Earthen roof. Green roof. Roofs with landscaping. Flat and pitched eco-roofs

IN modern world The urbanization of society is growing every day, the number of cars and tall buildings is increasing, the “green” world and environmental pollution are being displaced.

For more comfortable living in houses and cities, back in the past millennia, people built houses with a green roof, in the form of grass and low-growing trees, which made it possible to maintain a microclimate not only in the house, but also on the streets of the city. Gardens and small lawn areas for recreation were built in Assyria and Babylon more than 2,500 years ago. The most striking example is hanging gardens Semiramis, which we know from school textbooks, photo 1.

Photo 1. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Gradually, hanging gardens or green roofs began to spread not only in Asia, but also in Europe. In Scandinavian countries, particularly in Norway, the use of turf for roofing has been practiced for several centuries. A striking example in Europe, the construction of a roof garden in its modern form was arranged by the Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser , back in the middle of the 20th century.

What is a green roof? Varieties, layers

Nowadays, the technology of installing a lawn, various vegetation, low-growing bushes and trees on flat and sloping roofs is called “ green roof".

Green roof – installation of a roof using soil and vegetation as the main element. This is the roof of a building, which is partially or completely covered with soil and vegetation and the system of its life activity of this micro ecosystem.

Against the backdrop of global climate change in the world, developed countries, in particular North America and Europe include green roofs in their environmental programs, especially in megacities, photo 2. For example, green roofs are actively developing in cities such as Copenhagen, Paris, London, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, New York, etc.

Photo 2. Examples of green roofing in different cities

Let's look at the basic design and types of green roofing.

Basically, a green roof consists of 6 layers:

1. plant layer;
2. soil substrate;
3. filter layer;
4. drainage system;
5. waterproofing layer;
6. layer of thermal insulation.

In some cases, the structure or material of the green roof layers may differ, so photo3 given different kinds green roof structures.

Photo 3. Green roof compositions

There are two types of green roofing:

• extensive;
• intense (inversion).

Extensive green roof (photo 4) is intended for temporary use and is not actually intended for walking on it. You can only walk on such a roof in certain places. The thickness of the soil layer is no more than 0.07...0.15 m, which only allows planting small plants. Lawn plants and mosses are usually planted on such a roof in special containers or trays. Plants must have a horizontal root system (fibrous or bulbous). average cost extensive green roof is approximately 29...35 €/m 2.

Photo 4. Extensive green roof

The load from an extensive green roof in a water-saturated state is 80...100 kg/m2.

Intensive green roof (inversion) - this is a type of roof, the design of which allows you to arrange not only a lawn on the roof, but also an entire garden with trees, bushes and even a pool and a fountain, photo 5. An intensive green roof must have a parapet height of at least 1.2 m, and a soil layer of 0.2...0.6 m.

Typically, an intensive green roof is installed on public buildings, where a business center, hotel, restaurant, sanatoriums, hospitals, etc. are located. The significant thickness of the soil and other elements of an intensive green roof (swimming pools, fountains, benches, trees, etc.) significantly increases the load on load-bearing elements building coverings. Therefore, the design of an intensive green roof is provided for at the design stage. Otherwise, you should carefully calculate the permissible load from the green roof that the building’s load-bearing structures can withstand.

Photo 5. Intensive green roof

The average cost of an intensive green roof is approximately 52 €/m2.

What does a green roof consist of?

Let's take a closer look at the structure (construction) of a green roof, what layers it consists of:

1. selected individually depending on the climate, roof location, soil thickness and the wishes of the owner, photo 6. Mosses, lawn grass, wildflowers and mountain vegetation are often chosen for green roof vegetation, since such vegetation is not picky about specific climatic conditions. In regions with harsh and cold winters, frost-resistant plants should be chosen.

Photo 6. Vegetation layer

1. , photo 7. The soil used is a substrate that is much lighter than ordinary soil, which can significantly reduce the load on the roof base. Lightening the structure of a green roof is especially important for roofs of an intensive type. The substrate can be purchased in specialized stores or you can prepare it yourself.

The optimal composition of the substrate is a mixture of:

• perlite (preferably large particle size);
• expanded clay or vermiculite;
• brick chips (60...70%, medium-sized particles);
• compost (high quality).

