Types of Green Roofing Systems - Extensive or Intensive (2024)

We use a diverse range of plants on each of our green roofs. We design our planting systems to meet the individual local requirements of each project.

Green Roofs come in many different forms, specified to suit individual needs.

Types of Green Roofing Systems - Extensive or Intensive (2)

EXTENSIVE GREEN ROOFS

Extensive green roofs provide a light-weight, low maintenance, instant ‘green effect’ roof solution, and are the most common type of green roof we supply. Extensive green roofs are not usually intended for general public access, and are chosen mostly for their ecological benefits.

Typically, extensive roofs use a Sedum vegetation due to it’s ability to flourish in harsh environments, cost effective, and lightweight system requirements. Extensive green roofs can be designed into new buildings, or ‘retro-fitted’ onto existing buildings.

  • EXTENSIVE GREEN ROOF PLANTS
  • Plug Plants
  • Seeded

Typically, extensive green roofs use a variety of Sedum or Wildflower plants due to their versatility in extreme weather conditions, drought resistance, ability to aid with biodiversity, and year round green effect.

Plug planted green roofs offer the opportunity to provide a customised planting system, and can also be beneficial when retrofitting buildings with difficult access.

Seeded roofs offer a cost effective green roof solution that expect to germinate and flourish within 6 months.

SEMI-INTENSIVEGREEN ROOFS

Our semi-intensive green roof systems include a richer, deeper substrate and drainage solution compared to extensive roofs, enabling use of a wider range of complex plant mixtures. Semi-intensive roofs are generally used within highly visible area’s to improve aesthetic design using small shrubs, forbs, and grasses. They require a higher level of maintenance compared to extensive roofs, due to the vegetation, and substrates used.

  • Semi Intensive plants

Our semi-intensive green roofs have the ability to use of a wider range of complex plant mixtures and small shrubs due the deeper, nutrient rich growing medium used in their construction.

Types of Green Roofing Systems - Extensive or Intensive (3)

BIODIVERSEGREEN ROOFS

Biodiverse roofs are used primarily for their ecological benefits. They contain a range of recycled materials including rubble, gravel, rubber, or logs to encourage habitation of wildlife such as bees, and small insects. These are sometimes referred to as ‘brown roofs’. They help to support the environment, and can be seen to aid planning applications to help local authorities policies towards building a sustainable environment.

  • BIODIVERSE GREEN ROOF VEGETATION

Biodiverse green roofs contain sparse vegetation, and are designed to build habitats in urban environment, that would otherwise be lost.

Types of Green Roofing Systems - Extensive or Intensive (4)

Types of Green Roofing Systems - Extensive or Intensive (5)

INTENSIVEGREEN ROOFS

Intensive green roofs are intended to replicate what can typically be found at ground level in the natural landscape, and in green spaces such as parks or cultivated gardens.

Intensive green roofs involve intense landscaping, and are suited to roofs with a highly visible presence or public access, and commonly referred as a ‘roof garden’. Choices include shrubs, native forbs and grasses, larger perennials, tropical, non-native vegetation.

  • INTENSIVEGREEN ROOF PLANTING

Our intensive green roof systems offer limitless creative choices. We use a customised range of shrubs, native forbs and grasses, larger perennials, and even small trees can be included, designed to suit the needs of the individual project and enhance environments in an aesthetic way, or flow seamlessly within a buildings design.

Types of Green Roofing Systems - Extensive or Intensive (2024)

FAQs

Types of Green Roofing Systems - Extensive or Intensive? ›

In general, Intensive green roofs allow for more variety, but are expensive and require much maintenance. In contrast, extensive are cheaper and easier to maintain but are limited in what they grow.

What is an extensive and intensive green roof? ›

This is the easiest way to remember the difference - an extensive green roof probably has a shallow layer of substrate that covers a large area, whereas an intensive green roof often has a deeper layer of substrate, confined to smaller areas.

