Spotting Roof Trouble Early

Commercial Roofing: Exploring The Pros And Cons Of A Living Roof

10 June 2015 by William Gerard

Living, or green roofs, have become increasingly popular within the commercial roofing industry. This is because these unique roofing systems offer many benefits that other roofing systems simply cannot. However, like all commercial roofing options, there are also some cons that come along with choosing a living roof. Below you will learn more about both these pros and cons so that you can decide for yourself whether or not a living roof is right for your commercial building.

The Pros

• Reduce Urban Heat Island Effect - The urban heat island effect is the result of heat being trapped being large buildings in an urban area. This effect can cause the temperature surrounding these buildings to be much higher than the temperature in more rural locations in the same area. By absorbing a great deal of the carbon monoxide that contributes to the heat island effect, a living roof can help to reduce this effect and lower the temperature surrounding your commercial property.
• Appeal To New Customer Base - Many environmentally conscious consumers will choose to do business with companies who also show a respect for the impact their business has on the environment. By choosing an eco-friendly roofing option, such as a living roof, you will be able to more effectively market your products and services to this new customer base.
• Extend Life Of Roofing Materials - By providing an extra layer of protection for your base roofing materials, a living roof will be able to significantly extend the life of these materials.
• Low Long Term Maintenance Requirements - Once the vegetation on your living roof is well established, this roofing system will require very little, if any, maintenance.

The Cons

• Upfront Cost - Due to the need to buy and install soil substrate and vegetation on top of your base roofing materials, the installation of a living roof can be substantially more expensive than other commercial roofing options.
• Increased Animal Activity - Birds, insects, and other animals may be attracted to the vegetation on your roof, as this plant life represents a constant food source for them. This can result in a dramatic increase in the animal activity both on and around your commercial property.
• Initial Maintenance - While a living roof will require very little maintenance over the years, it will be considered high maintenance during the first few months after installation. This is because the vegetation on your living roof will require constant care in order to establish healthy root systems that can stand up to the test of time.

The Bottom Line

There are many factors that will need to be considered when deciding whether or not to install a living roof on your commercial building. For instance, you will need to consider your roofing budget, your ability to commit to short term maintenance requirements, and the location of your commercial property. For more information on how each of these factors can influence your decision to install a living roof, be sure to contact a commercial roofing contractor such as Kramer Wm & Son Inc in your local area to schedule an onsite consultation.

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