Depending on the source you look at these roofs may add 10 to 35 pounds per square foot to a roof s load.
Extensive roof garden plants.
When designing a functional and or designed extensive vegetative green roof the best types of plants are those that have a keen attribute to thrive in drought like conditions.
River rouge assembly plant considerations for plant selection factors in selecting plant material are design intent aesthetic appeal environmental conditions media composition and depth installation methods and maintenance.
A variation of the extensive green roof is called semi extensive.
A semi intensive green roof can give rise to a richer ecology with more diverse plant and animal species.
An extensive garden roof assembly can be applied to flat roofs and sloping roofs with a pitch of up to 12 12 or 45 provided the appropriate measures are taken to cope with the shear forces and soil retention.
A 10 4 acre extensive green roof in dearborn mich.
The extensive type of green roof by contrast have a soil depth of 50 150mm only support very drought tolerant plants no irrigation are too harsh an environment for most common weeds and so require very little maintenance.
Plant mixes are usually made up of hardy succulents that can thrive in a thin 4 or 6 inch growing medium profile with limited care and maintenance.
Extensive roofs are typically lightweight and can be installed over a variety of structures including metal roof decks.
It also allows for a formal garden to be installed with paths grass lawn and flowers or pot plants.
Given those advantages only the extensive green roof will be discussed here.
The extensive green roof.
Typically these roofs will have more soil and some small shrubs as well as the low growing wildflowers and sedums found on an extensive roof.