Green Roof Structural Details

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.

Green roof structural details. Green roof and waterproofing details utilize many thin layers which might not be legible if drawn to scale. Green roof structural requirements. 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. The structural requirements for a green roof are the most important aspect to consider.

The structure of a shallow pitched green roof differs slightly from the structure of a flat roof. The roofs are designed so that water drains vertically through the media and then horizontally along a waterproofing layer towards the outlet. Architectural details photo by tommy hileman. Additional structural support may need to be provided.

Because water runs off the roof more quickly a thicker substrate layer is needed. We try to think of green roof details more as diagrams than perfect scale drawings. You need to make sure that the structure can cope with the extra weight of your green roof especially when saturated with water. The substrate gives the right amount of nutrients to the plants so your green roof stays nice and green.

The key to any good green roof project is a good waterproofing membrane. 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. There are many types of waterproofing membrane. 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.