Xero Flor Offers a Roll-Out Green Roof Solution

There is no shortage of reasons for putting a green roof atop your next apartment development. Vegetated surfaces deflect solar radiation, keeping your asset cooler during warm months (which will reduce your utility bill). Green roofs have also been shown to retain between 60 and 100 percent of rainfall (depending on the location), making them an effective tool for managing stormwater in urban infill locations. They can also extend the life of your roof by blocking UV radiation and reducing temperature reduction.

There are also several benefits to the environment unrelated to the performance of your asset. Green roofs bring green space back to urban areas, and provide a living environment for various forms of wildlife. They also absorb airborne pollutants, and return oxygen to the atmosphere. Finally, green roofs are simply aesthetically pleasing and can turn unused roof space into a relaxing retreat for your residents.

Putting a green roof in place isn’t as difficult as one would think. You don’t have to plant anything. In fact, Xero Flor offers a turnkey green roof solution that is manufactured and grown in the U.S. on independent farms. The Xero Flor Green Roof System uses pre-vegetated mats based on German technology that was subject to more than 40 years of research and development.

The system consists of a top layer of sedum and moss vegetation growing medium on a flexible textile carrier. The next layer is an aggregate growing medium mixed specifically for green roof systems. Under that is a water retention fleece made of non-woven fabric that distributes and stores water within the roof zone. Beneath that is a drain mat, that allows the excess water to drain below the vegetated layer. Finanally, all the way at the bottom, there is a root barrier comprised of a durable plastic layer that rests on top of the roof’s waterproofing membrane to prevent root encroachment.