How Do Green Roofing Systems Work?

While a traditional roof is designed to keep water off and heat away, green roof technology is designed to do exactly the opposite. A green roof, or eco-roof, is intended to hold a certain amount of water. Why? Because water is needed to support the plant life growing on the top layer. A green roof is true to its name.

The roof has always been a topic of much debate. It is in constant contact with the sun. This means that it absorbs quite a bit of heat and energy. More energy is needed to keep the home or building cool beneath. They believe the eco-roof is the solution they have been searching for for years.

What Is A Green Roof?

A green roof is green because it has vegetation growing. The green roof technology is designed in several layers to get the best use of all available space. It works for homes and buildings alike. It was actually developed as far back as the ’60s but has only recently evolved to become so popular, affordable, and efficient.

The first layer of the eco-roof lays against the existing structure of the roof. It is there to seal the building and prevent any water from leaking inside. It’s either synthetic material or a metal layer. The next layer is a drainage layer which allows some degree of water to properly escape the roof.

The next layer is the filter and protection layer. It is used to ensure that none of the plant life growing on the layer above penetrates the bottom membrane, thus causing a leak. Finally, the top layer is added, which is where the plants themselves are grown.

Introducing the Wallbarn M-TRAY®

The major advantage to the M-TRAY® system is the “clip-on” nature of the installation. The fuss, time and skill required to install the correct amount of substrate and the correct drainage layers one-by-one, to the correct level and in the correct order is removed as M-TRAY® comes as a complete kit. All the measuring and propagating has been carried out by Wallbarn. All installers need to do is click the trays together.

M-TRAY® modules are so easy to handle. One module can be carried easily by one person and none of the contents will move or spill out during transport and installation. This leads to less mess and less damage to the plants.

Unlike with roll-out systems, if there are problems with the deck beneath and inspection is ever required, an individual M-TRAY® module or a small section can easily be lifted out without the minimum of disruption to the deck. With loose lay systems, tonnes of loose aggregate has to be dug out to access the deck, causing a risk of further damage to the structure beneath and destruction of the plants, leading to material replacement and labour costs.

For more about the new, improved design for the M-TRAY® modular green roof system for 2016 please check out the video below: