Green Roof Maintenance Problems

It is perceived to be one of the largest barriers to their installation.

Green roof maintenance problems.

So much so that sedum roofs dominate uk green roof specifications comprising perhaps as much as 85 by area of a 100m annual market. This includes removing weeds carried by the wind and applying fertilizer several times a year. While extensive green roofs are generally considered low maintenance landscapes they do require specialized care at regular intervals especially during the period of establishment. According to pierce one of the most common roof problems is incidental water ponding.

The most concerning and damaging error regarding green roof maintenance is not having a plan in place says andy creath owner and founder of green roofs of colorado a firm that designs installs maintains and consults on green roofs. The exact level of maintenance needed will depend on the type and desired purpose of each specific installation. Low or no maintenance o m. A typical extensive sedum or meadow roof will only require limited maintenance.

Plant loss plant loss is a common issue on green roofs and can happen for many different reasons. If you re noticing gradual or very quick plant loss let us highlight what some of the issues may be. No one visits them and they wonder why it s not alive months later. Issues with the membrane drainage.

Sedum is popular because it s claimed to be low cost less growing medium low weight less implied cost to strengthen the structure below and considered fit and forget i e. They are strong enough to be able to compensate for this. Unless design deficiencies are corrected the problems they cause will likely come back. A faulty design of a roofing system can cause costly problems.

Maintenance for intensive green roofs can be labor intensive and expensive. Extensive roofs require less watering and fertilizing but they require at least yearly inspections to remove unwanted self seeding plants. Common green roof problem 1. 1 2 in addition green roofs can reduce building energy use by 0 7 compared to conventional roofs reducing peak electricity demand and leading to an annual savings of 0 23 per square foot of the roof.

Let s take a look at some common green roof myths and see if they er. The green roof will no doubt generate lots of interest so it is important to create a site specific maintenance plan to keep it looking and functioning properly. Green roof temperatures can be 30 40 f lower than those of conventional roofs and can reduce city wide ambient temperatures by up to 5 f. All green roofs and walls will require some form of annual maintenance.

An extensive green roof is almost maintenance free but your roof garden will always need a little maintenance.