livr:living_roofs

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livr:living_roofs [2025/12/12 12:36] – Dave Darbylivr:living_roofs [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Living roofs+This topic is part of [[gt:buildings|Buildings & construction]]. 
 +====== Living roofs ======
  
  
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-## 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. 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.
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 <caption> <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> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Waterproof layer with drainage hole.+_Waterproof layer with drainage hole._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## 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. **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.
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 <caption> <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> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Giant living roof on Rolls Royce factory near Chichester.+_Giant living roof on Rolls Royce factory near Chichester._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Adding crushed substrate onto fleece, itself sitting upon a waterproof layer.+_Adding crushed substrate onto fleece, itself sitting upon a waterproof layer._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Even tiny sheds can have living roofs.+_Even tiny sheds can have living roofs._
  
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-## 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. 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.
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 <caption> <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> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Planting up a green roof with various herbs and flowers.+_Planting up a green roof with various herbs and flowers._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Garden offices are perfect for living roofs.+_Garden offices are perfect for living roofs._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 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. 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). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [European Federation of Green Roofs & Walls](https://efb-greenroof.eu/) - [European Federation of Green Roofs & Walls](https://efb-greenroof.eu/)
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-## Specialists+ 
 +===== 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 =====
  
  • livr/living_roofs.1765543000.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/12 12:36
  • by Dave Darby