The second option for the optimal composition of the substrate is a mixture (by weight):

• expanded clay (10%);
• large tree bark mixed with leaves (15%);
• perlite, preferably with a large particle size (15%);
• fine tree bark (30%);
• compost (10%);
• coconut fiber (20%).

The third simplified version of the substrate is a mixture (by weight):

• compost (33%);
• perlite (34%);
• expanded clay (33%).

Photo 7. Soil substrate

1. Filter layer (usually consists of geotextile and root protection film). Geotextiles are used as a filter layer to prevent clogging of drainage with soil particles, photo 8.

Geotextiles are produced in three types:

• needle-punched;
• thermally bonded;
• combined (needle-punched + heat-bonded).

Photo 8. Geotextiles

For a green roof, you should choose thermally bonded geotextiles; its design is made in such a way that it practically does not silt and has maximum durability under these operating conditions.

After the geotextile, a root protection film is laid ( photo 9), preferably from non-woven polypropylene. It is not recommended to use a concrete or asphalt concrete layer as a root protection layer.

Photo 9. Root protection film installed on the roof

1. Drainage system performed in several options:

• Perforated drainage layer with drainage pipes.
• Perforated polystyrene plates.
• Gravel or expanded clay.
• Geomats are rectangular gratings, photo 10.

Drainage pipes should be used from high-strength perforated polystyrene or high-pressure polyethylene. These pipes have spike-shaped convexities. You can also use asbestos pipes, but before installation it is necessary to make holes (perforation) in it. You can also arrange drainage from expanded clay (cheap option).

Photo 10. Geomats (drainage layer)

1. Waterproofing layer – performs protective function– preventing water and moisture from entering through the structure into the building or onto external walls. Green roof waterproofing can be done in various options, For example:

• polymer waterproofing membranes on a bitumen (EPDM) basis with root protection (environmentally friendly material), photo 11;

Photo 11. Polymer waterproofing membrane on a bitumen (EPDM) basis

• polymer waterproofing membranes on a synthetic (PVC membrane) basis with root protection (service life up to 60 years), photo 12;

Photo 12. Installation of a polymer waterproofing membrane on a synthetic (PVC) basis

• additional copper or aluminum foil layer to the above membranes;
• liquid rubber;
• polyethylene film (has low efficiency).

If the roof is flat, then waterproofing is arranged with a slope of 3...5%.

1. A layer of thermal insulation. It is recommended that the thermal insulation layer be made of foam glass or perlite sand. Foam glass does not allow moisture to pass through and is not toxic to plants and soil microflora. Extruded polystyrene foam boards and mineral wool are also used as insulation.

Often, to simplify work and on-line maintenance, soil is poured into small plastic boxes (for example, 0.5 × 0.5 m), which are installed on pallets, photo 13.

The design of an intensive green roof differs from an extensive one in the thickness of the soil layer and the location of the insulation - it is located not below, but on top of the waterproofing, which protects it from mechanical damage.

Photo 14 shows a graph from which you can determine the load on the roof depending on the thickness of the soil.

Photo 13. Plastic boxes for soil; installing boxes on pallets

Photo 14. Determination of the load depending on the thickness of the soil layer and the variety of plants for a green roof

In table 1. The advantages of two types of green roofing are presented.

Table 1

Advantages of two types of green roofing

Extensive landscaping	Intensive landscaping
Does not require permanent presence of people on the roof	Allows you to create a full-fledged garden on the roof with areas accessible to pedestrians and vehicles
Small variety of plants	Unlimited variety of plants and trees
Does not require special care and requires virtually no watering	Requires care like a full-fledged garden
Does not require frequent maintenance	Requires high level Maintenance
Allows you to create green roofs with different angles of inclination	Allows you to place flower beds, shrubs, recreation areas, gazebos, and ponds on the roof
Not heavy weight	Medium and heavy weight
Acceptable solution for already erected buildings	Developed at the building design stage
Low cost. Economical option	High cost option

Thus, we highlight the main advantages of extensive roofing compared to intensive roofing:

• relatively low price;
• simple maintenance and care.

Sloping green roofs

Sloping green roofs are mainly installed on private low-rise residential buildings, photo 15. Let's look at the features of a sloping green roof.

Photo 15. Pitched green roofs

It is believed that perfect angle The roof slope for installing a green roof is an angle of 5...8° (in some sources - up to 12°). With this slope, the possibility of the entire layer of soil and turf sliding under its own weight is eliminated and there are no problems with any type of plant. Specific gravity turf (soil + vegetation) is 100...300 kg/m 2.

When the roof slope increases by more than 12°, it is necessary to install transverse supports (wooden boards, geogrids or cassettes) that will hold back the soil, photo 16. Using devices that prevent soil sliding, it is possible to install vegetable gardening on roofs with an angle of up to 45°. True, the cost of such a sloped roof will be higher.

Photo 16. Transverse clamps that prevent soil and vegetation from sliding when installing a green roof

The design of a green roof on inclined surfaces is practically no different from flat ones, with the exception of the design of restraining devices, photo 17.

Advantages of a green roof

1. Green roof plants reduce the level harmful substances in the air due to the absorption of carbon dioxide CO 2 and the release of oxygen. It is calculated that a lawn of 150 m2 in size releases in a year an amount of oxygen equivalent to the amount that 100 people inhale in a year. Green roof vegetation neutralizes a significant amount of dust and harmful gases. In 1 year, 1000 m 2 of extensive green roof absorbs 8 kg of dust and the air on the green roof is much cleaner and contains 37% less SO 2 (sulfur dioxide) and 21% less CO (less carbon monoxide).
2. Reduces noise level (up to 8...10 dB). The soil can absorb low frequencies, and vegetation can absorb high frequencies.
3. A green roof additionally humidifies the air. Roof vegetation can retain and partially absorb up to 50...90% of rainwater.
4. Increases the durability of the roof structure several times (3...4 times), since the green roof performs a protective function against the effects of UV rays and overheating (a dark roof can heat up to 80°C from the sun’s rays). The durability of a traditional flat roof with a green layer increases by 60%. It is believed that the use of a green roof allows you to save on operating costs up to 60% (approximately 40 €/m2).
5. The earth cover layer is fireproof, and in the event of a fire it will prevent its spread.
6. A green roof functions as a natural heat insulator, and thus reduces energy costs for heating and cooling premises.
7. The green roof can be used (additional recreation area).
8. Additional area for many plant distributions and habitats for insects and birds.
9. Such roofs have a beautiful aesthetic appearance.
10. A green roof improves the microclimate in the building.

Disadvantages of a green roof

1. High cost of roofing.
2. Complex roof structure.
3. Poor installation of a green roof can lead to leaks and extensive destruction of the building.
4. Green roof plants require care.

Publication prepared by an expert

Konev Alexander Anatolievich

Traditional grass roof construction in the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are over 20 volcanic islands in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. Autonomous region of Denmark.

Harmonious combination with environment, for the most part, peasant houses with green roofs owe, first of all, to natural building materials, which, first of all, should include those mined in local quarries natural stones, turf and timber imported from Norway. The walls of such houses were built from hewn stones, while their supporting structure was a frame made of thick boards or logs, on which it rested truss structure. In their design, such houses were similar to Icelandic dwellings, the roofs of which were also covered with grass. Similar design houses was widespread until the 18th-19th centuries.

The roofs, on which herbs and wild flowers were planted, were made with both hanging and layered rafters.

Rice. Roof manufacturing technology
A - Roof with hanging rafters; B - Roof with layered rafters.

Let us recall that the hanging rafters are connected to each other in the area of ​​the ridge and have no other supports except the upper crown of the walls ( top harness for a frame structure). Roofs with layered rafters are characterized by the presence longitudinal beams(purlins), which are located parallel to the side overhangs of the roof and connected to the gables.

Both designs have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, the main advantage of hanging rafters is that they transfer only vertical pressure to the walls. In addition, this design is simpler

Rice. Combined load-bearing roof structure

However, the combined load-bearing roof structure, which is able to withstand fairly high loads (wind, snow, as well as its own weight), meets the static requirements to the greatest extent.

It was precisely this supporting structure that was considered the most suitable for landscaping.

Traditionally, they tried to make the roof to be landscaped not too steep, so that the birch bark and turf laid on it would not slide off. At the same time, water should quickly flow down the bark, which means the roof should not be made too flat.

So, in the southern and western regions In Norway, when constructing roofs with hanging rafters, the length of the rafters was taken equal to 3/5 of the width of the house. In this case, the slope of the roof slopes was 33°.

When constructing a roof with layered rafters, the slope of the slopes was determined by the ratio of the height of the roof at the ridge to the width of the house. For example, when the slopes are inclined at 22°, this parameter is 1/5. When installing grass roofs, other standards were also followed.

