Roof lawn. Green Roof: Grass Roof Technology Grass Roof Repair

Art landscape design fascinates many gardeners. The suburban areas of the creators of beautiful flower beds, sculptural compositions, ponds and other objects are like fabulous places that attract attention with their beauty and aesthetics. One of the ways to decorate a summer house is to green the roof of the house. We will consider all the details about the creation, varieties, advantages of this creation in our article.

Types of roofing lawns

Lawns on the roof country house are divided into two main varieties:

№	Lawn type	Description
1	Intensive	This type of roof gardening is possible on solid roofs larger area. An intensive look implies the creation of a full-fledged garden with the inclusion garden paths, gazebos, miniature ponds, fountains, planting shrubs and dwarf trees, arranging a picnic area. This landscaping is suitable for multi-storey buildings, hotels, shopping centers and other large facilities.
2	Extensive	The best option for owners of suburban areas with gazebos, outbuildings, a garage, a cottage / house. An extensive type of roof gardening involves the use of light soil with a thickness of no more than 15 cm. As a result, the summer resident receives a continuous roofing lawn consisting of evergreen unpretentious plants.

Also, the choice of the type of roof landscaping depends on the type of roof. Only an extensive lawn can be planted on a pitched surface; on a flat surface, it is possible to create both an intensive and an extensive lawn.

Rooftop lawn house

Of course, roof gardening is carried out not only to decorate the site. This landscape object has additional advantages.

Improving the heat and sound insulation layer. Soil and vegetation on the roof reduce background noise penetrating into interior spaces from the street. Also, the upper part of the house covered with greenery will provide warmth in winter and coolness in summer, which will save the owners financial resources for heating and air conditioning.
Extending the life of a roof. The vegetative layer protects the roof from damaging weather conditions, ultraviolet and external influences. At proper care behind a roofing lawn, the roof will last 15-20 years longer.
Moisture retention. During rains, the roof lawn will absorb moisture, thereby protecting the beds, "ground" lawn and other objects from flooding.
Provide roof fire protection. Properly caring for your roof lawn will keep your home safe from fires.
Improvement of ecology. The materials used to create the roof often emit toxic substances. By covering the roof with a lawn, you will solve the problem of the penetration of toxic compounds into the atmosphere. Plants purify oxygen by trapping a quarter of all dust particles in the air and harmful substances. In addition, the microclimate of the local ecosystem is preserved and the area that was occupied by the construction is compensated.

Having covered the roof with a lawn, the owner of the cottage provides the house with excellent protection against many threats from the external environment and gives his home a unique exclusive look.

Optimal plant species for a rooftop lawn

For gardening the roof of a house in a country house, you need to select special varieties of unpretentious plants that can withstand the possible vagaries of the weather. These include:

frost-resistant lawn grass;
bell;
creeping phlox;
sedum;
lavender;
stonecrop;
oregano;
Carnation;
gypsophila;
saxifrage;
allisum.

With the right approach, you can make a real work of art out of the roof, which has similar features with a motley Moorish lawn.

On a note! To create a green roof, choose plants with a fibrous root system.

Rooftop lawn - technology

Fundamental rules:

Creation of a roofing lawn is possible on any roof. If there is a flat roof, the summer resident will have to make an artificial slope, which will help to avoid stagnant water.
A mandatory requirement is the presence of a drainage system in the absence of natural drains.
Of course, the structure of the house must be strong and able to withstand the loads imposed on it.
The roof must be protected with a reinforced waterproofing layer and provide protective measures against penetration of roots.
The lawn is evenly distributed over the entire roof. In places with heavy and massive elements, supporting supports should be provided.

