How Do You Care for Your Living Roof?

Do you have a living roof and you are seeking ways how to take care of the living or green roof? The green roof gained a lot of popularity in recent years due to its several benefits such as environmental impact, supporting wildlife habitats, and improving air quality. 

The green roof requires less maintenance when it is constructed correctly and properly maintained. Green roofs are significantly important in urban areas. The green roof also requires more maintenance than the other type of roof. 

Now the question arises “How to take care of your living roof.” Here in this article, we discuss what are the types of living roofs and the different ways how you maintain your living roof. 

What is a Living Roof?

A living roof is a type of roof of a building that is completely or partially sheltered with a vegetative layer of plants or flowers and is also covered by a waterproofing membrane. The living roof, also called the green roof, reduces the stormwater and thus lowers the cooling costs. 

Living roofs have longer lifespans than conventional roofs and thus reduce noise pollution. 

Types of living roofs

The living roofs are divided into the following categories. 

Extensive roof: The extensive roofs are made up of thin layers of soil that can survive in hard weather conditions. The extensive roofs are well-insulated and good for both summer and winter temperatures. Moreover, the extensive roofs are simple and light in weight. 

Intensive roof: The intensive roof is heavyweight and requires more soil, sustained shrubs, greater structural support, and a drainage system. So intensive roofs are more expensive to install and require more maintenance. 

Semi-intensive green roof: The semi-intensive green roof falls in the middle of the extensive and intensive roof and this looks like a green roof garden. The soil used in this type of roof is much deeper so you can easily grow planting of trees, shrubs, and even flowers. 

Blue-green roof: The green-blue roof combines both the green and blue technology to maximize water storage. 

Biosolar green roof: The Biosolar green roof is a commonly used roof that combines green roof and solar technology for maximum sustainability and thus provides a renewable energy source. 

Ways to Maintain Your Living Roof

The maintenance required for the living roof depends on various factors such as climate or planting. The following are the ways to maintain your living or green roof. 

Watering

The green roofs are living structures, they also require maintenance as well. Some vegetation types such as the sedums are wild plants, and these are hardy but they also require a considerable amount of water after their installation for their proper growth. 

Although the sedum roofs are easy to maintain, the sedum roof requires less water and survives for a longer period without water. In hot weather, you will need to give them water regularly for their proper growth. For this, the irrigation system is the best choice. For the proper amount of water that is required for your plants for their growth, the irrigation system is responsible for that. 

Feeding

For the sustainable and healthy green rooftop feeding plays an essential in that. For a healthy, flourishing, and vibrant green roof, the right amount of nutrients is required for the plants to survive. 

The green roof feeding enables the plants to grow and remain healthy for a longer period. Feeding also supports biodiversity and ensures that plants have all the necessary nutrients that promote plant growth. 

You can feed the plants anytime but spring or summer season is the preferred time because in spring new plants and flowers bloom which helps in more growth of plants. You cannot feed in the colder season because new growth will occur due to nutrients. 

It's a best practice that you can feed the green roof only once a year. For proper flower and plant growth, you can use slow-release feed that contains an appropriate amount of phosphorus or potassium fertilizer.  

Weeding

The green roof or living roof is a combination of different kinds of flowers. Weeding is the process of removing unwanted plants and flowers that are planted on the roof. For the proper growth process of plants and a healthy green roof, weeding is an important step. 

The plants or flowers in a regular garden require weeding, if you don't weed, the plants or flowers cause trouble. The weeds are commonly found on green rooftops that include grass, shrubs, moss, and tree seedlings. A weed is any plant that grows in the wrong place and sedums are famous for their fast growth thus they require weeding to minimize their growth. 

The weeding process is quick and easy. You can remove the weeds by hand, and the summer and spring seasons require more often weeding as both seasons are considered the best seasons for growth. 

Regular Inspection of Green Roof

Regular Roof inspection is an important step in maintaining a green roof. Inspect and maintain the green roof if you see any of these signs like drainage or damage to the roof due to the additional weight of plants and flowers. A green roof requires at least two inspections in a year. 

Irrigation System

Another crucial element in maintaining the living roof is the irrigation system. The well-rooted roof does not require more water, but it needs water in only dry conditions like in hot weather. Although the irrigation system is not necessary to install with the green roof. If you install this, the irrigation system can ensure that water is not wasted and your green roof receives the adequate amount of water that it needs. 

If your green roof is not installed with the irrigation system then it's your responsibility to check from time to time to ensure that everything goes well. 

Moreover, you can only set the irrigation system when the rainfall is less than the required amount.   

Weather Damage

If you live in an area where extreme weather conditions like heavy rainfall, snowfall, and exposure to extreme winds can cause damage to the green roof. So if you notice any of these conditions check them before they get worse, and replace or repair the membrane accordingly. If you do not know how to replace or repair the roof membrane you can also get help from professionals. 

Fertilization 

Another best way to maintain the living roof is fertilization. Although the green or living roof requires periodic fertilization. The best period of fertilization is April and September. Fertilization is necessary for plant growth and fertilization also ensures the proper amount of nutrients that are required for plants. 

Unwanted Pests 

If you use the green roof to grow vegetables then the unwanted pests can damage the structure of the green roof. The unwanted pests include ants, cockroaches, rats, and many other unwanted insects. 

If you notice any of the unwanted insects that damage your green roof, it's best to consult a professional on how to safely and effectively get rid of these insects without any damage to your green roof plants.

Signs that Show the Living Roof Requires Maintenance 

The following are the signs that show your living roof requires maintenance. 

• Loss in plants 

• Leaky green roof 

• An issue with the membrane drainage 

• Droopy plants 

Green Roof Maintenance Cost 

The maintenance of the green roof depends on various factors such as. 

• Size of the rooftop 

• Plants used in the roof 

• Location 

However, the average cost of a green roof varies between $20-$60 per square foot. 

Conclusion 

Thus the green or living roof requires maintenance, so it's important to maintain the green roof. Proper maintenance of green roofs requires maintenance at least once a year.

The maintenance of the living roof includes watering, feeding, weeding, replacing dead plants and flowers, and the most important step is fertilization. Regular maintenance can also be crucial for roof insurance claims. Different signs show your green roof requires attention, such as sudden loss of plants, a leaky roof, droopy plants, and reduced plant growth. Regular maintenance can help mitigate risks and ensure that your roof remains in good condition, potentially reducing the likelihood of needing to file a roof insurance claim.