By the way, the slope of the roofs of ancient houses on the Faroe Islands sometimes reached even 45°. And this is justified: heavy rainfall in that region is not uncommon.

Note that according to the recommendations of modern Norwegian experts optimal inclination roof slopes with grass cover are 20...27°. In the regions where it falls a large number of precipitation, it is not recommended to build green roofs with slopes less than 18°. In addition, when the slopes are inclined more than 23°, you should take additional measures, preventing the turf from sliding down.

Finally one more important indicator - load bearing capacity structure, which, in accordance with building regulations, must withstand a load of 300 kg/m2.

Research conducted by scientists from the Scandinavian countries (and primarily Norway) has convincingly proven that grass roofs can significantly reduce the level of air pollution, enrich it with oxygen and moisture. The most important thing is that the grass carpet of the roof creates a special energy in the home, where a person, tired of modern hectic life, can again feel in harmony with nature.

However, greening your roof is beneficial not only from an environmental point of view, but also from an economic point of view. In particular, a roof with grass covering helps to save heat and energy resources, can significantly reduce temperature fluctuations in the home, and improves the sound insulation of the building.

The green roof owes its high thermal properties, first of all, to air gap, formed between the stems of plants.

Unlike modern roofs, heating up to 80°C on hot days (which causes air movement and, as a result, contamination with dust particles), a grass roof heats up to only 25°C, and thanks to convection, practically does not lose heat. In addition, due to the “breathing” of plant roots, the temperature of the grass, even in frost, is always above zero. The heat emitted from the walls of buildings is also partially absorbed by the grass carpet of the roof and accumulated by the soil layer and the moisture contained in the plants.

Thanks to these properties, houses with a green roof have an excellent microclimate. IN summer time There is a pleasant coolness in such a home. In essence, a grass roofing carpet is a kind of natural system conditioning. But that's not all.

As you know, plants absorb from the air carbon dioxide and enrich it with oxygen. So, according to research by Norwegian experts, the surface of the foliage of a green roof is almost 100 times larger than the area of ​​the roof itself. Thanks to this, a grass carpet with an area of ​​only 15 square meters. can produce enough oxygen for 10 people.

Finally, a green roof is a great self-cleaning natural air filter. After all, grass perfectly catches dust particles, and rain washes them away again.

The construction of a grass roof is similar in most cases. This is a load-bearing rafter structure and sheathing made of non-woven edged boards, on top of which turf was laid.

Instead of the waterproofing widely used today from rolled bitumen or other materials, a layer of birch bark was laid on the sheathing, on top of which turf was laid in two layers or a soil mixture was poured for sowing it with grass seeds.

However, before touching on the technology of laying bark and turf, it should be noted that the dead weight of a green roof is about 250 kg/m2. This means that the shear load (especially on roofs with more steep slopes) is capable of moving the entire grass covering down. To avoid this, fencing was an indispensable structural element of green roofs. Their function was traditionally performed by turf fencing beams or boards laid along the overhangs - the so-called turf holders.

At the same time, the construction of the roof when creating a grass carpet had to ensure unhindered drainage of rainwater from the roof slopes. To do this, it was necessary not only to choose the right shape of the sod holders, but also to attach them to the sheathing accordingly.

Strips of birch bark were laid overlapping each other. In the overhang area they were laid in 5...8 layers. At the same time, the strips released from under the fencing beam and placed on it were laid with the outer side up. This was done in order to ensure effective water drainage and protect the sod holder and the end parts of the sheathing boards from moisture. In addition, the bark, laid with the outer side up, is an important decorative element green roof.

To increase the service life of the roof, the bark on the rest of the roof was laid with the outer side down, since its inner side provides more effective protection lathing from the mixture of sigumic acids contained in the soil.

To protect the turf laid on the sides of the gable from wind and water erosion, natural stones were laid on the edges of the gable. Later, pediment wind elements, which were used as logs, began to be used for this purpose. They were laid so that the ends protruded above the ridge. The logs were joined crosswise. And since the logs were the same thickness as the sod holders, together they formed a kind of wooden frame for the entire roof.

In another option, a wind board was used to protect the grass surface from erosion. It was fastened with wooden dowels and covered with birch bark from moisture. Sometimes, instead of bark, a horizontally laid covering board was used.

