The Benefits of Green Roof

July 18, 2017

Considering getting a green roof will not only ultimately be the environment friendly choice, but also the cheaper option in the long run. Not only can it benefit you on saving money when it comes to cooling and heating costs but also a few advantages to the neighborhood as well.

According to the 2015 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors, replacing roofing of an average 2,450-square-foot, two-story house has a national median cost of $7,600. If you are planning on selling, you might as well expect a hearty return.

Other than that, remodeling your roof not only helps keep money in your pocket but also keeps homeowners satisfied with the over-all look of their house.

On a sunny summer day, a typical roof can get 100 degrees hotter than the outside air. But a cool roof, which has the ability to reflect sunlight and does not hold onto heat, will stay just a little above air temperature. Given that, it can lower your air conditioning costs by up to 15%.

What is a Green Roof?

A green roof, also called a garden roof, is one covered with plants growing in a thin layer of soil over a waterproofing layer. Popular in Europe, such roofs are still a boutique choice, especially on houses.

Planting your roof is an expensive proposition, but it has many benefits. Green roofs insulate well, lower air-conditioning costs, help prevent floods by reducing storm runoff and last a long time. New modular systems make installation relatively easy. Plastic grids fit together, keeping soil and plants in place even on sloped roofs. The materials cost about $10 a square foot, or $15 to $30 a square foot if you order them pre-loaded with soil and plants.

There are always two sides of a coin and weight is an issue, so you might also need to invest in strengthening your roof structure. The lightest systems, with just enough soil for low-growing sedum, a kind of succulent, start around 11 pounds a square foot when saturated with rain, compared with 2 1/2 to 3 pounds for composition shingles and 8 pounds for slate.