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Green Roof Aesthetics and Economics

John A. D’Annunzio | January 1, 2013
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In the past decade there has been an increasing demand to turn the buildings roof component into livable or usable space. This is often accomplished through living roofs and/or patio type roof decks. These kinds of roof construction methods are often utilized in downtown areas on commercial, office and residential (condominiums or townhouses) buildings. Many restaurants transpose the roof into outside deck seating areas and it is common to find decks or plazas on high-rise structures for tenant use with garden areas. Many hotels in major cities will turn these areas into an extension of their recreational activities with tennis and/or basketball courts.

While environmental issues and awareness have recently put these designs to the forefront, their uses have been around for over 100 years. Rooftop garden use has become prominent in Europe and other parts of the world due to explicit governmental regulations. At least one-hundred-fifty-million square feet of green roof systems have been installed in Germany where many city planning authorities require it for flat roofs.

Green roof systems have also been widely used in Switzerland, Italy, France, Scotland, Monaco and Scandinavia. The use in the United States has been extensive in California and New York.

There is no denying the aesthetic values of rooftop garden construction. Rooftop gardens virtually transpose the single most mundane component of a building (the roof ) and add life, beauty and an array of colors that can be pleasing to the building occupants, and in some instances, similarly pleasing to the occupants in surrounding buildings. As the use of these constructions in the United States expands, it becomes essential that building owners and facility managers become familiar with their weatherproofing capacity.

Rooftop garden construction poses an array of circumstances that mirrors plaza waterproofing more than conventional roof systems. The constant presence of moisture in the system, always avoided in conventional roof systems, increases the reliance of a properly designed membrane system. The economical and logistical problems associated with membrane repairs, even repairs that are relatively minor in nature, further intensifies the reliance of the waterproofing system in this type of construction. The rooftop garden is installed for aesthetics; the membrane is applied as a permanent waterproofing surface that must also meet the stringent requirements of the garden design.

Waterproofing

Rooftop garden construction consists of two equally important phased applications: the waterproofing application and the garden assembly. The ultimate success of a rooftop garden depends largely on the proper design and installation of these applications.

There are three waterproofing design elements that are essential to the success of the system:

  1. Support of added weight to the building. There has to be an inherent compatibility of the rooftop garden with the structure that it is applied on.
  2. Integrity of the waterproofing membrane and system.
  3. Location and size of the roof drains.

The waterproofing application in rooftop garden construction typically mirrors that of plaza deck waterproofing. In this context the waterproofing membrane is applied at the bottom of the system, in a protected or inverted state. It is the
opinion of this author that inverted membrane application is best suited for this type of system construction.

This opinion is based on findings of research conducted of rooftop garden assemblies constructed throughout the world over the past seventy years. In this configuration the inverted membrane is protected from garden components, tools and, to some degree, plant roots.

Membrane Considerations

The time and expense associated with the repairs of the membrane prohibit the use of an “economical” 15 to 20 year membrane system. The membrane system must be durable enough to resist mechanical damage from gardening tools, the penetration of plant roots and last, without repair or replacement, for the life of the building. It is essential that the designer consider membrane systems that have worked within this configuration in previously successful applications.

Membrane systems that are new to the roofing industry do not have the performance record required for these applications. It may be advantageous to consider the use of below-grade waterproofing materials, which are typically installed in inverted plaza deck construction, as opposed to roofing materials that are applied in warm roof (insulation over deck) configurations, for these applications. There is a common misnomer that roofing and belowgrade waterproofing products are similar. This misconception comes from a small number of materials that have achieved success in both building component areas. In reality, the requirements of these components end at their waterproofing capacity.

Roof membrane materials are constantly exposed to weathering elements, sun, wind, rain, snow, ice, etc. For the most part, water build-up is removed from these areas within 48 to 72 hours, with prolonged exposure concentrated to cold climate winter months. Roof system materials generally have a service life of 10 to 20 years prior to the institution of remedial actions. Their remedial construction, whether it is removal or replacement, can be accomplished utilizing routine construction methods with minor (in most cases) inconveniences in the building due to ease of accessibility to the roof.

Below-grade waterproofing products are not exposed to weathering elements; however, they are exposed to constant water buildup, which in garden construction could exist for two to three continual months due to saturated soil. Belowgrade waterproofing systems are also continually exposed to ground and soil chemicals. Properly applied waterproofing systems can have a service life that matches the life of the building. This is an important characteristic, because unlike roofing, the waterproofing materials are inaccessible and the expenses associated with repairs and replacement are substantial, primarily due to excavation costs.

Rooftop garden membrane construction consists of three components:

  1. The waterproofing membrane
  2. Protection Board
  3. Insulation

Waterproofing Membrane

The waterproofing membrane is the major component in this type of construction. The membrane material must possess, as it’s primary characteristic, the ability to prevent moisture from entering the facility. This key element should take precedence in the system design over plant type and layout. The rooftop garden is installed for aesthetics; the membrane is applied as a permanent waterproofing surface that will also meet the stringent requirements of the garden design. It is imperative that the membrane meets the highest material standards.

Rooftop gardens require a membrane that meets the following characteristics:

  • resists root penetration
  • resists ultraviolet rays
  • can withstand severe temperature changes and atmospheric conditions
  • is flexible to meet building movement at construction joints and intersections with vertical elements
  • resists surface wear during construction
  • can withstand attacks by insects and microorganisms, subsoil animals, and soil chemicals
  • can stay in place over an indefinite life span without deterioration
  • prevents water penetration
  • can remain submerged in wet conditions for substantial periods of time

There are materials and systems on the U.S. market which have these properties and performed in these configurations for 30 or more years. As with all roofing and waterproofing applications, be leery of all manufacturers that provide system warranties that are longer than they have been on the U.S. market. The best way to access material performance is to visit similar projects and talk with building occupants about the waterproofing performance of the materials.

Planting Medium & Top Dressing

There are various forms of soil composition that are suited for rooftop gardens. The success of the plantings often depends on the types and depths of the planting medium. This type of composition is above the scope of this paper. A landscape architect or consultant should be contacted for these design requirements.

John A. D’Annunzio is President of Paragon Roofing Technology, Inc. a roofing and waterproofing consulting firm he started in 1989. He has been involved with the largest garden roof assemblies in the world and is author of four roofing and waterproofing books.

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John A. D’Annunzio

John A. D’Annunzio is President of Paragon Roofing Technology, Inc. a roofing and waterproofing consulting firm he started in 1989. He has been involved with the largest garden roof assemblies in the world and is author of four roofing and waterproofing books.

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Category: Building Envelope & Facade Access, Building Envelope & Facade Access Intelligence

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