Rooftop lawn - construction and repair

Greening the roof involves the construction of several layers that protect the house from destruction from the side of the roof. The design of the future "green" object is as follows:

Basic structure. To create a solid foundation, choose responsibly load-bearing structure. The first layer of the roofing lawn is the crate pitched roof or a concrete floor slab (for a flat surface). If there were tiles or slate on the pitched roof before creating the lawn, then they should be removed. Using concrete slab take care to create a slope (1.4-5 degrees) to drain water using a cement-sand screed.
waterproofing layer. Do not save on materials that create waterproofing. It should be as reliable as possible to avoid leaks. Successfully proven itself bitumen-polymer material attached to the first layer mechanically. The waterproofing is welded and the seams are soldered, while the edges are bent above the thickness of the insulation.
Thermal insulation layer. The third layer is laid out with polyurethane foam, cork boards or extruded polystyrene foam. The materials are pressed tightly against each other or, in the absence of the necessary pressure upper layers are glued with special glue. Thermal insulation is not attached to the base.
Root layer. To protect the roof from the roots allows a film coated metal coated, or a polymer pad with water retention cells. Protection against penetration of roots is established when planting trees or plants with a strong root system. When choosing a regular lawn grass, this layer can be abandoned.
intermediate layer. The fifth layer is represented by geotextiles sold in rolls. The material is laid in layers - one on top of the other by overlapping. Geotextiles perform an important filtration function.
drainage layer. The role of the sixth layer is to retain moisture and remove excess water during heavy rains. For this, loosened clay, polyamide, perlite coke, expanded clay gravel or crushed pumice are used. The thickness of the drainage varies between 5-10 cm. To improve the flow, you can add perforated pipes.
intermediate layer. Geotextiles are back in business. The function is the same - filtering particles penetrating into the lower layers from the soil.
Soil layer. Last layer represented by a substrate that serves to grow selected plants. Its thickness depends on the type and needs of the representatives of the flora. As a rule, it is within 5-50 cm. Experts do not recommend using ordinary earth for a roofing lawn.

On a note! When landscaping a pitched roof, take care to create protective barriers around the edges that prevent soil from sliding.

Lawn care

Updated "green" roof requires maintenance. The main rules are presented below.

Before creating a landscape object, consider whether you can fully care for it. An abandoned and sloppy roof garden will spoil the aesthetics of the house and reduce your work to nothing.
Roof gardening is best done in April in warm weather.
The soil layer must be loosened and fertilized before laying.
Monitor the condition of the soil. When dry, do not forget to water the plants.
Overgrown vegetation should be trimmed and tidied up as needed.
The first six months, the plants need monthly top dressing. Then it is recommended to fertilize the soil every 6 months.
With the onset of autumn, the roof requires special attention. The roofing lawn is treated with fungal fungicide, cleared of foliage and debris. In the presence of damage, the upper layers are repaired, plant seeds are sown.
In winter, the load on the roof increases due to the additional layer of snow. Don't forget to clean up regularly.

green roof will last a long time if its creator adheres to the following recommendations:

Calculate the potential of your home. Do not overload the roof with heavy materials: choose lightweight drainage systems and light substrates. Distribute the load evenly, install massive structures (vases, gazebos, fountains) in those places where the supporting supports are located.
The appearance of plants depends on your care. Install at the top vertical structures protecting vegetation from the wind.
Don't forget about your own safety. Provide a safe and comfortable exit to the lawn.
Consider the climate of the area where the suburban area is located. With a lot of rainfall, pay due attention to the drainage system, with high aridity - the irrigation system.
If you don't want to spend a lot of time caring for a green roof, then use plant containers. This will save you from a multi-layer coating device, trips to the country in winter time to clean the roof of snow and allow you to fantasize with the design of the design of the country house.
To prevent plant seeds from being scattered all over the site, sow the lawn in calm weather.

Greening the roof is a great way to update the boring design of the cottage, to protect the building from external factors environment and let your creative potential for a good cause. To get started, experiment with small objects - the roof of a gazebo, a barn, or a canopy over a well. Having created a “rough” creation, you will be convinced of the simplicity of creating a roofing lawn and with confidence proceed to larger-scale work to improve your suburban area.

Helpful Hints, informative articles for summer residents and gardeners. Planting, care, harvesting. Of course, a lot of information about flowers, berries, mushrooms. On site pages

Surely at least once, but you have heard about this miracle of Scandinavian gardeners - the “green” roof. It covers many houses of our northern neighbors. Beauty: instead of tiles or slates - a real carpet of flowers and herbs ... But Scandinavia, with its cool summers and warm winters, is one thing, and Russia is quite another. Here you gape for a week, and sorry, goodbye, beloved garden! Will the "green" roof survive in domestic conditions? Are possible alternative solutions? Let's try to understand our article.

Why is it necessary? Or why not

There are several obvious advantages of a “green” roof at once: they are beautiful, practical and perfectly enrich the air with oxygen. Such roofs absorb rainwater well. A layer of soil up to 10 cm thick absorbs three-quarters of rainfall. This reduces the load on the drainage system and storm sewers.

Scandinavian roofing is an excellent sound insulator. Neither the sound of rain, nor the clatter of birds that tire you in houses with metal tiles will disturb you. Another advantage is passive energy saving. Green spaces prevent the heating of the roof in summer and retain heat in winter. Accordingly, the rooms themselves will have a more balanced climate all year round.

Oddly enough, but Scandinavian roofs also have financial benefits. Greenery protects the roofing from ultraviolet radiation, bad weather and mechanical damage (for example, as a result of hail), and therefore the roof will last much longer. If you want to sell a “green” house, then for sure its price will be higher than the cost of an ordinary building.
Now - about the shortcomings.

The most important, of course, has to do with money. The arrangement of the Scandinavian roof will require serious investments. Especially if we are talking about intensive gardening. In addition, not all roofs can be made “green” (unless they can be painted! :)). Some of the houses already built may not be able to withstand the additional load.

Another important question- protection of the roof from leakage. Even if you lay down a waterproof membrane, the roots of plants (especially trees and shrubs) can tear it. If during installation you did something wrong, leaks will begin. And repairs will be expensive and difficult. We'll have to dismantle the entire roofing "pie". Finally, such roofs are simply difficult to assemble. Surely, you will spend a lot of time trying to find or grow the most resilient plants.

What is more profitable?

A typical Scandinavian roof is with slopes and a layer of soil of about 20 cm. This is enough to grow not only grass, but even trees and shrubs on it. This type of landscaping is called intensive.

A rooftop garden is a spectacular, but also expensive option. But sod roofs with extensive landscaping require almost no maintenance. Low undemanding plants planted on a thin layer of soil or compost. Enough 5-7 cm.

“Green” roofs are made not only flat, but also tilted. Pitched construction has advantages over flat. For example, thanks to it, excess moisture itself flows down. Therefore, sometimes waterproofing and drainage systems, without which a flat roof with vegetation cannot do, are not installed on slopes at all.

What to plant?

The most inexpensive and suitable landscaping option for the Russian climate is steppe grasses: dandelion, plantain, knotweed, wormwood, cuff. They can be allowed to grow without mowing. This will add a special “Russian” charm to the roof. You can also try bent grass. This grass does not need to be mowed, but it does not like to dry out.

A more “cultural” option is stonecrop, young, sedum. They are quite decorative: there are many types with different shades, from yellow and green to reddish. These plants practically do not need watering, rain is enough for them. They also do not require fertilizer. The disadvantage is that these herbs grow for a long time.

In the nursery, one such plant costs 25-40 rubles. To save money, many summer residents grow them below, and then transplant them to the roof. Florists note that it is better to grow sedums not from seeds, but from cuttings: cut branches and immediately plant them in the ground.

An even simpler option is moss. It is known that it can grow even on rocks. This hardy plant is perhaps the most suitable option for those regions where winter lasts nine months.

Installation cost

The price per square meter of a Norwegian roof depends on many factors, including the type of greenery on the roof. Protection (hydro, steam, thermal insulation), drainage and filtering layer will cost about 10 euros per sq.m. The substrate costs about 11 euros, plants - 10 euros. On average, extensive landscaping per 1 sq. m will cost from 30 European "money", for intensive gardening you will pay from 50 euros per sq.m.

Domestic experience

Not only summer residents have been interested in the installation of Scandinavian roofs in Russia for more than a decade. Back in 2000, they developed standard solutions landscaping flat roofs. Moscomarchitectura, with the support of the Moscow Government, even issued recommendations for the design and improvement of such coatings for residential and public buildings. But already there it was stipulated that roof gardens can be arranged only on a limited number of objects. That is, in other words, this pleasure is not for mere mortals.

And yet, many summer residents dared to implement a bold idea. Others, after a grueling struggle for the life (and happiness!) of plants, gave up. But someone did a really good job...

So, one summer resident near Moscow built a real “Hobbit house” on his site. When calculating loads, I studied different variants frame structure. In his choice, he was guided by two criteria: low cost and ease of installation. As a result, the owner stopped at the round metal frame lined with waterproof plywood.

Not bad, right?

The story of a resident of St. Petersburg is known (as you know, this city differs from Moscow in an even harsher climate). Once Alla Sokol was carried away by the overseas project “Feed Yourself”: she watched a program where they talked about growing on the roof ornamental plants and vegetables. Back in the 1990s, she, a pioneer of urban gardening, began landscaping with the help of volunteers. apartment buildings. I started, as usual, from my own roof. I just planted greens. And then ... For many years of landscaping, I have not tried anything. Well, except that she didn’t grow potatoes!

In 2002, the hobby has already grown into a whole project "City Mini-Farm", which was financed by the charitable "Gagarin Fund". Gardeners themselves prepared biosoil from peat, made biohumus. They proved that it is possible to grow vegetables on the roof, and seedlings for sale, and flower seedlings ...

In the course of their work, Alla Sokol's associates made another important discovery. The sections of the roof that were under the “green” coverlet were better preserved than those that were “bare”. There were no cracks on them: the film on which the lawn was located protected the roof from drying out ...

By the way, you can read more about Alla Sokol and her experiments.

Have we still not convinced you that a green roof is worthy of your attention? Then there is another example. Very original house built for himself by the Russian architect Igor Firsov. The building is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, 140 km from St. Petersburg.

The handmade log cabin was made of rounded logs. The architect laid the rafter system like a fan. The result is unusual design, which the author calls the “canonical hyperboloid”. Small house of 60 sq. m harmoniously fit into the landscape, which is called "northern": with ship pines, gray boulders and crystal clear air. The cottage seemed to have grown up in the midst of this wild splendor ...

"Green" roof only enhances the impression. For its device, the architect used a special flooring made of logs. He laid it on top of a wooden truss system. Then there was such a “pie”: three-layer waterproofing, insulation 10 cm thick, expanded clay, geotextile material, soil and grass. To prevent the soil from sliding down, stones were laid along the perimeter of the roof. The edges of the grass roof are lowered - this allows excess moisture to drain.

By the way, to collect rainwater, Igor Firsov came up with an equally beautiful structure - he walled plastic barrel with a tap into the stones. The sloping roof, moreover, makes it easy to climb it if the need arises. And to make it easier to do, on one side of the house there is another ingenious design in the form of a stone staircase. And how beautiful it must be that rainwater flows from the roof along this cascade!

Alternative Solutions

What about those who do not want to mess with a complicated structure, but still want to make their roof “green”? There are several simpler solutions.

The easiest thing is to arrange plants in pots with a soil substrate on a flat roof. In the summer you can enjoy a mini-garden, for the winter it is removed into the house.
Grass can be grown on the roof in temporary pallets. In November you remove the cassettes, in the spring you put them out again ...
On a flat roof, you can equip greenhouses. They will become unique winter gardens. By the way, according to research, roofs with greenhouses protect the house well from overheating - they take away excess heat.

