One of the most amazing and fascinating things that the world of sustainable architecture has to offer is the green roof. And in today’s post you will understand the reason for this marvel and learn how to make a beautiful BERNINA 125th Anniversary Quilt-Along. But we already said here that you are at serious risk of falling in love with this system and wanting to take it home as well. Come with us that you will not regret: Until recently, the construction of a house was only for the future residents of the place. However, things have changed and the concern with more efficient systems that are less aggressive to the environment has led to the need for sustainable and ecological projects capable of benefiting the entire community surrounding the residence.
And the green roof fits perfectly in this perspective of sustainable construction. To give you an idea, green roofs are currently one of the greatest references of sustainable architecture in the world, second only to photovoltaic plates, an innovative system capable of capturing solar energy and transforming it into electrical energy, nowadays the plates Photovoltaic (also known as solar panels) has been widely used in homes.
Basically the green roof is a natural covering, usually made with grass (the most used option today), which covers the entire length of the house. In addition to being very aesthetic, the green roof has numerous environmental benefits that you will discover below.
Free Available Pattern: BERNINA 125th Anniversary Quilt-Along
How does the green roof work?
The green roof consists of seven layers of different materials responsible for maintaining the correct absorption of rainwater, heat exchange and plant survival. The first layer is the slab or roof itself. A waterproof membrane is placed on top of it so that the roof is protected against moisture so that there is no risk of leaks or the roof being damaged. The third layer is a barrier against roots. This step in the process is important to prevent plant roots from damaging the roof structure.
Then comes the drainage layer. This layer ensures that all excess rainwater is drained correctly, avoiding flooding on the structure, the rotting of plants and, of course, the infiltration of water into the interior of the residence (as mentioned above). After the drainage system comes the permeable fabric that allows the placement of the earth where, finally, a layer with about seven to eight centimeters of substrate is placed. At this stage, the roof is ready to receive the vegetation chosen by you, because you can choose what you want, it doesn’t necessarily have to be grass.
Although this process seems simple, it is very important to have the help of a qualified professional. It is he who will be responsible for assessing whether everything is correct, among other things, the correct drop of the roof, which must be at least 1.5% to ensure adequate flow and the slab structure that needs to be strong and resistant enough to resist the weight of the vegetation and not break. The green roof is a great thermal insulator, that is, it maintains an always pleasant temperature inside the residence, even excluding the need for air conditioning, which already helps a lot to save energy; In addition to thermal insulation, the green roof also has the function of acoustic insulation, thus preventing the proliferation of noise inside the house;
Are you enjoying it? Also check out these Free Patterns: