Intensive Vs Extensive Green Roof

In addition to the mosses grasses and sedum of extensive roofs semi intensive plantings include herbs flowering plants taller grasses and small shrubs.

Intensive vs extensive green roof.

An extensive green roof is characterized by a thinner layer of soil and smaller plants. For a conventional roof. The plants that are mostly used on extensively planted roofs include grasses mosses herbs and succulents. It also allows for a formal garden to be installed with paths grass lawn and flowers or pot plants.

8 to 20 per square foot. These systems range in thickness from 2 6 94 and weigh approximately 15 30lbs per sq ft. Typically these roofs will have more soil and some small shrubs as well as the low growing wildflowers and sedums found on an extensive roof. You can compare an intensive roof to a normal garden and this is why an intensive green roof is also known as a roof garden or garden roof.

These can easily be installed on sheds and garages. Semi intensive green roofs require a deeper soil layer but the payoff is in the types of plantings that can be used. If you are looking for a low maintenance lightweight green roof that features simple and self maintaining vegetation then the extensive green roof is for you. A semi intensive green roof can give rise to a richer ecology with more diverse plant and animal species.

Extensive green roof systems extensive systems are simpler and lighter weight than intensive systems. A 2006 study by the university of michigan comparing costs of conventional and green roofs showed that on average installing a green roof costs about 22 00 sq. 15 to 50 per square foot. Due to their light weight and low profile they require less structural support and can be used on roofs with a slope of 30 b0 and higher.

A green roof comes in two varieties. Intensive vs extensive green roof. A green roof with a lightweight solution of 30 kg m2 is only possible with sedum vegetation and a green roof with a weight of 220 kg m2 is composed of a combination of sedum grasses herbs or host plants. Intensive includes a thick layer of soil that can support large vegetation such as small trees.

It should be clear from the above which green roof type is best for you.