Green Roofing, Turf Roofing,
Sky Gardens, Sedum Roofing

A green roof is a simple, attractive, ecologically beneficial and economically viable solution to many of today’s environmental issues. Put simply, it means taking any existing impermeable roof, and building up a layer of vegetation on top. This is achieved by installing various layers of root barrier, drainage elements, growing medium and vegetation. You can even use our Wildflower Turf.

There are two main types of Sky Garden:

1) Extensive (lightweight, low cost and low maintenance).
2) Intensive (thicker sub-strate, load bearing applications).

Green roofs have been refined over many years, developing the materials and working in conjunction with European partners in Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The use of Greenroofs has become more widespread in recent years, particularly throughout Europe and America with Germany alone having over 80 million square metres of planted roof space.

Green Roofs and Sky Gardens

Proven expertise has been developed to provide a simple to install, cost effective and light weight composite that is suitable for a wide range of applications such as domestic dwellings, out buildings, multiple occupancy buildings and commercial property.
An Extensive Sky Garden consists of a pre-grown vegetative blanket placed on top of an existing or new roof system. A variety of vegetation types can be used, depending on project requirements. Plants such as grasses, shrubs or low maintenance sedums are pre-grown at the nursery on fire resistant, reinforced blankets to ensure plant health and quality. The most popular plant variety used on Extensive Sky Gardens are succulent sedums, favoured for their drought tolerance, their hardy low maintenance nature and beautiful flowers in summer. Installing a Sky Garden makes a positive step towards environmental health and transforms a previously dull rooftop into a stunning feature to enhance any property.
Intensive Sky Gardens may also incorporate hard landscaping features such as walkways, planters and seating, creating new leisure and amenity areas where space is at a premium.

A few things to consider:

• Since 1979 the world has experienced 15 of the hottest years since records began, 5 of those were all in the 1990s, but the hottest being 2003 when for the first time the UK felt temperatures over 100° Fahrenheit.
• In the last 50 years, due to the burning of fossil fuels, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (the most harmful Greenhouse Gas) has increased by 30% and is still rising. Result; a warmer, wetter planet.
• In England alone, an area in excess of 100 football pitches is lost everyday to development. Housing estates have between 30-70% impermeable surface and commercial areas have between 70-90%.
• Increased rainfall and less permeable land have resulted in an expanding incidence of serious floods in the UK and Europe.

These are worrying trends, however Sky Gardens offer many environmental benefits:

• A Sky-Garden stores over 60% of rainwater helping to prevent local flood risks.
• Water held in the Sky Garden system is then released into the atmosphere through evapo-transpiration, in turn creating humidity that cools the surrounding air temperature. Water that runs off a tiled roof is de-oxygenated and contaminated and is then transported through our over-burdened sewerage system back into the water table, costly and wasteful.
• The use of plants in our environment is the only proven way to reduce Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere.
• The vegetation layer traps airborne dust particles and air pollutants, encouraging a cleaner atmosphere.
• A Sky Garden provides a safe new wildlife habitat for birds and insects.
• Reduction in the ‘Heat Island Effect’. Large urban areas of concrete and tarmac retain heat during hot weather that is then slowly released; this results in a continually higher air temperature. A Sky Garden absorbs the sun’s energy, re-using and converting it into sugars for growth; this helps to reduce the surrounding air temperature.
• Sky Gardens are a valuable tool in SUDS Planning. (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems)

Sky Gardens also make economic sense:

• By covering the existing roof you are protecting the roof surface from UV light and extreme weather, increasing roof life expectancy.
• The added layers of insulation result in reduced fuel bills for costly air-conditioning and central heating.
• A Sky-garden can add value to property, attracting new tenants or buyers.

Amenity benefits:

• By improving the appearance of a building, we are improving the quality of the urban environment, which tests have shown improves an individual’s perception of their well-being.
• Added sound insulation reduces noise levels by up to 8dB.
• By incorporating rooftops into a plan, architects enjoy a greater diversity in design options.

Please contact us with your requirements or for further details.

Erosion control through grass establishment
Weed control and mulching
Soil reinforcement
Composite soil erosion control
Watercourses and aquatic engineering
Turf reinforcement and gravel retention systems