The idea behind a living roof is that you take a pitched or a flat roof on your home and cover it with plants, herbs or grasses. A living roof is also known as a green roof or an eco-roof and they are also broken down into extensive and intensive living roofs too.

Extensive green roofing

An extensive living roof is the type that is more likely to be seen on residential  buildings that don’t need to be walked on.

These will often be applied to sheds and garages as well as to the building itself.

They are designed to have a low weight and soft planting with mosses or succulents, but still help to insulate the roof and have a low water use.

Intensive living roof

An intensive living roof is most often seen on a commercial or office building. These roofs often cover a large area and will have a real wealth and variety of plants including grasses, flowers, shrubs and even trees.

You may find that an intensive living roof has walkways and paths, which means that people can walk on the roof, which means that they need to be placed on an incredibly strong and can take weight.

Not sure which is the right one for you? Let the Permaroof green roofing division help you.

What are the benefits of a living roof?

There are a number of reasons why someone may choose to install a living roof on their home or office. One of the main benefits to installing a living roof is that it is known to reduce the heating and cooling costs of running the building. This is because it naturally helps to improve the thermal properties of the building through its many layers.

Another great benefit of the living roof is that it helps to absorb a lot of moisture from the roof, this eliminates the need for a drainage system which can be tricky to install and can cost money too. Living roofs can often be associated with urban water management programs and in certain areas of the UK, local government offers incentive schemes to encourage both domestic and commercial living roof creation.

A living roof will also blend in with the natural world around you and, this, in most circumstances will help to improve the value of the property too. Which is always a plus point for many people.

The benefits of a living roof are not only for you and for your property, but also for the wider world too. A living roof boosts the amount of flora and fauna in your domestic environment and will help to reduce pollution and clean the air around you too.

Permaroof is dedicated to the creation of a greener UK – one roof at a time. Talk to us about your living roof projects today.