As the name suggests, green roofs are covered with living plants in place of the usual tiling. The plants, which can range from ground-covering evergreens and grasses to flowers, bushes and trees, provides shelter and protection in more ways than one. A green roof shields the building beneath from the weather and insulates it very efficiently, while providing the ideal habitat for a rich variety of wildlife.

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There are green roofs suitable for all kinds of buildings and locations. The Canary Wharf estate in London has several stunning examples of these ‘sky gardens’. Usually, people start out by having a green roof on their shed or garage, but green roofs for houses are becoming more popular. Roofing companies are rising to the challenge and many are now able to install these systems on both commercial and domestic properties.

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The latest techniques and state-of-the-art materials give a modern twist to this age-old idea which dates back to the dawn of history. A specially prepared soil is spread over layers of man-made membranes. These membranes are designed to let water drain away at exactly the right speed, reducing the risk of floods in a heavy downpour. They also prevent roots penetrating into the roof cavity and keep the building well-insulated. Green roofs weigh a lot more than ordinary roofing, especially when wet. If you are thinking of having one, you need to take this into account and take the necessary precautions. An experienced roofing contractor will be able to advise you about this.

Extensive green roofs tend to be the most popular with homeowners, largely because they are the most affordable and require minimum upkeep. Extensive systems are comparatively lighter, too. When it rains heavily or persistently, the water will soak into the soil and drain away slowly. Gutters and pipes have more time to divert the overflow, reducing the likelihood of damage. However, extensive systems can reach saturation point in a short time, so it is important to install an effective guttering and drainage system. The ideal plants for an extensive system are self-reliant, ground-covering plants such as sedum, which are planted in a thin layer of soil, around 20mm deep.

Semi-intensive green roofs can be planted with grasses and flowering perennials, particularly if you want butterflies, bees and other insects to visit regularly. The soil depth must be over 150mm. Semi-extensive systems need more time and effort spent on them than extensive systems, as perennial plants need regular watering in order to thrive.

Intensive green roofs need to be accessible for regular maintenance. Like a conventional garden, these ‘sky gardens’ can be planted with shrubs, herbaceous borders and trees in a layer of soil between 300mm to 450mm. The weight of an intensive system needs considerable support, which is why intensive systems are more usually seen on commercial properties.

Beautiful to behold, highly effective at insulating buildings and therefore cutting down on fuel consumption and carbon emissions, encouraging and nurturing wildlife …green roofs offer many benefits and definitely don’t cost the earth.