Vegetated Roofs

Vegetated roofs, also known as “green roofs”, represent one of the newest trends in commercial roofing. They consist of roof decks topped with layers of soil, gravel and plants to create roof-top gardens that double as roof finishes. While vegetated roofs add significantly to overall building loads and often require added framing, they also provide a number of benefits to building occupants and the community. Vegetated roofs provide an outdoor space for workers or residents and also help managers to market the building’s eco-friendly design. The vegetation provides shade to improve energy efficiency and protect the building from solar heat. The plants found on green roofs filter contaminants from the air to improve air quality and also reduce storm water runoff to reduce water pollution in nearby streams.