Rice. Pediment with wind board. Birch bark is laid overlapping on the board

One of important elements traditional roofs with grass cover - a wooden gutter, which was made from boards connected to each other with screws at right angles or hollowed out from a tree trunk.

The weak point of grass roofs is the openings (particularly for chimneys). To prevent water from flowing down the walls of the pipe into the house, stone slabs protruding beyond the pipe were walled into its masonry.

Rice. Roof with grass covering in the area where the pipes meet
1 - traditional design; 2 - modern design.

At the same time, sheets of birch bark were placed under these slabs, diverting the flow of water to the roof. The stone slabs on the side of the slopes were arranged in steps, which contributed to more efficient drainage of rain or melt water from the pipe walls.

A log is used as a fencing element, supported by a stop hook secured under the sheathing. IN in this case the hook, cut into the log of the upper crown, is secured under the sheathing, and the round timber itself lies completely on the birch bark. To prevent water from accumulating on the roof, the sod holder has slots for drainage.

Rice. Fencing element made of boards and round timber

The round timber, in turn, is also lined with birch bark. Despite the presence of such moisture protection, the sod holder still needed to be periodically replaced with a new one.

For example, when attaching a stop hook on top of the sheathing, a space is created between the birch bark and the turf holder to ensure effective drainage of water. And when attaching the enclosing element using a dowel, special slots were provided in the sod holder for water drainage.

Another interesting solution is when the fencing beam is attached to the side, with a distance of 5 cm from the edge of the overhang, which also ensures rapid drainage of water.

In all these cases, the turf holders are protected by birch bark. The overhang zone itself is covered with several layers of bark.

Owners of private houses are paying more and more attention to the issue of environmental friendliness of future construction. An original and aesthetic solution would be to choose a green roof. This type roofing covering Previously used in countries with warm climates. But now it has become a trend and is used to create cozy places, where you can relax and enjoy clean air. Many people are interested in the question of how to make environmentally friendly and aesthetic roof with your own hands.

Advantages:

• Environmental friendliness. The green coating will saturate the air with oxygen.
• Noise insulation. Thanks to a thick layer of roofing, a green roof will protect against possible noise.
• Thermal insulation.
• The area will be noticeably less dusty.
• A green roof will protect roofing pie from damage.
• Unusual appearance.

On this moment green roofs are divided into two types:

• Extensive. Choosing this type will be optimal for cases where there is a need to reduce time and effort when caring for the roof. The roof slope for such a system should be no more than 45 degrees. Suitable for places where there is no access to the roof: for example, on industrial facilities, shopping centers, terraces, garages, gazebos, bus stops.

Suitable for installing such a roof perennials different varieties, which are unpretentious in care - not required frequent watering or haircut. It is important that these plants tolerate winter well.

• Intensive. The advantage of this type is the possibility of operation. Can be used for any buildings. It is most popular when organizing the roof of a private house. For such a roof it is necessary to lay paths. The presence of trees and shrubs is also welcome; you can organize a whole garden on the roof, providing it with lighting and watering. You can also leave space for multi-tiered flower beds, alpine slides and reservoirs.

An intensive green roof will not only allow you to take a break from the hot weather in the shade of the garden, but will also lower the temperature in the room. A layer of soil and greenery will provide protection from the scorching sun. You can place furniture on the roof: chairs, tables, chaise lounge.

When installing a green roof, we must not forget about some requirements:

• Ensuring safe operation. To do this, it is necessary to provide parapets and fences with a height of at least 120 centimeters. They must support the weight of the people on it. It is important to provide for the installation of special fortifications and wind shields.
• Environmentally friendly materials should be selected.
• It is important to ensure that the supporting structure is protected from damage due to corrosion or mold.
• It is necessary to provide insulation for plant roots.
• Do not exceed the load limits supporting system. Both static and dynamic loads should be taken into account.
• When arranging utility rooms, for example, to store equipment, their weight should be taken into account when calculating.

It is better to decide on the type of roof when drawing up a house project in order to achieve everything necessary calculations loads at the planning stage. This should be done to avoid the formation of cracks in supporting structures. If this is not possible, then when organizing a green roof it is still necessary to make calculations to ensure the strength of the structure. If it is not enough, then before installing the roof load-bearing structure better to strengthen it.

DIY roof landscaping

It is worth noting that container gardening, where plants are placed in pots or boxes, has nothing in common with a green roof.