Finally, one more interesting option, which has already been partially mentioned, is moss. Surely, many summer residents have noticed how this velvet plant eventually settles on tiled roofs. And not one has already tried various ways fight against the green scourge. But why not look at the problem differently? ..

Agree - the moss on the roof makes the house more romantic and colorful. But how do you grow moss if you don't wait for nature to take its course? There are many ways. We will talk about the most unusual - drawing with moss.

For three handfuls of moss, you will need 2 tsp. hydrogel (sold in flower shops, it absorbs well, but also gives up water), water, kefir. Mix all the ingredients in a blender and pour into a bucket. Then apply to the surface (roofs, walls, fences, etc.) with a brush or spray gun. Everything! All you have to do is water once a week.

Summer residents note that moss grows especially well on the north side of the house. After all, it was not in vain that in childhood we were taught to look north in the forest along the moss-covered side of the trees! So that this plant does not dry out in summer, it is better to plant tall trees on the south side of the buildings. Keep in mind that as moss grows, it regularly blocks drains. This can be avoided by using wider drains (up to 125 mm).

Hassle with the arrangement of sod roofs still not scared you? Then in the next issue we will tell you about green roof installation technologies, how to calculate roof loads, and much more…

At the moment it is very popular to use in construction as much as possible natural materials. Very original solution there will be a green lawn device on the roofs. Such a roof looks very unusual against the monotonous background of traditional roofing materials.

Earthen roofing is a fairly ancient way of arranging roofs. But they came into fashion after the triumph of the architect Karl Rabitz.

Areas of use for lawn roofs for sex

Basically, such roofs can be seen in Europe, but today it is stylish. landscape direction is developing in our country. It is quite difficult to decide on the construction of a green lawn on the roof of a residential private house. However, in large industrial cities, such a roof would be very appropriate, taking into account the gas content of the air with toxic emissions and the lack of green spaces.

The best option would be to install a lawn roof on auxiliary buildings: summer kitchen, guest house, garage or gazebo. It can be on the roof of a country house.

Benefits of a lawn roof

The main advantages of an earthen roof are:

1. Aesthetic appearance - such houses look very cozy, creating a feeling of unity with nature.

2. Creativity – Using a lawn roof can make ownership a role model.

3. The use of natural materials - nature itself will take care of improving the microclimate of the house and the surrounding area.

4. Favorable cost earthen roof - the price of the materials used is low, however, one should take into account the sufficient laboriousness of the installation of such a roof.

5. Long service life - with proper care, the roof will delight the eye for decades.

Rooftop lawn technology

Creating a living roof includes several steps:

1. Mounted as a truss system continuous crate from boards.

2. A layer of roofing material is laid for waterproofing, bituminous mastic is used instead of glue. The joints of the sheets are overlapped.

3. Next, a layer of gravel or expanded clay is poured to perform the functions of drainage and thermal insulation.

4. A drainage system is being built from pipes laid in the thickness of the gravel.

7. If the angle of inclination is more than 20°, the structure is additionally fixed with a mesh or crate.

When designing a lawn roof, some features should be considered: high humidity and considerable weight. The requirements for these roofs are moisture resistance, water absorption, and the ability of the structure to support weight. If the requirements are not met, leaks may occur or plants may die. When greening the roof, it must be remembered that the slope should not exceed 40 °.

For many people, the idea on the roof will be very attractive, as it combines a special charm, color and personality. It can be arranged as a recreation area, a balcony terrace. In addition to the unusual appearance, the green roof purifies the air, protects from heat, and regulates rain flows. If you wish and have a small amount of time and effort, you can independently create a living roof that will combine practicality, accessibility and usefulness.

Characteristic features of the nature of the owner country house or dachas can be called the desire for the improvement of their possessions and the irrepressible craving for creativity, the ultimate goal of which is all the same improvement - the site, house, utility and utility rooms.