What are semi-intensive green roofs? ›

Semi-intensive green roofs have moderate watering and maintenance needs and are suited for roofs that can support 25 to 40 pounds per square foot of load. They function as stormwater filters and habitat for urban wildlife. There are also monolithic and modular green roofs.

Which of the following is a type of green roofing system? ›

In this article, we will be looking into the four main types of green roof systems: Extensive, intensive, semi-intensive, and brown (or biodiverse).

What is a typical extensive green roof detail? ›

Extensive green roofs are generally made up of a very thin layer of substrate (from 8 cm to 15 cm) or other planting medium with shallow-root plants like sedum, herbs, mosses, and grasses. This solution requires a minimal maintenance and it normally is not occupied.

What are the two main types of green roofs? ›

Green roofs are internationally placed in three different 'types': Of course there is some cross over between the categories.
  • Intensive – parks and gardens including Urban Agriculture.
  • Semi-intensive – garden green roofs.
  • Extensive – natural low maintenance green roofs.

What are the benefits of extensive green roofs? ›

The benefits of green roofs
  • Improve the drainage system. Sustainable drainage is an important component of any building, as a way to counter flooding in the event of excess rainfall. ...
  • Increase the lifespan of the roof. ...
  • Boosting thermal performance. ...
  • Helping out the environment. ...
  • Supporting wildlife habitats. ...
  • Aiding air quality.

How long do extensive green roofs last? ›

Green Roof Facts

Make roof surfaces 30-40% cooler. Reduce heat flux from roof to building by up to 72% Last 40 years or more. Attract such wildlife as birds, bees and spiders.

Do extensive green roofs need irrigation? ›

Extensive green roofs planted with drought tolerant vegetation such as Sedums typically do not need irrigation once established if adequate growing medium depth is provided.

What type of green roof is simple and lightweight? ›

The lightweight Sedum roof system also consists of 3 layers and, just as the traditional green roof, contains a drainage layer with filter fleece. In contrast to the traditional Sedum roof, this green roof system includes a substrate roll made of mineral wool instead of roof garden substrate.

What is a green roof system? ›

A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.

Are green roofs passive? ›

Green roofs are among the most encouraged passive strategies, which can be added to both new and existing buildings. Green roofs reduce the Urban Heat Island effect, keeping the building and the city cooler; contribute to the stormwater management system, reducing runoff-flooding risk.

How thick is an intensive green roof? ›

G-1 Extensive green roofs have a much shallower growing media layer that typically ranges from 3 to 6 inches thick. G-2 Intensive green roofs have a growing media layer that ranges from 6 to 48 inches thick.

What is a semi-intensive green roof? ›

The Semi‐intensive green roof provides additional planting design options for habitat and biodiversity. It consists of a drainage layer, filter layer, and water retention layer below the growing media. The system is easy to install‐ layers can be cut in the field to fit curves and irregular shapes.

What do extensive roof systems include? ›

Typically, extensive roofs use a Sedum vegetation due to it's ability to flourish in harsh environments, cost effective, and lightweight system requirements. Extensive green roofs can be designed into new buildings, or 'retro-fitted' onto existing buildings.

What is the intensive green roof growing medium? ›

The intensive green roof is generally a green roof system that can support shrubs and trees and the widest variety of plants in a roof garden. The media for these types of projects range from 12″ deep to many feet deep. Turf (6-12 inches). GRS turf mix is our blend of media for green roof turf applications.

What is the difference between intensive and extensive planting? ›

In general, Intensive green roofs allow for more variety, but are expensive and require much maintenance. In contrast, extensive are cheaper and easier to maintain but are limited in what they grow.

How big is an extensive green roof? ›

Extensive roofs are shallow, lightweight roof systems that typically have a planting media measuring 60mm to 200mm deep. Greentree Roof Garden Substrate Extensive is ideal for incorporation into expansive green roof projects that require very little maintenance, such as sedum roofs.

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