Semi Intensive Green Roof Maintenance

Semi intensive roofs and intensive green roofs.

Semi intensive green roof maintenance. Extensive roofs are thin lightweight roof systems that typically have a planting media measuring 6 to 20 cm deep while heavier thicker green roofs are known as intensive roofs and their growing media ranges in thickness from 20 cm to 100 cm. Thus they have more substantial structural loads and need more frequent maintenance and watering. Once established they will continue to develop to create a self sustaining plant community on the roof that will also provide habitat for invertebrates and bird species. Semi intensive green roof a semi intensive green roof system is characterized by small herbaceous plants ground covers grasses and small shrubs requiring moderate maintenance and occasional irrigation a typical growing medium depth for a semi intensive green roof is 6 to 12 inches.

Most semi intensive or intensive green roofs are designed with aesthetic appeal or the functionality of normal garden or recreational area which will dictate a more intensive maintenance regime as would be required in most gardens. Semi intensive green roof heather with lavender the ideal system build up for blooming perennials and aromatic shrubs heather with lavender is a simple intensive green roof system and allows for the inclusion of various perennials and aromatic shrubs in the plant selection. Our semi intensive green roof systems include a richer deeper substrate and drainage solution compared to extensive roofs enabling use of a wider range of complex plant mixtures. Semi intensive green roofs include features of both.

Intensive green roofs have more soil and a deeper growing medium sometimes several feet that can support a more diverse plant selection including small trees. For a conventional roof. A 2006 study by the university of michigan comparing costs of conventional and green roofs showed that on average installing a green roof costs about 22 00 sq. Semi intensive green roofs.

They are usually accessible. Semi intensive green roofs as their name states are a combination of the aforementioned two types. 8 to 20 per square foot. Semi intensive roofs are generally used within highly visible area s to improve aesthetic design using small shrubs forbs and grasses.

This system is able to retain more stormwater than an extensive system and. Semi intensive green roofs require a bit more maintenance since the plants tend to need pruning irrigation and fertilization. However maintenance requirements are generally no more than would be expected for sidewalk planters. As a roof type that requires frequent maintenance intensive systems can be thought of as gardens on a roof in contrast with an extensive green roof there are almost unlimited possibilities.

If the roof is occupied additional maintenance should be accounted for to make sure the roof is safe and comfortable.