Green roofing – What are the benefits and finer aspects?
Green roofing is in vogue these days. It will not be wrong to say that by investing in this type of roofing, there are many advantages that you will be able to enjoy. In this article, let us find out more about the same in the following sub-topics, namely,
- Benefits of green roofing
- Essential aspects of green roofing
Investing in a green roof has several benefits at all levels if you take into account the societal, economic, as well as ecological issues into consideration. Let us take one sub-topic at a time in the paragraphs that follow.
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Benefits of green roofing
The various benefits of setting up a green roof on top of the building are as follows-
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Rainwater buffer
There are plants on top of the building that trap water during rainfall facilitating water buffering. As a result, rainwater does not get drained off instantly. Instead, it gets purified, and there is evaporation through the plants too.
This sequential procedure helps in stabilizing the level of groundwater, curtails the chances of water flooding the building, and reduces the load on the sewage drainage system.
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Air purification
The presence of plants on the rooftop help in filtering the pollutants present in the air to a great extent. Not only that, after filtering the air, it converts carbon dioxide into oxygen. In other words, the presence of plants on the roof contributes to air purification.
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Absorbs sunlight
Plants on the rooftop absorb sunlight, approximately 60% of it and the rest of it gets deflected. As such, you can expect to enjoy a better and cooler environment. It also means that there is less pressure on the air conditioning system, which will eventually show in the utility bills. Studies reveal that this implies a reduction of at least 3 degrees to 4 degrees reduction in temperature.
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Prevents erosion on the roof
Rooftops that are without plants are at higher risk of getting damaged due to natural elements. It also means unlike in certain circumstances when the rooftop can get blown away or partly damaged or eroded, having plants atop means that they prevent the substrate from exposure to adverse weather conditions. So, you can expect an erosion-resistant rooftop.
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Energy-efficient buildings
The presence of a green roof helps in reducing the exchange of heat that takes place between the building and the environment. It means that the amount of energy that you need to keep the ambiance of the building cooler or warmer will be way less than what it would have been in the absence of plants on the rooftop. So, you can expect to save a lot of money as far as energy bills are concerned.
During the summer months, the plants help in protecting the building from the direct heat of the sun. During winter, there is a minimum loss of heat due to the presence of plants since they serve as a blanket from insulation. Also, less energy consumption means that the incidence of greenhouse gas emissions will be way less.
However, having said about few of the benefits above, it is vital that you make sure that the contractor you are hiring for setting up a green rooftop has the experience, reliable, have a great track record of delivering their work on time, and must also be transparent as far as costing is concerned.
In this regard, it will not be wrong to say that firms like Patriot Roofing & Construction have a great track record for delivering quality work to their clients. They also guide you about how to make the construction a better one, and on several instances, their expert guidance has helped many homeowners.
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Greater longevity for rooftops
Unlike the conventional roofs that are devoid of the plants, the green rooftops have a layer of plants on the top. This arrangement makes the top layer of the roofless susceptible to fluctuations in temperature, thereby protecting it from the consequences.
As such, the presence of plants enhances the life span of the waterproofing layer of the roof. And this also increases the longevity of the rooftop.
Most importantly, aside from saving on energy and utility bills, you save money on maintenance and repair costs. That is because you do not have to spend money repeatedly for repair work or for fixing any leakage or seepage on the roof as is present in other buildings. And the amount you save is considerable.
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Essential aspects of green roofing
Getting a green roof in place is not enough. Before that, there are a few aspects that you must take into account. And if you can fix these problems or make sure that these requirements are met, having a green roof or a living roof is perhaps your best investment in the property.
Structural requirements-
Find out whether the structure of the building is strong enough to take on the load of the living roof. That is because it does not just mean plants but also the weight of water trapped in them. The structure must be strong enough to withstand the weight.
Gradient-
Aside from the structural requirements, you must also ensure that there is an adequate slope for the water that accumulates to get drained out.
It is a prerequisite that you can install a living roof only if the slope is gentle or flat. And the permissible sloping gradient is not more than 26 degrees. As such, if you already have a roof that has a slope, installing a living roof may not be a good idea in the first place.
However, if you can always approach experts that can find out away if you are interested in a living roof and ready to make changes in the structure of the construction. Remember, making structural changes also means that you have to shell out some hard-earned cash too. So, if the expenses are within your budget, you can always go ahead and have a living roof in your property.
