ROOF TOP GARDENING

ISSUE: ROOF TOP GARDENS

Urban communities face many challenges

• Dense urban environments.

Industry, automobiles, and impermeable
concrete and asphalt surfaces

• Negative impact upon the air and water

quality
ISSUE: ROOF TOP GARDENS

• Climate change serves to exacerbate the urban

heat island effect through global warming

• Intense competition for land decreases green

space, and

• Subsequent spiritual disconnect from agricultural

roots and the natural world
BENEFITS OF ROOF TOP GARDENS

To help alleviate the environmental problems

 Encountered with dense urban habitation

To encourage sustainable development,

Rooftop gardens are excellent example of

incorporating passive, eco-friendly
technology into new or existing development.
BENEFITS OF ROOF TOP GARDENS

Rooftop gardens help mitigate the negative impacts of

cities on the environment by:

Conserving energy and water,

 Improving air and water quality,
 Assisting in storm water management,
 Absorbing solar radiation,
 Becoming a source of local food production,
Providing habitat restoration, and creating natural
retreats.
BENEFITS OF ROOF TOP GARDENS

• They are most effective when constructed on the

flat roof common to many city commercial,
institutional, or industrial buildings.

• Green roofs can double the longevity of

a roof when compared with traditional roofing
materials, and some components incorporate
recycled materials.
BENEFITS OF ROOF TOP GARDENS

Depending on the load bearing capability,

can either be retrofitted, or rooftop gardens can be
incorporated into the original design.

The basic components of a green roof

include:
• A waterproof membrane,
• A root barrier,
• A drainage system,
• Filtering cloth,
• Growing medium,
• plants.
ROOF TOP GARDENS

A green roof is a green space created by

adding layers of plants on top of a traditional roofing
system.

The layers of a contemporary green roof system, from the top

down, include:
 The plants, often specially selected for particular
applications,
 An integrated irrigation system and controls
 An engineered growing medium, which generally
will not include soil,
 A landscape or filter cloth to contain the roots and the
growing medium, while allowing for water penetration,
 A specialized drainage layer, sometimes with built-in
water reservoirs,
 The waterproofing/roofing membrane, with an integral
root repellent, and

 The roof structure, with traditional insulation either

above or below.
 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
There are several important design and structural differences
between ground level landscape development and rooftop
developments.

 Protection of the integrity of the roof and structure

 Positive drainage
 A long-term, lightweight planting medium
 Irrigation for optimum plant growth and sustainability
 Adaptation to the climatic conditions
 Provisions for utilities
 Public safety and security
 Ease of maintenance

Selection of hardscape materials (paving, structural materials,

site furnishings and water as a design element) and their special
use and requirements as part of a roof garden system
Protection of the Roof and Structure

The single most important element in rooftop garden

construction is protecting the integrity of the roof and
the structural components under the garden.
For this reason
there must be waterproofing of exceptional longevity
to prevent damage and to reduce the possibility of
longterm expensive reconstruction. For this reason it is
recommended a completely new waterproofing layer be
added to the existing structure

to insure the longevity and integrity of the waterproofing

system.
Load Bearing Capacity

The structural engineer should verify the maximum

load bearing capacity of the existing structure.
These figures should be available from the records
of the previous construction of the helipad.
Typically, a minimum additional dead load limit
of 150 psf between columns is needed to
accommodate the construction of a roof garden.
Loads above columns and at the roof’s edge can be
considerably higher, however a structural
engineer should be consulted to establish the load
bearing capacity of those areas. These higher load
bearing areas should be used to accommodate
larger specimen plantings and trees.
Waterproofing

As mention before, a completely new waterproofing

system should be installed to protect the building’s
structure. There are several types of waterproofing
available, however, elastomeric materials offer the
greatest protection. Bituminous waterproofing should be
avoided. Over time the organic components in bituminous
waterproofing interact with the soils and the plant
materials and therefore increase the likelihood of system
failure.

A properly installed waterproofing system can last the

lifetime of the building, however a single small leak may
require the removal of the entire garden to find and repair
the damage. Therefore, in order to insure the integrity of
the waterproofing it is recommended a protective topping
coat of concrete be applied, as soon as possible,
following the installation of the new waterproofing.
The Roof Drains

The existing roof drains are appropriate for use within

the roof garden. Some minor modifications may be
required to accommodate the new waterproofing and
topping slab. Nevertheless, the roof drains and their
size are adequate to support the roof garden’s needs.
Special care should be taken and accommodations
made to allow access to those roof drains should there
ever be the need to access them for cleaning.

