Intensive Roof Garden Structure

Walter van de werken.

Intensive roof garden structure.

In contrast with an extensive green roof there are almost unlimited possibilities with respect to the plants that can be used in an intensive system. As a roof type that requires frequent maintenance intensive systems can be thought of as gardens on a roof. This is especially true of intensive green roofs which can have soil that is two feet deep or more. The basic anatomy of a green roof consists of vegetation growing medium filter membrane drainage layer waterproof root repellant layer roofing membrane support for plantings above thermal insulation vapor control layer and structural roof support.

For this kind of rooftop gardens perennials or annuals shrubs especially native species are recommended. In these cases there is a difference in height with regard to the structure of the roof garden. This deeper soil allows intensive roofs to accommodate large plants and dramatic plant groupings. Utilizing the modern roof area by being a pleasant environment to regularly visit or live in an intensive green roof system assures a better quality of life.

Sedum matting only requires a few centimetres of substrate while you need at least 70 80 cm root space for trees. Another term for these green roofs is rooftop garden intensive green roofs require more maintenance because of the plant varieties they will support. A tree can then be placed on a mound or in a container. Vegetative roofs are divided into two categories.

1 extensive vegetative roofs which are 6 inches or shallower and are frequently designed to satisfy specific engineering and performance goals and 2 intensive vegetative roofs which may become quite deep and merge into more familiar on structure plaza landscapes with promenades lawn large perennial plants and trees. The intensive green roof s vegetation is similar to a garden at ground level because the structure allows this. Planting media for intensive green roofs are a foot deep at minimum and have saturated weights ranging from 80 to 120 pounds per square foot depending on type and depth of planting medium and the type of plants. Green roofs tend to improve the life of the membrane because it is completely covered by plantings and isn t exposed to the sun s harsh uv rays.

Intensive green roofs commonly thought of as garden roofs are the more complex of the two exhibiting much greater plant diversity and a greater need for design expertise says peck. The structural engineer must factor in the weight of completely saturated soil since the plantings and the soil will hold a significant amount of water. This system requires some maintenance from time to time. A new habitat intensive green roofs provide an opportunity for a new habitat of plants and animals to be incorporated into an urban structure.

It is also important to factor in the type and lifetime of the roof membrane that will be used. The intensive green roof uses planting mediums that have greater depth than the extensive green roof. These green roof systems lie between the extensive and the intensive and usually include a mix of plant types.