0

Green Roofs

The environmental benefits of turf and green roofs are widely recognised, while roof gardens and roof terraces provide much-needed outdoor space in urban areas.

Due to the high degree of insulation that they provide, green roofs are known for their ability to provide an extremely constant temperature throughout the year.

Green Roof Cabins Pitched Roof

How to Design a Green Roof

During the winter green roofs keep the heat in, and in the summer they provide a relatively cool environment. Green roofs also have the ability to soften harsh edges of buildings in sensitive environments, making them blend in with the surrounding area.

Turf and green roofs provide habitat for insects and other wildlife. Where new buildings are built on greenfield sites, this new habitat can replace the habitat that would otherwise have been lost.

Green Roof Design Considerations

The most important considerations when designing turf and green roofs are ensuring that the roof is strong enough to support the weight of the turf or plants (even when they are fully saturated by rainfall and covered in several feet of snow!) and ensuring that the roof is watertight.

Structural calculations will need to be made, and the foundations and roofing timbers are likely to require upgrading in order to support the additional weight of a turf or green roof.

Types of Green Roof

Methods of construction differ between pitched green roofs and flat green roofs. Flat green roofs can be either extensive (have a thin layer of growing material such as sedum matting) or intensive (greater soil depth with shrubs and even trees). The weight requirements for intensive green roofs are such that they are normally installed over concrete roof decks.

A further type of green roof is known as a biodiverse or brown roof. These are constructed in a similar way to flat green roofs, but are designed with specific biodiversity objectives in mind – e.g. maximising biodiversity or providing a habitat for a specific species.

Technical Support

If you would like more information on designing or specifying green roofs, please contact our technical department on 01403 210204 or submit an enquiry.

Get it Done

Turf Hook dynamic render
Oldroyd Turf Roof HookBrackets for securing turf on pitched green roofs.
£16.60
Green roofing nail
Oldroyd Turf Roof PlugsFixings for Oldroyd Xv Green membrane to create pitched green roofs (also known as turf roofs or sod roofs).
£29.99
£46.59
All Articles
Advice
Case Studies
News
Members of the Safeguard and National Trust teams apply Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream to the Wanstone ECM buttresses. Case Study
Wanstone Rediscovered, White Cliffs of Dover - Protecting Heritage Structures with Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream

Discover how Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream was used on World War 2-era gun battery magazine buttresses at Dover.

Read more
A row of UK terraced houses. Advice
Housing Health Check for Tenants

Simon Trenerry from the Safeguard Technical Team shares his expert insight on everything you need to know about the Renters Rights Bill.

Read more
Clothes Moths or Carpet Beetles article hero image Advice
Clothes Moths or Carpet Beetles?

You've found holes in your clothes. Is it clothes moths or carpet beetles? Read on to find out how to reliably tell the difference.

Read more
NOPE! brown rat image Advice
How to Get Rid of Rodents: Black Rats, Brown Rats & Mice

Brown Rats, Black Rats & House Mice are invading UK homes. Use this guide to detect, prevent and remove rodents from your home.

Read more
NOPE Slug Killer Disc Pellets Product Info Card Image News
Out Now: NOPE! Slug Killer Disc Pellets

Defend flowers, fruit and veg in your organic garden with new NOPE! Slug Killer Disc Pellets.

Read more
NOPE Rat Killer Grain Bait and Bait Station Product Info Card Image News
Out Now: NOPE! Rat Killer Grain Bait & Rodent Bait Station Range

Our highly effective rodent control system pairs super-strength brodifacoum grain sachets with a lockable and tamper-resistant bait station.

Read more
YDC and Safeguard Working Together - Leeds Basement 2 Case Study
Domestic Property Basement Renovation Part 1 – Drybase Tanking System

With Tibby Singh and YDC Basements, Safeguard waterproofed a basement at an end of terrace home in Leeds using Drybase Tanking System.

Read more
Ferring Pillbox Brush Application Case Study
1940s Concrete Pillbox, West Sussex — High-Performance Waterproofing with Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream

Built in Summer 1940, the Type 26 pillbox is a 6 ft by 6 ft cube just big enough to house 4 soldiers and their guns. The 1 m thick concrete walls were built to withstand a direct hit from a naval warship. 98 tons of concrete went into creating the pillbox. In the 1980s, the whole exterior was covered…

Read more
Join our newsletter

Subscribe to get information about products and offers.