Assessment and design process
For retrofits, the first step is to contract a structural engineer to assess the loading capacity of the roof. For new construction, extra loading capacity should be incorporated into the structural design.
Once the roof’s structural constraints are defined, our team will help identify the building owner's vision and establish clear design objectives, taking into consideration budgetary constraints, performance goals and maintenance expectations. These factors help to identify the best system type for each individual project.
We then conduct a site analysis to assess critical environmental factors such as sun, wind, shade, regional climate, micro climate and precipitation in order to determine what plants to use and where to source them from. We assess roof type, slope, waterproof membrane, flashing details and rooftop equipment. Slopes greater than 10° require additional engineering, and slopes greater than 40° are treated as green walls and are considerably more expensive.
Please note: roofs must have a hydrostatic waterproofing membrane in order to support a green roof. Hydrodynamic roofs which shed water, such as shingles, will not work. Some membranes work better under a green roof then others. Please contact us to discuss your options. A best practice is to build a green roof on top of a new, high-quality membrane. A properly installed green roof will last over 50 years without any leaks, two to three times the lifespan of a standard roof.
Our designer’s final step is to consult directly with builders and product suppliers to ensure their designs can be achievable and within budget.
Once the roof’s structural constraints are defined, our team will help identify the building owner's vision and establish clear design objectives, taking into consideration budgetary constraints, performance goals and maintenance expectations. These factors help to identify the best system type for each individual project.
We then conduct a site analysis to assess critical environmental factors such as sun, wind, shade, regional climate, micro climate and precipitation in order to determine what plants to use and where to source them from. We assess roof type, slope, waterproof membrane, flashing details and rooftop equipment. Slopes greater than 10° require additional engineering, and slopes greater than 40° are treated as green walls and are considerably more expensive.
Please note: roofs must have a hydrostatic waterproofing membrane in order to support a green roof. Hydrodynamic roofs which shed water, such as shingles, will not work. Some membranes work better under a green roof then others. Please contact us to discuss your options. A best practice is to build a green roof on top of a new, high-quality membrane. A properly installed green roof will last over 50 years without any leaks, two to three times the lifespan of a standard roof.
Our designer’s final step is to consult directly with builders and product suppliers to ensure their designs can be achievable and within budget.