Roof greening- a theme loved by many. This process is made even more interesting by the expansion of its scope. Over the past few years, a new trend has been gaining popularity in "suburban" Russia - gardening ... roofs! However, everything new, as you know, is only well-forgotten old. Such floristic delights could be found several centuries ago in the northern Russian villages, and in the Baltic states, and in Finland: the roofs were covered with moss and turf not at all in pursuit of beauty - this is how they insulated and strengthened the roof, and the thatched roof was saved from fire (because of overheating in the sun) and putrefaction (exposure to dampness).

What drives green roof lovers today? The answer is obvious: this is the expansion of the useful area of \u200b\u200bthe site through the use of other surfaces, and the creation of additional places for landscaping, and the ability to give the house (, shed, pergola, etc.) a non-standard look, and even the creation of new recreation areas.

Extensive Roof Greening Method

This method has 3 features:

the impossibility of walking through the green space;
the maximum allowable slope of the surface is 28 degrees.

Irrigation of the surface plays a huge role - if an artificial irrigation system is not provided, take care of the convenience of delivering water to the roof (hose, watering can, impromptu shower).

The main "inhabitants" of the roof are: lawn grasses, sedums, saxifrages. Bulbs can also be planted. The main principle is planting plants that require minimal care and bloom at different times. With a successful selection, you can get a garden continuous flowering.

Extensive landscaping of the roof can be done on your own. Evaluate the surface being improved. What is its condition: how reliable is the base, what load can it withstand, what is the quality of the roof? Think about the location of the future oasis. It is necessary to take into account the direction of the world, illumination, intensity of "sunbathing", openness to winds and precipitation. With this in mind, choose plants for planting.

In addition to drought, there is another enemy of the roof garden - moisture stagnation. In this case, it not only harms the roots of plants, but also significantly increases the load on the bearing surface. So for roofs with a slope of less than 4 degrees, you will have to equip a drainage system. Or to form the desired slope forcibly.

Preparing the roof surface for landscaping

The base is treated if necessary special formulations: primers, fungicides, water repellents. Then a root protective film is laid on it. Remember how a seed brought by the wind to the roof of a building grows into a decent-sized tree, mercilessly crushing even granite with its roots. The film will allow the roof to avoid this fate. To reduce the load on the roof and avoid slipping of the soil allows the geotextile or.

The basis for planting is usually a fertile layer or substrate (layer thickness 5-20 cm). The mixing of the soil and the drainage layer that occurs over time will be avoided by separating them with a thin geotextile. The roof slope must be well reinforced. With a large angle of inclination, it is possible to prevent the creeping of the vegetative layer using geogrids.

Intensive roof greening method

It is usually carried out by professionals. This is connected with a serious responsibility: the load per 1 sq. m of surface with intensive landscaping is from 150 to 750 kg. Accordingly, increased requirements are imposed on the base. On the landscaped area it will be possible to break not only an ordinary lawn, but also a whole park - with trees, a pond, streams. You can put a gazebo and lights, lay out the paths. Lushly blooming and exquisite mixborders will delight the eye all season long. A automatic system irrigation will solve irrigation problems.

Experts recommend landscaping immediately after graduation. construction works. It is better if the creation of a roof garden is included in the design project - this will avoid disharmony with the main landscape and the architectural appearance of the main buildings.

The main task of any roof is to retain heat in the house and protect it from wind, rain, snow, ultraviolet rays and other adverse atmospheric factors. However, the acute shortage of places for construction and the environmental problems of megacities have led to the fact that modern roof additional tasks are assigned. One of the modern fashion trends v modern architecture is the creation of a "green roof", where you can arrange a flowering lawn and even grow the necessary vegetables and herbs.

What it is?

Not all urban residents have the opportunity to fully relax in a forest clearing or enjoy the mountain air - often there is simply no time for such trips. High-rise buildings, narrow streets, exhaust fumes from passing cars and hot asphalt have a negative impact on a person every day. That is why the owners of private houses and cottages work tirelessly to ensure that their home is as close to nature as possible - they use environmentally friendly materials in construction and equip flower beds, lawns and rockeries.

A very interesting technological solution came to Russia from the Scandinavian countries- This is a "turf earthen roof", which is quite often built on small houses in Norway. This design assumes the following: roofing material covered with clay bedding, and it serves as the basis for the formation of a sod layer 10-15 cm thick, where the grass was planted. Such houses looked very attractive, however, such a design requires additional strengthening of the bearing supports - not only is the soil “pie” itself quite heavy, but winter period snow masses were added to it, and not every building could withstand such a load. That is why sod roofs almost ceased to equip over time. Perhaps this idea would have remained an idea if landscape designers today had not remembered the forgotten Scandinavian traditions.

Now "green roof" is far from uncommon in big cities. Roofs, partially or completely planted with living plants, can be found in shopping malls, office centers and elite residential skyscrapers. Not so long ago, the owners picked up the fashion country houses, who began to actively plant greenery on the surfaces of outbuildings in summer cottages.

Peculiarities

Like other types of roofing systems, eco-roofs are similar to a layer cake, although its components differ in some features of operation. The creation of a green roof should guarantee reliability and practicality in terms of important criteria: base fortress, good protection from water and reduce heat loss. The roofing "pie" of this type of roof has the following layers:

base- it can be made of wood or concrete, most importantly - it must have a large margin of safety that can bear the weight of the earth and the plants themselves;
waterproofing layer extremely important for reliable protection buildings from moisture ingress, plants require regular watering, therefore rather high requirements are imposed on the strength of this layer;

barrier mounted above the waterproofing material to prevent the germination of roots in the main roof of the building. If it is not installed, then the plants will take root in the previous layer and damage it;
drainage is used for uniform distribution moisture over the entire surface of the roof, retains some of the water, preventing the plantings from drying out, and removes excess moisture through the drain;
filter- a layer of geotextile that limits the ingress of small particles into the drainage;
geogrid it is installed in order to prevent the "scattering" of the earth under the influence of rain and strong winds;
substrate- directly the soil, which is poured onto the geogrid with a layer of 5 to 20 cm; its thickness depends on what exactly you plan to grow: for ground cover flowers, a layer of 5 cm will be enough, but for growing vegetables you will need about 20 cm.

Pros and cons

Large-scale landscaping is one of the necessary conditions existence in a frantic rhythm of modern megacities, built of concrete and glass. At the same time, narrow streets do not allow building flower gardens and flowerbeds in cities - as a rule, small areas of parks and squares are allocated for this. That is why the arrangement of a green roof solves a very important task - it allows you to significantly improve the environmental situation and at the same time use the usable areas in the most rational way.

The advantages of this technology include the following factors.

Structural reinforcement– the vegetative layer reliably protects the roof from various mechanical damages, temperature fluctuations and adverse effects natural phenomena. The roof, "covered" with a green layer, can be used for more than 20 years. However, let's not forget that this is true only for reinforced structures with a large margin of safety.
Efficient use of rain and storm water- the soil can retain more than 30% of precipitation. A green roof reduces the chance of flooding. In addition, water, instead of being drained into a storm drain, is used to irrigate the surface and contribute to a good crop.

Exceptional thermal insulation characteristics - a layer of turf is considered a very suitable material for this purpose, it retains heat in winter, prevents heat from entering the house in summer, and also promotes efficient air circulation, thereby forming a favorable microclimate in the room.
The soil absorbs noise well, so the inhabitants of the house can be sure that they will not be disturbed by the sounds of rain or hail.
Organization of a recreation area– an attractive roof can become a harmonious place for family leisure and meetings with friends in a comfortable environment.

Owners of modern mansions often equip small pools on such roofs and install sports equipment. In addition, the green roof improves the overall environmental background, gives the garden plot a stylish and extraordinary look.

Despite the obvious advantages, the eco-roof also has disadvantages.

