Types of Green Roof
Choose for the building, the planting and the people who will care for it.
System selection
Extensive, semi-intensive and intensive
These categories describe different planting and management approaches, not a guarantee of performance. Substrate depth, saturated loading and species selection must be specified for the project.
| Consideration | Extensive | Semi-intensive | Intensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planting | Sedum, selected wildflowers and low-growing species | A wider mix of grasses, perennials and suitable shrubs | Garden planting, potentially including trees where designed |
| Build-up | Generally shallower | Intermediate or varied depths | Generally deeper, with greater structural demands |
| Upkeep | Lower input; still requires inspection and care | Regular horticultural management | Garden-like care and irrigation planning |
| Typical purpose | Living cover and habitat without routine recreational use | More varied roof landscaping and planting | Designed roof gardens and amenity spaces |
Start with your priorities
What should guide the choice?
For a home or existing roof
Start with structural capacity, waterproofing condition and maintenance access. Decide whether you want living cover or a usable garden before selecting the planting. An extensive system may be an option, but only after suitability checks.
For a development or specification
Coordinate habitat objectives, drainage, roof loading, fire requirements and irrigation early. Roof zones may need different build-ups; a single type does not have to cover the whole scheme.
Brown or biodiverse roofs describe an ecological approach rather than a fourth loading category. Habitat features and locally appropriate planting can be incorporated into a designed roof system.
Your next step
Choose your roof system with confidence.
Tell us the project location, approximate roof area, whether it is a new or existing roof, and what you want it to achieve. Drawings and your current project stage help us give more relevant guidance.
Discuss your roof with our team