To green a roof using the extensive method, you need to pay attention to several factors: stability, strength and condition of the roof. Possible thickness soil is calculated based on the strength of the floor. The choice of plants will depend on this, because they also have weight. Best suited for these purposes reinforced concrete structure. It will make it possible not only to create soil depth of 40-50 centimeters, but also to plant shrubs and trees. If you are not sure about the strength of your roof, then you should think about organizing a “carpet” containing various cleaning, saxifrage and juveniles. The soil layer can be 5 centimeters.

Layers of a green roof

1. Waterproofing.

Caring for plants involves using water and watering the plants. But such maintenance of a green roof can be harmful to the roof structure. To avoid this, use a waterproofing layer, which is used as plastic film, liquid rubber, polymer membranes etc. For correct device For waterproofing, it is laid on the existing roof covering. If it is not there, then it is necessary to ensure the availability continuous sheathing.

1. Root barrier

Placed on top of the waterproofing layer to provide protection from germinating roots. Foil or polymer film is suitable as such a barrier. You can use special waterproofing that has anti-root additives. They do not allow the root to grow into the material, damaging it. A root barrier may not be needed if you have chosen a groundcover type as the plants to sow: for example, sedum or lawn grass.

1. Drainage layer

Drainage allows water to be distributed over the surface. At the same time, it retains part of the water, and excess moisture directs to the drain. For sloping roofs, the issue of water drainage is solved naturally - only holes are provided at the corners of the roof. For a flat roof everything is more complicated. Before installing waterproofing, the surface should be profiled to prevent water stagnation. The lower drainage can be expanded clay of medium and large fractions. You can use special artificial mats. They provide excellent moisture retention for plants without interfering with the flow of excess water into the drain. An example is geomats. They are a coarse washcloth consisting of plastic flexible mesh grids.

1. Filtration layer

Its purpose is to protect the drainage from blockages. It is able to retain unwanted precipitation coming from the ground. Geotextiles are the most common material for the filtration layer. The geotextile helps avoid soil and drainage mixing that can occur over time.

1. Geogrid

It is used only for flat roofs with a slope of more than 25 degrees, because it is necessary to fix the soil to prevent it from sliding. The geogrid is lightweight. Externally, it looks like a cellular plastic structure. For small roof slopes, it is usually necessary to wooden partitions. They can be used as an aesthetic addition by laying them out in a geometric pattern. It is also necessary to provide wooden edges around the perimeter to provide a fastening edge.

1. Fertile substrate

The thickness of the soil layer depends on the choice of the type of plants planted on the roof. For example, lawn grass and ground cover types will grow comfortably in soil thicknesses of 5-10 centimeters. If you set out to grow a full-fledged garden on the roof, then you need to provide a soil layer of 1 meter. There are a number of requirements for soils. Suitable for light weight, medium weight mechanical composition, porous, moisture-absorbing, with neutral peat, which is filled with fertilizers or mixed with fine expanded clay. Provided that the structure of the floors is strong enough, use light soil, adding expanded clay (15-20%) to it. To plant the clearings, you need to take 1 part sand and 3 parts peat. In case of sodding of the roof upper layer substrate is mixed with lawn grass seeds.

Plant selection

Criteria:

• small root system;
• frost and drought resistance;
• resistance to temperature changes;
• not requiring careful maintenance.

Most often, saxifrage, thyme, sage, young, rough cotula, small-bulbous flowers, etc. are used for roof landscaping. You can also use moss and lichen, provided that the house is in the shade.

For a roof with a turf base, it is better to use dwarf or creeping shrubs and trees, unpretentious herbs and vines, and plants that tightly cover the soil. Thanks to small bunched daffodils, crocuses, scylla and muscara, you can provide landscaping in the spring.

Under the term " green roof"It is customary to understand the roof of a building or structure on which specially planted vegetation is located.

Advantages of a green roof:

• Protects buildings from overheating
• Reduces air temperature in cities in the summer (on average, up to 1 0 C);
• Provides oxygen supply;
• Reduces overall background noise from 2 to 10 dB;
• Eliminates the rapid spread of fire along the roof surface during fires;
• Allows rational use of available space;
• Additional layers reliably protect waterproofing from accidental mechanical damage;
• Reduces air pollution.

• The downside is the increased cost.

Green roofs are a type of roof that is in use.