The Drainage Layer

The drainage layer, directly above the concrete

protective slab, should be very porous to permit
water to pass easily through it. It must be
permanent and continuous over the entire roof surface
and strong enough to support the weight of the plant
materials and hardscape above it. This layer must be
kept free of any materials that could
prevent the free flow of water to the drains.
Filter Fabric

To prevent the planting media from

going into solution and being lost in or
clogging the drainage layer and roof
drains, a water-permeable barrier of
filter fabric is needed.

Enka drain - the filter fabric is integral

with the drainage course.
Planting Media
The critical criteria in the formulation of a suitable planting media
for roof gardens include:

lightweight; the ability to hold nutrients;

adequate moisture holding capacity;
and the capability of developing a firm (for plant
stability) yet easily drained soil structure.

There are several ready mixed medias available that meet these
requirements. However, care must be taken in selecting these
lightweight soils to be sure there are adequate non-organic
components incorporated into the mix. Soil mixes consisting of
solely organic material will decompose, losing nearly 30% of its
mass every year, thereby requiring frequent topdressing to
maintain the soil mass. Therefore one should incorporate sand
and expanded shale into these prepared planting medias.
When this mixture is properly moist it will weigh approximately 60
pounds per cubic foot.
Irrigation

The relatively thin, well-drained soil mixtures used in

roof garden construction cannot provide the
plantings with the subsurface water normally
available to ground level plantings.

Care must be exercised to prevent the soil mass

from drying out and causing damage to the plant
materials.

Hand watering is too labor intensive and is not cost

effective. Therefore, we recommend the installation
of a sensor controlled drip irrigation system.

Drip irrigation is preferred in roof garden applications

because the effects of wind can cause above ground
systems to perform inconsistently.
Mulch

Drying and overheating of the soil can be

prevented by the application of 2-3 inches of torn
hardwood mulch.

Besides providing protection of the plant materials

this mulch serves to hide the drip irrigation lines
and emitters.
Climatic Conditions

The effects of wind, heat, cold and precipitation are

amplified on roof gardens.

1)Provide adequate soil mass to support the

desired plantings.

2) Make appropriate provisions to replenish soil

moisture and water in features to combat the
effects of evaporation.

3) Use windscreens to mitigate the effects of

wind on the users.

4) Plant trees in areas that will cast the

maximum amount of shade.

5) Avoid using paving that increases the

amount of glare.
Maintenance

1)Plant should be under professional care and

maintenance and checked on a regular basis.

2) Monitor irrigation systems regularly and monitor

soil fertility

3) Special attention must be give to maintaining the

balance between foliage area and root mass.

4) All planted areas should receive annual

topdressing to replenish soil.
Roof Garden Definitions
Shallow (Ultra-Extensive) Roof Garden
System

Shallow Roof Garden System (growth

media depth 2.5” to 4") is ideally suited
for areas likely to receive little
maintenance.

Recommended plants include sedums,

herbs and grasses. The anticipated weight
above the
membrane assembly is generally between
4.8 and 6 pounds per square foot in a
saturated state.
Roof Garden Definitions
Medium Depth (Extensive) Roof Garden
System

Medium Depth Roof Garden System (growth

media depth of 5" to 8") includes plants such
as sedums, herbs, grasses and other
vegetation, which can grow in this depth of
media.

Un-irrigated systems can be provided without

difficulty; however, drip, mist or spray irrigation
systems may be required to support more
diverse plant
types or for installations in semi-arid climates.

The anticipated saturated weight above the

membrane assembly is less than 50 pounds
per square foot.
Roof Garden Definitions
Deep (Intensive) Roof Garden System

Deep Roof Gardens typically incorporate a planting

system requiring greater growth media depth
(exceeding 8") that requires regular maintenance,
such as watering, fertilizing and mowing/weeding.

A variety of plants are available including turf

grass, annual or perennial flowers, shrubs and
even small trees. This system typically requires a
structural concrete roof deck to support the larger
dead load. An irrigation system should be utilized
in these assemblies.

The anticipated weight above the membrane

assembly is generally greater than 50 pounds
per square foot.