• Welcome
• What is green roofing?
  • Why install a green roof?
    What are the benefits?
• Is your roof suitable for a green roof?
• Basic design requirements
• Structural requirements
  • Loading
  • Roof deck
  • Falls and drainage
  • Drainage design - diagrams
• Aspect and exposure
• Construction
  • Build up - layers explained
  • Build up - diagram of layers
  • Protection against wind uplift
  • Wind uplift - edging diagrams
  • Detailing
• Safe access and maintenance
• Caring for your green roof
  • Feeding
• FAQs
• More about Enviromat sedum matting
• Sourcing materials
• Contact us
• Back to Wildlife & Countryside Services

Structural Requirements: Roof Deck

The deck structure must be capable of supporting both 'live' and 'dead' weight loads; If in doubt, consult an architect or a Structural Engineer.

The roof deck must be smooth - the green roof build-up doesn't mould easily to bumps and bulges and it is vital that there are no air pockets underneath the sedum matting; in other words, corrugated surfaces are not suitable for this type of green roof.

Dead loads = permanent components e.g.

• Waterproofing system
• Drainage matting
• Maximum saturated weight of Water retention blanket
• Maximum saturated weight of Sedum Blanket
• Fixings and edgings
• All related addition system components

Live loads = additional but changeable components e.g.

• Foot traffic during construction and maintenance
• Snow
• Wind