What's a Sedum Green Roof?

Sedum is a low-growing, shallow-rooted, perennial plant that is very tolerant of heat, sun, wind, drought, salt, disease and insects. The hardiness of this plant makes it a great option for green roof systems. A sedum green roof is generally comprised of a waterproof membrane, a drainage layer, and a blanket of planted sedum. Don't let the "green" roof name fool you - sedum is available in a range of colors.

The Advantages of Green Roofing

Green roofing offers a number of environmental and economic advantages over traditional roofing solutions. Chief among those advantages is increased insulation, which, in turn, reduces energy costs. Additional advantages of green roofing include:

• Increases roof lifespan
• Reduces storm water run off
• Filters pollutants from the air
• Reduces the urban heat island effect
• Beautification - Green roofs can include sedum, or a number of trees and shrubs that enhance the appearance of a building.

Why choose a Sedum Roof?

Relative to other green roof systems, a sedum roof requires minimal maintenance and is durable enough to be walked on without causing damage to the foliage. For this reason, a sedum green roof is often classified as "extensive" green roofing. Intensive green roofing uses a variety of plant species that can include trees and shrubs, require deeper layers of soil and are very high maintenance. In addition to low maintenance and durability, a sedum roof can be cultivated even on a sloped surface, whereas intensive roofing systems are generally limited to flat roofs.

If you are looking for a green commercial roofing system, contact Kirberg today to learn more about your options.