Heavy weight- drainage and soil give a load of approximately 50 kg per square meter. meter, this leads to a significant increase in pressure on the floor of the building.
High price- green roof equipment involves the use of only environmentally friendly materials, and they are quite expensive. Therefore, the equipment of a green roof is much more expensive than the arrangement of a conventional one.
The complexity of the installation technology- the construction of an eco-roof and the corresponding increase in pressure on the supports requires the mandatory preparation of a design project created according to accurate calculations of the permissible parameters of the load on the floors. It is impossible to do this without having the skills of such planning, so you need to seek help from specialists.

Please note that experts do not recommend converting an existing roof into a green one., since the old foundation and existing floors may simply not withstand a significant additional load.

The arrangement of such a roof is suitable for new houses, where the necessary strength of the supports is laid down at the design stage of construction work.

Varieties

Depending on the parameters of the use of eco-roofs, intensive and extensive types of landscaping are distinguished.

Extensive roof

Such structures are created on pitched roofs with an angle of inclination of not more than 45 degrees. The features of the layout of these buildings are such that they do not provide access to the roof. Accordingly, it cannot be used normally. For landscaping roofs, low-growing perennials are used, which cover the coating, create a decorative appearance and at the same time protect the roof from mechanical influences and precipitation. For planting, unpretentious plants are used that do not require special care and abundant watering - for full growth and development, they have enough natural precipitation.

Extensive roofing provides several options for landscaping.

undersized vegetation cover- at the same time, the height of the soil does not exceed 6 cm, the earth is planted with drought-resistant ground cover plants of several types, due to which continuous flowering can be achieved from May to October. This is the simplest and easy way landscaping;
green roof- the roof is made out like a lawn, often rolled types of coatings are used for this purpose.

Intensive landscaping

It involves the arrangement of eco-roofing on flat surfaces that can be used by the inhabitants of the building. Such buildings have exits to the roof, are equipped with a parapet that protects against possible falls, and special paths for comfortable movement. Here you can grow not only a grassy lawn, but also plant large shrubs and even fruit trees. Of course, such a design requires special attention during construction and operation. This garden needs the same maintenance as above ground gardens and flower beds.

Laying technology

Green roofs can be created in absolutely any climatic region. In itself, the device of such a roof with your own hands is not difficult, but time-consuming.

Ecoroof layers are:

base;
vapor barrier;
insulation;
waterproofing;

protective layer;
drainage system;
filter;
priming;
plants.

A variety of materials can be used as a base, insulation, as well as vapor and water insulators. In any hardware store now there is a wide selection in a large price range.

by the most the easy way to complete the arrangement of the eco-roof is considered to be the use of rolled lawn as finish coat. If the roof is straight or its angle of inclination does not exceed 10 degrees, then the seeds can be planted directly into the ground. If the slopes are steeper, then during the rainy season and snowmelt, such an unpleasant phenomenon as a landslide may occur. So that the soil does not “slide down” down, layers of soil are laid between special barriers.

A very important part of a green roof is the installation of a drainage system. It is very important to understand the relevance of competent drainage: since water cannot enter the house, therefore, it needs to find a way out in some other place, otherwise it will remain in the roof and simply turn sour. This will lead to root rot and plant death.

As the main drainage, geotextiles are used, as well as sand or fine gravel. Additionally equipped with a drainage system.

As a rule, use one of the proposed options.

Drainage plates- profiled type plastic panels that are attached to each other and mounted over the entire surface of the roof. The mechanism of action is as follows: water accumulates in the “blades” of the panels, and if it is in excess, it flows into the plates located below. Thus, the water is cascaded down and then flows into the downpipe.
Drainage mats have a similar principle of operation, but faster in installation. In addition, mats contribute to increased waterproofing. This method is not good for all types of roofs - it is not used for flat and overly steep roofs.
Drainage boxes– water disposal flat roof involves the use of special systems that contribute to the forced removal of moisture from the roof, as a result, water enters the funnel. and from there - into the storm sewer system.