Green Roof Maintenance Problems

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.

Green roof maintenance problems.

Design deficiencies cost a lot of money to correct and they can only be fixed by replacing the roof. Common green roof problem 1. A typical extensive sedum or meadow roof will only require limited maintenance. According to pierce one of the most common roof problems is incidental water ponding.

Plant loss plant loss is a common issue on green roofs and can happen for many different reasons. So much so that sedum roofs dominate uk green roof specifications comprising perhaps as much as 85 by area of a 100m annual market. Low or no maintenance o m. This includes removing weeds carried by the wind and applying fertilizer several times a year.

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. The plants will not be damaged by walking on them when conducting this maintenance. 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. A faulty design of a roofing system can cause costly problems.

An extensive green roof is almost maintenance free but your roof garden will always need a little maintenance. 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. If you re noticing gradual or very quick plant loss let us highlight what some of the issues may be. The exact level of maintenance needed will depend on the type and desired purpose of each specific installation.

Maintenance for intensive green roofs can be labor intensive and expensive. Issues with the membrane drainage. While extensive green roofs are generally considered low maintenance landscapes they do require specialized care at regular intervals especially during the period of establishment. It is perceived to be one of the largest barriers to their installation.

Let s take a look at some common green roof myths and see if they er. Unless design deficiencies are corrected the problems they cause will likely come back. No one visits them and they wonder why it s not alive months later. 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.

They are strong enough to be able to compensate for this.