Green Roofing – Eco Friendly Roof Solutions

A green roof (also known as a living roof) is a deck that is installed on your rooftop, which allows for the growth of vegetation and wildlife. In short, green roofing involves installing a planted rooftop on top of your existing rooftop. They are organic in appearance, and aesthetically pleasing, but also provide a better chance for wildlife and plant species to create a natural habitat. This is an eco-friendly option that will encourage biodiversity and compensate for the potential loss of nature during your building’s construction.

Green roofs come in different types, styles, and offer different uses too. Here at Flat Roof Experts, we specialise in Green Roofs that use sedum plants, locally sourced from Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

If your roof is pitched at more than 30° then a green roof will not be suitable for your property. Underneath the plant membrane, we must install a moisture-retention fleece, which will ensure water remains in the soil rather than pooling on the surface. Any excess water will be carried away by an aqua drain. A vapour control layer will also manage the passage of water vapour from inside your building through the roof, preventing condensation. In truth, when installing a green roof, it’s best to leave it to the experts.

There are generally two types of green roof – intensive and extensive. Intensive roofs are thicker than their counterpart as the growing media can be between 20cm and 100cm in thickness. They can support a higher range of plant life, but will typically require a higher level of maintenance. Extensive roofs are shallower, typically offering a planting media 6cm to 20 cm deep. These are a lot lighter and require less maintenance.

Green roofs can help to reduce what is known as the Urban Heat Island Effect. This is the condition where an urban environment absorbs and traps heat, becoming a lot warmer than any surrounding rural areas in the process. Plants that grow on a green roof will remove carbon air particulates, produce oxygen and provide shade. They can also reduce and slow stormwater runoff during heavy rainfall.

Despite what the name implies, flat roof systems are actually created with an undetectably slight incline – usually positioned towards roof drains to quickly siphon away rainwater. This cuts out the risk of ‘ponding’ in adverse weather conditions, which happens when water pools in the middle of your roof surface and can lead to further damage and leakages. 

As well as the attractive range of features green roofs offer, you get an eco-friendly and sustainable solution that actively absorbs excess liquid to power its plants, giving you peace of mind against ponding while protecting your property. A green system has excellent roof waterproofing capabilities thanks to a selection of thin filter layers, providing absolute quality drainage with none of the bulk you might usually expect. 

We can also offer an extra EPDM Rubber layer to any of your roofing projects, which is a super-durable and weather-resistant material made of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer. Installed at the bottom layer of biodiverse roofs, this gives you extra security against potential water damage and guarantees successful rain drainage.

No matter where your flat roof finds its home – from domestic dwellings to commercial buildings – you’ll want to ensure that it is maintained to get the most out of its average life cycle. To avoid costly flat roof repairs, you’ll want to regularly carry out inspections to catch any issues before they become bigger problems. If you do find anything concerning, you can easily get in touch with our Flat Roof Specialists who are happy to help.

We recommend checking your flat roof at least twice a year, especially after particularly turbulent weather – this can test the boundaries of performance on roofs, windows, and buildings alike! During this time you should make sure to clean any lingering debris such as leaves, stones, or mud collecting in suspect corners, to avoid future issues with drainage. To ensure a thorough check, take a moment to monitor your internal walls too, as they are prime candidates for dampness or mold.

If you spot any of these issues, you can drop our team a message and they’ll be able to tackle your roofing problems – both inside and out.

Whether you are looking into a new flat roofing solution for your business, one of our environmentally friendly green roofs, or are looking into one of our leading flat rubber products, we have a wide range of options when it comes to replacements and repairs.

For older buildings, especially ones constructed in the 1970s and 80s, it is important to identify if traces of asbestos will have to be addressed during your removal. Our roofing specialists will be able to analyse and safely remove all asbestos material from your property before swiftly replacing the roof with long-lasting EPDM flat rubber. We offer a fixed-cost price for every abstraction and replacement, so you will never be faced with a surprise bill. 

The type of property you have and what you are looking to achieve from your new flat roofing project are all factors to consider. We are experts at tailoring our versatile EPDM rubber to all kinds of flat roof applications, and are always excited to craft an ecological sedum solution for those wanting to welcome more wildlife. To find out more, you can get a no-obligation quote from a flat roofing specialist here.

Here at Flat Roof Experts, we’ve been supplying and installing a comprehensive range of high-quality roofing systems for over 20 years. Our competitive prices mean you always get top products and brilliant service whatever your budget or project. Depending on the type of roof already on your property, we can offer personalised solutions using our leading flat rubber materials or green organic roofs.

As a base, some traditional buildings use built-up roofing that layers material like fiberglass to improve thermal regulation. A close sibling of the BUF is modified bitumen roofing, found on both flat and “low-slope” roofs, usually made of asphalt. Then we come to our area of expertise, EPDM roofs, where the top of your flat building is coated with durable rubber for ultra-reliable, weather-resistant performance.

Our flat rubber roofing is incredibly easy to maintain, thanks to its excellent temperature range, long-lasting ability and lightweight capability. Once our friendly team has installed your EPDM roof solution, it can be confidently left to withstand all kinds of weather – from extreme heat to freezing cold – without worry. 

All it needs is an occasional check a few times a year to ensure it is clear of debris, so it continues working at the optimum level. One of the joys of a flat roof is that it is incredibly easy to climb up and down on, making maintenance a quick and safe job whenever you choose to do it.