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A “Living Roof“, also
referred to as a “Green
Roof,” is a roof that
has living plants on its
surface instead of
shingles, tar, gravel,
etc. Homesteaders used
the concept when they
built houses with grass
sod on their roof. In
our time it is an
underused component in
insulating buildings to
cool them in the summer,
heat them in the winter,
and absorb noise. In
addition, it will
minimize storm water
run-off by absorbing the
rain instead of letting
it wash right off the
building, and can
provide a habitat for
butterflies and other
animals. It can be as
simple as planter boxes
on the roof or an
extensive planting
system, with perennials,
shrubs, cacti, grasses,
and trees, and an
irrigation system. |
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Generally, the Living
Roof has a waterproof
layer, then a gravel
layer or something
similar so the plant
roots will not stand in
water, a layer of soil
and a layer of mulch. It
also must have a way to
channel the excess water
not absorbed by the soil
and plants to the
ground. Generally the
roof will be flat, but
it does not have to be. |
