In most cases where green roofs are installed on existing buildings, planning permission is not required. However, it is always advisable when making any kind of alteration to a building to contact your local planning department.

For new construction as well as existing buildings, a green roof certainly contributes to the LEED or BREEAM score, when paired with a combination of other measures. As the certification depends on many factors, no uniform score can be given – but it will definitely help towards the score.

Maintenance depends on the green roof system you have; some systems need little to no maintenance like the biodiverse and extensive systems. However, the semi- intensive and intensive systems will need regular maintenance. Read our blog on green roof maintenance to find out more.

A green roof will be more expensive to install than a traditional flat roof, as the underlying structure may have to be strengthened to cope with the extra load.  The cost is entirely dependent on the scope of your plans.  An intensive green roof will be a lot more costly than a sedum or wildflower roof.  Most green roofs can be adapted to suit budgets. However, green roofs offer too many benefits to not consider an installation in an appropriate area and as they increase the roofs lifespan, are often in the long-term more economically logical.  This especially applies to extensive green roof systems which are the lower cost option but have the same benefits of longevity.

Our modular living wall system weighs in at 72kg per square metre.  This is the fully saturated weight.

First off, before creating your own roof garden, you need to confirm with a structural engineer the weight loadings your roof can take.  Next you need to confirm how the roof garden will be used:  will it be for relaxing on in a deckchair for example or socialising with friends, or will it be a pretty sight that is overlooked but not actively used?

It’s important to confirm early on as it determines which system and build-up you should go for.  If you’re roof is to act as close as possible to a traditional garden, you need to start looking at semi-intensive or intensive green roof systems.  With these systems you are able to create a better garden feel, including shrubs, trees, a wide variety of other plants, pathways, seating and with the bigger build-up structure, the ability to walk and use the space recreationally. 

However, if you are looking to cover up an unsightly flat roof that is overlooked and are not planning on using the space recreationally, we’d recommend an extensive green roof system.  This is more budget-friendly and is often sold as a DIY solution (like our GrufeKit – green roof kit).  Plant choice is usually focused on the sedum varieties (which can turn lovely shades of yellow, pink, red, orange and different greens), wildflowers and other shallow-rooting plants. 

Essentially, your roof garden is dependant on the structure, how you will use the roof and your budget.  If you’d like to discuss which is the best fit for your roof, please get in touch with us!

A biodiverse green roof, often known as a brown roof, is generally intended to provide a habitat with diverse flora and fauna, unlike a traditional sedum roof (or an extensive green roof). 

Biodiverse roofs are often designed to either recreate or even improve a habitat lost through construction.

Whatever green roof system you go for, you have options to improve its impact on local biodiversity.  It’s good to bear in mind that soil plays an important role in supporting biodiversity, so the deeper the substrate (as long as it’s natural, and ideally an intensive substrate), the more benefits your roof is having for local ecology.

Let’s take a look at how you can design your green roof to support biodiversity:

Firstly, ensure you’re using a substrate (soil) that is natural and will support your chosen plant palette.  In the planting design, there is huge scope for improving biodiversity: focusing on native species (plants that are naturally found in your region); a variety of plants; using plants that provide sources of nectar, seed and fodder; using recycled aggregates, logs, rope and other materials to create piles which can become micro-habitats on your roof; and incorporating habitat homes such as beehives, bird and bat boxes.