By exploitation it is meant that the roof, in addition to its main construction functions, is also used for some useful purposes for humans. For example, it is a resting place with installed benches, flower beds, barbecue facilities, a swimming pool, and a fountain. Or it serves as an observation deck, parking for cars or even for a helicopter.

Structurally, green roofing is usually performed on an ordinary, flat roof. In some cases, it is possible to install a “green” signal on pitched roofs, but with an inclination angle of no more than 35 degrees. When installing a “green” roof, special attention should be paid to the exceptional reliability of the material used for waterproofing. His incorrect choice or failure to comply with the technology can become a fatal mistake, which will entail significant financial costs for repairs.

An enlarged green roof can be imagined as consisting of two components: parts:

• flat roof - let's call it the base for the green part;
• the actual “green” part.

Options for the first part (flat roof) are described in detail in our article.

There are several options for the second, green part.

Which one should be preferred depends on the climate, as this affects the amount and frequency of precipitation, and on the type of vegetation, since different plants require different amounts of moisture and also have various sizes root systems.

The green part options differ from each other in the following parameters:

1. the presence of certain technological layers in its composition;
2. order of layers;
3. layer capacity (ability to hold different amounts of moisture);
4. "brand" of materials used for these layers.

For example, let’s consider the simplest version of the “pie” of all two parts of the “green roof”.

Type roofing - classic, insulated, soft.

The roof is in use, i.e. There is supposed to be a lawn on it for seeding with grass.

Explanations for non-specialists:

The following sequence (from bottom to top) is usually called a classic pie:

1. Roof base.
2. Vapor barrier layer.
3. Insulation layer.
4. Slope-forming layer
5. Waterproofing layer.

Not classic pie- This inversion. It differs from the one described above in the location of the insulation relative to the waterproofing. You can read more about inversion cake in our article.

Therefore, in all our interpretations of exploited roofs, this pie same for all options further finishing coating, including “green”. We make deviations only at the request of the customer.

Typical layers of the “green” part of a roof with landscaping are (from bottom to top):

• Root protective film
• Drainage membrane.
• A separating layer of non-woven material is a geotextile layer.
• Soil layer for green spaces(prepared)
• Lawn, meadow grass, bushes, trees

Let's take a closer look at their functions.

Soil layer- nutrient medium for plants. For different plants different.

A separating layer of geotextile prevents soil from penetrating into the lower layers and being washed out over time. The material is synthetic and does not rot.

Drainage membrane- creates a gap between the soil layer and the waterproofing layer, thereby providing conditions for the free flow of water to the elements of the drainage system (funnels, scuppers). The design of the membrane allows some of the water to be retained and nourish the plants. Membranes differ from each other in this parameter. For different types plants need membranes with different “capacities”.

Root protective film- does not allow plant roots to destroy the waterproofing over time. There are waterproofing membranes that are not afraid of roots. But it won’t be superfluous to put the film on.

Examples of green roofs

Since any roof in use has, as a rule, several more layers of waterproofing on top additional layers, then if problems with leaks arise, repairing such a roof turns into a rather troublesome and costly matter. Therefore, for roofs in use it is very important to use reliable and high-quality waterproofing materials. The most reliable material today is Resitrix (Resitrix, Germany). To be convinced of this, it is enough to hold a piece of it in your hands. None of the materials existing on the roofing market has such a thickness of 3.1 mm!

Roofing of any type and purpose completed by Resitrix is ​​a task solved once and for a lifetime.

Today there is alternative system exploited (green) roofs. This is the so-called “false floor” system. Its essence is that the system is entirely mounted on adjustable supports.

The advantages of this system are as follows:

• Lightweight design for extensive landscaping. Light weight per base
• Modularity and readiness of units and solutions. Combination of different types of coatings
• High speed of work
• Possibility of laying communications. Water, electricity, etc.
• Possibility to change places different coatings. Quick disassembly if necessary
• Absolutely quick drying of surfaces after rain

Our company installs flat roofs of any purpose and type.

• Operated roofs
• Flat roofs
• Green roofs
• Ballast roofs
• Inversion roofs
• Waterproofing terraces
• Waterproofing balconies

Today, the installation of green roofs in Europe is modern direction in urban construction. This is even encouraged by the authorities.

In Russia, this invention of mankind appeared quite recently.

Such turf roofs are especially relevant in huge cities, where it is almost impossible to create a garden in the middle of the city, and the land there is “golden”.

