Green Roofing Installation
A living roof done properly, correctly loaded, drained and root-resistant, with planting matched to your goals.
Extensive green roofs use a shallow substrate, around 80mm for plug or cutting-grown sedum, or around 60mm under a pre-grown sedum blanket, and are low maintenance with the lightest structural loading. Intensive green roofs use a much deeper substrate that can support larger planting, shrubs or even lawn, but come with significantly higher loading and irrigation requirements, effectively a roof garden.
Since February 2024, most major UK developments must deliver a minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, and green roofs are recognised as one way to contribute, though a basic sedum-mat-only roof scores relatively low under the Biodiversity Metric, while species-rich or wildflower builds score significantly higher. Sherford Roofing installs green roof systems across Plymouth and Devon, from a simple sedum blanket to a BNG-focused biodiverse build.
Our Process
Structural Assessment
Loading is calculated including the wet weight of the growing medium, green roofs are significantly heavier than a standard membrane roof.
Waterproof Membrane
A root-resistant waterproof membrane is installed as the base layer.
Drainage & Substrate
A drainage and water-retention layer, filter fleece, and growing substrate are built up to the specified depth.
Planting
A pre-grown sedum blanket is the fastest, most common domestic route, or a wildflower/biodiverse mix where BNG credit matters.
Since February 2024, most major developments in England must deliver a minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, assessed under the Biodiversity Metric, species-rich and wildflower green roof builds score notably higher than a plain sedum blanket where BNG credit is a project requirement.
Green Roofing Installation FAQs
It needs checking, green roofs are significantly heavier than a standard membrane roof, especially when wet, so a structural loading assessment is the essential first step before specifying the system.
Extensive roofs use a shallow substrate for low-maintenance sedum planting with the lightest loading; intensive roofs use a much deeper substrate that can support larger planting or lawn, but need significantly higher structural capacity and ongoing irrigation.
It can contribute, but a basic sedum-mat-only roof scores relatively low under the Biodiversity Metric, species-rich or wildflower green roof builds score significantly higher and are increasingly specified where BNG credit is needed.
Need Green Roofing Installation?
Free estimates across Plymouth and Devon. Bauder certified, Checkatrade vetted, honest advice every time.
Or call our office: 01752 741888