Harnessing the Power of Green Roofs: A Deep Dive into Wallbarn’s Green Roof Systems

In the age of rapid urbanisation, green roofs have emerged as a sustainable solution to mitigate environmental issues. Wallbarn, a pioneer in green roofing technologies, offers a remarkable range of green roof options to create eco-friendly spaces in urban landscapes. Let’s explore Wallbarn’s unique green roof systems, their benefits, and installation process in detail.

Green Roofs: A Brief Overview

Green roofs, also known as living roofs, are a type of roofing system where the roof surface is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. They offer a range of environmental, economic, and aesthetic benefits, making them increasingly popular in both urban and rural settings.

Wallbarn: A Leader in Green Roofing

Wallbarn, with its years of experience in landscaping and green roofing technologies, has consistently innovated and developed new products and techniques to improve and enhance rooftop living. A proud member of the Green Roof Organisation (GRO), Wallbarn supports the updated GRO Code for green roofing, ensuring their products are aligned with the latest industry standards and best practices.

Benefits of Wallbarn’s Green Roof Systems

Wallbarn’s green roof systems offer a host of benefits, including:

Environmental Enhancement

Green roofs provide valuable habitats, attracting insects, invertebrates, and birdlife. They also absorb CO2, pollution, and dust particles, helping to combat the Urban Heat Island Effect.

Insulation

Green roofs reduce noise and vibration transmission while providing thermal insulation. They absorb solar heat, offering valuable cooling, and help in reducing energy consumption.

Rainwater Attenuation

The green roof systems absorb rainwater in the substrate, reducing the amount and speed of rainwater run-off, and delaying run-off before rainwater starts to escape from the roof. This lessens pressure on drainage systems and enhances water harvesting systems.

Protecting the Structure and Waterproofing Layer

The green roof system protects the waterproofing layer from UV damage, impact, abrasion, and infestations from plants and birds. It also reduces the temperature of the waterproofing layer, minimising surface thermal movement.

Enhancing the Development Footprint

The green roofs provide additional green space, improve BREEAM ratings, and bring a sense of open space to high-density environments. They can also increase the property’s value and aid in the planning permission process.

Easy Installation

Wallbarn’s green roof systems are designed for easy, non-complex installation, improving speed and reducing costs.

Wallbarn’s M-Tray® Modular Green Roof System

Wallbarn’s M-Tray® modular green roof system is a revolutionary product that makes the installation of green roofs easier, with less disruption to the plants and the structure.

Why Choose Modular?

The main advantages of the modular system over roll-out green roof systems include convenience, speed of installation, futureproofing, and instant results. With M-Tray®, you can install a green roof much faster than traditional roll-out methods, and as each module is 500 x 500mm, it can be easily carried by one operative even to hard-to-access areas.

The Design of M-Tray®

The M-Tray® has been designed with careful considerations for the extensive green roof market. The modules have less drainage holes than previous versions to retain water within the green roof system for longer, allowing the plants to absorb more rainfall. The module edges do not have drainage holes to prevent the vegetation from dying back at the edges, ensuring stronger plant growth.

Step-by-Step Installation of M-Tray®

The M-Tray® modules are transported to the site on shrink-wrapped pallets for easy, clean delivery. They can be craned safely onto the roof if necessary. A separation and filtration geotextile layer should be installed onto the deck to protect the waterproofing. The modules can then be placed down and clicked together to form a seamless green roof.

Roll-Out Extensive Green Roofs

Besides the modular system, Wallbarn also offers roll-out extensive green roofs, a simple, low-maintenance sedum green roof system where each element is supplied separately and installed layer by layer.

Biodiverse Roof Systems

Wallbarn also offers biodiverse roofs, where seeds or plants are introduced into the substrate at the time of construction. These roofs support a variety of plant and animal life, positively impacting all ecosystems and helping bees and other pollinators play their crucial roles.

Conclusion

Green roofs are a versatile and cost-effective solution for bringing nature back into urban spaces. They not only enhance the aesthetics of buildings but also provide a range of environmental and economic benefits. Wallbarn’s green roof systems, with their easy installation and low maintenance, are a great choice for those looking to adopt sustainable practices in their construction projects.