Advantages

Green roofs not only delight the eyes of metropolitan residents, but also significantly cleanse the air of gases and impurities. Residents upper floors, will also experience all the delights of such a wonder. After all, in summer the turf layer will not allow the roof to heat up, and in winter it will not allow it to freeze.

In the summer, in the sun, the roofs of skyscrapers simply melt, not only heating the air even more, but also evaporating harmful substances from their surface.

Such a roof will protect both the roof and the residents from this. And plants will enrich the air with oxygen, taking away carbon dioxide.

A green roof can regulate the flow of rain. It takes on all the water, restraining the flow rate. Passing through yourself storm water, cleanses them. Which improves the environmental situation. Having such a covering on the roof of their house, many residents can plant vegetable gardens there, thereby keeping themselves busy with useful work and providing their family with vegetables.

Also, roofs with green roofs are great places to create mini recreation areas where residents of the house can have a picnic and not waste time in traffic jams to go out of town.

3 types of green roof:

The main selection criterion for landscaping is slope. It should not be more than 40 degrees. The type of landscaping is also selected based on the degree of slope. And the shape of the slope can be any - single-slope, gable, or another shape.

And for a roof with a slope angle of less than 40 degrees, you can install special gratings and then the roof will not slide.

All green roofing is divided into 3 groups.

Each group differs from the other in the degree of load on the frame of the building where the roof will be installed; possible functions; installation technology. Thus, green roofing can be intensive, or intensively simple, or extensive.

• Intensive- makes it possible to create parks and gardens on your territory with the help of ornamental plants.

The created landscape can be made on several levels.

Of course, such a volume of everything has a very large weight, which creates a high load on the building frame. Also, such a roof surface will require careful maintenance. It is even created special system glaze.

It is better to carry out installation where it has already been planned and included in the calculations of loads on the building still under construction.

Or you can lay out the roof of a building that has been in use for a long time, if when calculating the load it turns out that the roof will not cause harm to the building frame.

Roofing pie - longitudinal section

• Extensive— the soil of such a roof is covered with grass, mosses, and unpretentious plants.

This is as close as possible to the conditions wildlife landscaping system.

Some plants can be used in roof design, but they are not planted in the soil, but in special containers with soil. These containers are placed throughout the coverage area according to the designer’s idea. This type puts minimal pressure on the building frame.

As has already been said, no maintenance is required, and therefore it will all take less costs both strength and finances.

• Intensive simple roof – this type has absorbed part of the functionality of the extensive type and part of the functionality of the intensive type.

The thickness and weight are much less than that of the extensive one, so trees and shrubs are also not provided for on it, but you can walk on the lawn calmly and relax, placing everything you need on the green cover.

Caring for such a cover is also minimal - water at the grass growth stage, clear weeds and periodically trim the lawn.

How to create a green roof with your own hands:

Before installation (special inversion roof), it is necessary to carry out preparatory work on the roof of the house.

Installation of a parapet is required, the height of which must be at least 1-2 meters.

Installation of the roof itself occurs in the form of laying its layers:

1. The first layer is considered to be the surface of the roof itself - these are mainly reinforced concrete slabs.
2. There must be waterproofing. For this they use special materials in rolls to perform this function. Particular attention should be paid to areas adjacent to the wall, parapet, and water drains. If the slope is flat, then at this stage an artificial slope of 3-5% should be created.
3. The next layer is thermal insulation. Materials are used that do not rot and cannot be deformed over time. This can be basalt wool, foam glass, or extruded polystyrene foam.
4. Next, drainage is distributed over the surface of the insulation, which is covered with geotextile. Drainage takes away from plant roots excess water, and geotextiles serve as a filter for this water - it prevents soil particles from leaving the top layer.
5. And the soil mixture is poured on top of this entire structure.

A green roof has its disadvantages:

• Fairly high cost;
• Complex and labor-intensive installation of the coating;
• This coating is not suitable for every roof, as it provides high pressure on the frame.

Particular attention should be paid to the selection of waterproofing materials. They must be resistant to mechanical stress, since if trees grow on the roof, their roots can damage the fragile waterproofing.

Roofing should be laid only by specialists and only in compliance with all installation technology.

Since installing such a roof is expensive, the price of apartments in a building or an entire house also increases.

After all, they are not only aesthetically beautiful, but they also have a longer service life than ordinary ones.