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| Tremco: Green Roofs |
| Water buildup can also create pressure on the roof |
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Water buildup can also create pressure on the roof, leading to structural problems. TREMDrain GR consists of a high compressive strength plastic core with holes in the upper surface. The core acts as a water reservoir, allowing excess water to flow through open drainage channels to drainage outlets such as scuppers, gutter edges and roof drains where they will be transported off the roof. A core that is 1/2” thick will typically provide water flow equal to or better than several inches of heavy aggregate.
Fabrics are attached to the top and bottom of plastic core. The top fabric allows water to pass into the drainage core while restricting the movement of soil particles and root growth. The bottom has tall grasses, meadow plants, shrubs and even small trees.
Fabric provides protection to the Waterproofing Membrane. Standard fabric is a non-woven filter fabric that restricts soil particles. A fabric treated with copper hydroxide to stop roots and simultaneously promote the growth of new feeder roots may also be specified.
A variety of natural and manufactured materials may be used as a growing medium. Working with an approved source of growing medium and plant, soil is often mixed with other materials to reduce weight, provide better structure for roots and provide essential nutrients, water and oxygen. The two basic types of green roofs have very different requirements.
The Intensive System, which is designed to be accessible and is often used as a park or building amenity, has large plants with extensive root structures that demand a growing medium of greater than 6” and weights reaching up to 50 pounds per square foot.
The Extensive System, which is primarily built for environmental benefits only, has plants with shallow root growth and demands as little as 2”-1/2” of growing medium.
Green roofs will only function if the vegetation is successful. Succulents and other low growing plants capable of storing water in either fleshy leafs bulbs or roots are most commonly used. For the Extensive Systems, plants selected must be those that can adapt to alpine conditions with little soil, no water, high winds and high sun exposure. Intensive Systems can support a broader variety of
LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, awards green roofs one rating point for landscape to reduce heat islands if the green roof is used for at least 50 percent of the roof area and one point for storm-water management that meets LEED criteria.
Fabrics are attached to the top and bottom of plastic core. The top fabric allows water to pass into the drainage core while restricting the movement of soil particles and root growth. The bottom has tall grasses, meadow plants, shrubs and even small trees.
Fabric provides protection to the Waterproofing Membrane. Standard fabric is a non-woven filter fabric that restricts soil particles. A fabric treated with copper hydroxide to stop roots and simultaneously promote the growth of new feeder roots may also be specified.
A variety of natural and manufactured materials may be used as a growing medium. Working with an approved source of growing medium and plant, soil is often mixed with other materials to reduce weight, provide better structure for roots and provide essential nutrients, water and oxygen. The two basic types of green roofs have very different requirements.
The Intensive System, which is designed to be accessible and is often used as a park or building amenity, has large plants with extensive root structures that demand a growing medium of greater than 6” and weights reaching up to 50 pounds per square foot.
The Extensive System, which is primarily built for environmental benefits only, has plants with shallow root growth and demands as little as 2”-1/2” of growing medium.
Green roofs will only function if the vegetation is successful. Succulents and other low growing plants capable of storing water in either fleshy leafs bulbs or roots are most commonly used. For the Extensive Systems, plants selected must be those that can adapt to alpine conditions with little soil, no water, high winds and high sun exposure. Intensive Systems can support a broader variety of
LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, awards green roofs one rating point for landscape to reduce heat islands if the green roof is used for at least 50 percent of the roof area and one point for storm-water management that meets LEED criteria.

