PURE NATURE ON THE ROOF

Germany is beautiful - with its landscapes, regions and cities. And Germany is green. In our cities and also in small and large industrial estates, however, greenery is often somewhat scarce. But what to do when the Place for extensive green spaces? Ideal for this are Green roofs. Flat roofs are ideal for this purpose. As they compensate for the progressive sealing of built-up areas, they are considered to be Ecologically valuable and are also financially subsidised by many local authorities. Green roofs have many advantages: they improve the urban climate, can store precipitation, help to clean the air and, if installed correctly, protect the roof from extreme temperatures and other negative weather conditions. In modern architecture Green flat roofs often for the energy-efficient planning. In addition, the beautiful and partially Exciting look attractiveness.

What needs to be considered?

Green roofs are by no means just soil and grass. There are precise regulations for the installation and structure. Firstly, the roof and building must fulfil the necessary Statics because the creation of a green space construction always means additional weight and must be checked by a structural engineer before implementation. If the existing building and roof structure provide sufficient Load capacitythen implementation can begin.
In order to protect the building from the roots and excess water, a Root-resistant roof waterproofing or root protection membrane is applied. In addition, a drainage system helps to ensure that excess rainwater can drain away reliably and the substrate is not damaged. The correct structure also favours the Longevity the green roof. Building protection mats made from recycled materials are particularly suitable for basic work. The partners of the NEW LIFE initiative in the production of their Insulation and drainage products for roofing attaches particular importance to sustainability and environmental protection. These products are certified accordingly and, thanks to the use of Secondary raw materials during production, the completed green roofs make a double contribution to the environment. Sustainability and Environmental protection fulfil. A well-rounded solution.

What does extensive greening mean?

Extensive green roofs are the simpler and lighter option, as the structure is only around 10 to 20 centimetres high and weighs between 60 and 250 kilograms per square metre.
lies. The planting is mainly limited to Mosses, Grasses and Herbswhich, on the other hand, are very Easy to clean and are mostly No additional irrigation
need.

Is intensive roof greening also possible?

With intensive green roofs, there is hardly any difference to nature on the ground. However, the following are significantly higher Structure and Weight (up to 2 metres + 3 tonnes weight per m²), but entire trees can be planted in return. A more elaborate green roof naturally also increases the Expenditure for irrigation and maintenance - just like a normal garden. However, the number of sustainable roofs and buildings here is also in the lower range. Visually, it is certainly a great thing, but the costs of renovation and conversion are often likely to favour extensive greening.

Manageable costs

It is not possible to give generalised amounts for a green roof. Factors such as the Size of the roof, whether you have a extensive or a intensive green roofs, and how high the planned Own work play a major role. The Material costs can generally be estimated at 20 to 30 euros per square metre. Take the Design and the Plantingafter installation of the base elements root barrier and drainage - this should be done by Specialists yourself, then you can take the financial burden off your shoulders.
reduce costs to a large extent. There may even be the possibility of Grants to benefit. Whether these are granted and in what amount, however, depends on the respective Municipality from. When renovating old buildings, you should always find out about the subsidy programmes of the KfW inform. The Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau often grants attractive loans or subsidies for green roofs.

Planting and care

Water-storing plants are particularly important for the establishment of an extensive green roof. Houseleeks, stonecrop, saxifrage and flat balled perennials are excellent
suitable for this. Herbs and ornamental grasses can be added as desired. An additional pleasant effect of the herbs is the pleasant Fragrancethat these plants often exude. Lavender or thyme are particularly effective. With the Care is similar to a normal garden. Once the construction work has been completed, the first
weeks three to four times. After this, the Rain take over this work. Willow and birch saplings should be removed once a year. These grow very quickly and are too large and heavy for the roof. Weeds Weeding is also necessary here once or twice a year. With a well-designed green roof, you can make a great contribution to improving the environment. Climates in densely built-up areas and will deliver the additional positive Advantages quickly appreciate.

BY THE WAY: Manufacturers of building protection mats for green roofs and other applications can be found at: initiative-new-life.de/bautenschutz