Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- livr:living_roofs [2025/12/05 10:36] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ livr:living_roofs [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-# Living roofs
+This topic is part of [[gt:buildings|Buildings & construction]].
+====== Living roofs ======
@@ Line 10: / Line 11: @@
-## What are living roofs?
+===== What are living roofs? =====
 Living roofs are roofs with some sort of soil and vegetation on them. In Europe, there's a centuries-old tradition of turf roofs on the Atlantic coasts of Ireland and Scandinavia, for practical reasons – to keep the roof on in places where Atlantic gales would have blown off tiles or slates. Waterproofing was provided by a birch bark layer, overlain with turf.
@@ Line 20: / Line 21: @@
 <caption>
-Unusual picture showing living roofs on two sheds – one with flowering sedum, the other with grasses.
+_Unusual picture showing living roofs on two sheds – one with flowering sedum, the other with grasses._
 </caption>
@@ Line 35: / Line 36: @@
 <caption>
-Waterproof layer with drainage hole.
+_Waterproof layer with drainage hole._
 </caption>
@@ Line 69: / Line 70: @@
-## What are the benefits of living roofs?
+===== What are the benefits of living roofs? =====
 **Water retention:** a living roof can hold 60% of the precipitation that falls on it, which is then used by plants or evaporates. This slows the speed of runoff, and helps prevent flash floods.
@@ Line 81: / Line 82: @@
 <caption>
-Living roof on an open-air classroom, showing a large diversity of flowering plants.
+_Living roof on an open-air classroom, showing a large diversity of flowering plants._
 </caption>
@@ Line 98: / Line 99: @@
 <caption>
-Giant living roof on Rolls Royce factory near Chichester.
+_Giant living roof on Rolls Royce factory near Chichester._
 </caption>
@@ Line 117: / Line 118: @@
 <caption>
-Adding crushed substrate onto fleece, itself sitting upon a waterproof layer.
+_Adding crushed substrate onto fleece, itself sitting upon a waterproof layer._
 </caption>
@@ Line 136: / Line 137: @@
 <caption>
-Even tiny sheds can have living roofs.
+_Even tiny sheds can have living roofs._
 </caption>
@@ Line 145: / Line 146: @@
-## What can I do?
+===== What can I do? =====
 Ideally, if you want a green roof, the pitch will be 12° or less, although up to and even over 35° is still possible, but it becomes more expensive the steeper the pitch.
@@ Line 174: / Line 175: @@
 <caption>
-Not a flower meadow, but a living roof 10 years after installation, during which time precisely nothing had been done to it; you can tell it’s a roof from the flue pipes.
+_Not a flower meadow, but a living roof 10 years after installation, during which time precisely nothing had been done to it; you can tell it’s a roof from the flue pipes._
 </caption>
@@ Line 191: / Line 192: @@
 <caption>
-Planting up a green roof with various herbs and flowers.
+_Planting up a green roof with various herbs and flowers._
 </caption>
@@ Line 206: / Line 207: @@
 <caption>
-Garden offices are perfect for living roofs.
+_Garden offices are perfect for living roofs._
 </caption>
@@ Line 215: / Line 216: @@
 Finally, if you intend to install your own green roof, don’t feel intimidated. If you abide by basic principles regarding load and waterproofing, you'll be fine. If something goes wrong with the soil or the plants, it can be changed. If it’s not completely perfect, it will still provide a good habitat, and it will be too out of the way to be an eyesore.
-## Further resources
+===== Forum =====
+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:buildings|Buildings & construction]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/buildings).
-## Specialists
+===== Further resources =====
+- [European Federation of Green Roofs & Walls](https://efb-greenroof.eu/)
+- [Green Infrastructure Foundation](https://greeninfrastructurefoundation.org/) - N America
+- [Green Roof Centre](https://sheffield.ac.uk/architecture-landscape/research/landscape/ecology/green-roof) - UK National Centre of Excellence
+- [Green Roofs](https://www.greenroofs.org/) - N American trade association
+- [Green Roof Organisation](https://greenrooforganisation.org/) - promoting green roofs within the built environment
+- [Green roof energy calculator](https://www.greenroofs.org/green-roof-energy-calculator)
+- [Green roof training](https://greenrooftraining.com/)
+- [Natural England](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/livingroofleaflet.pdf) - report on living roofs and biodiversity
+- [Green roof construction - how-to guide](https://www.permagard.co.uk/advice/green-roof-construction)
+===== Related topics =====
+- [Earth-sheltered houses](eash:earth-sheltered_houses)
+- [Planning permission](plan:planning)
+- [Roof shingles](rofs:roof_shingles)
+- [Roofing](roof:roofing)
+- [Thatching](that:thatching)
+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====