Friday, October 15, 2010

Roof Garden Design 101




Finally, your standard roof is protected by UV rays from the sun, and from other elements by your green roof, and therefore will last longer. What water runoff does escape is potentially filtered and therefore cleaner than that from traditional roofs. The first is that they attract birds and small animals and offer potential habitats; also, they greatly decrease the amount of rainwater runoff, which is blamed for much of the pollution in our rivers and lakes.

Rooftop gardens are environmentally friendly for a couple of reasons. In the summertime, it will decrease the amount of hot air that passes into the home through your roof, and in the winter, warm air is inhibited from escaping. Indoor climate control is one of the major benefits to having a living rooftop. What are the benefits to installing a rooftop garden?

Additional costs can be expected for the first couple of years for maintenance and the potential need for construction to create access to the roof. If your roofing project is complex, or if you install a system for irrigation, this, too, will drive up the cost of your green roof. Additional costs may be incurred if you choose to use an expert to design and initiate your roofing project. These costs will depend on the structure of your roof and the necessity of structural reinforcement in order to sustain the weight of a garden roof.

The costs are between $8.00 and $25.00 more per square foot than installing a traditional structure. What costs are associated with installing a rooftop garden?

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