The thought of a roof covered in vegetation can make a person’s imagination run wild. It’s pretty simple to imagine the sheer beauty of a city’s infrastructure covered from top to bottom in flowers.
Although this may seem a little far fetched, green roofs are gaining more popularity by the day. If you’re thinking about having a green roof, there are a couple of things you should know.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know before installing a green roof.
Advantages of a Green Roof
You can’t argue that green roofs have a certain thrill to them. No one can forget your building, especially if you’re in the US, where green roofs aren’t as common.
Here are a few advantages that green roofs offer:
They Are Energy Efficient
Green roofs are able to provide many buildings with outstanding thermal performance compared to regular roofs. The moisture, soil, and vegetation provide insulation, while the respiration of the plants give off a cooling effect as they absorb the sunlight.
They Provide LEED Points
For those who are unaware, LEED is basically a point system. The greener your building is, the more points you’ll score. You can earn these points by meeting the credit requirements. Having a proper green roof can give you up to nine points and that’s with only 50 percent of the building covered.
They Enhance the Air Quality of the City
Plants can purify the air by absorbing CO2 and release oxygen. Furthermore, they also reduce the number of nitrous acids, dust particles and sulfur dioxide in the air.
They Benefit the Wildlife
A well-kempt green roof is going to attract a variety of wildlife such as birds, bees and butterflies. Green roofs also provide these animals with a proper habitat for feeding and breeding, making it socially conscious and environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages of a Green Roof
As beneficial as green roofs can be, they are from perfect. There are a few disadvantages that need to be taken into consideration.
Although the advantages of installing a green roof are plentiful, there are a few things to keep in mind:
They Can be Costly
Regardless of the advances that technology has made for green roofs, they are not cheap to install. If a green roof is not in your budget, do not install one.
They May Leak
Green roofs have evolved significantly from how they were previously. However, one thing remains the same; they’re vulnerable to leaking. Whenever someone puts plants on the roof and waters them, they may be unknowingly opening the door for leaks. Also, maybe difficult when it comes to finding the leaks whenever they occur.
They’re Heavy
With all of that vegetation and dirt comes a heavy weight load, so it’s important to have the proper engineering. On the off chance that you need a re-roof, which is when a regular roof is being swapped out for a green roof, you’ll need to splurge on the expensive structural enhancements.
They Can Be High Maintain
Plants are not something you can leave and come back to whenever you feel like it. Flowers, vegetation, and shrubbery are living things too. As such, they need to receive proper care in order to thrive. In fact, even the most well-kept green roof needs irrigation. However, some people don’t have enough time to maintain the green roof due to their busy schedules.
Even with their disadvantages, green roofs are friendly to the environment and beautiful to look at. If you’re considering installing one, make sure to enlist the help of a roofing company Tampa. Call Westchase Roofing at 727-685-3867 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about green roofs today
