Green roofs installation in Montreal

Would you like to have a green roof in Montreal...

Increasingly common on the island of Montreal, green roofs are partially or fully covered with vegetation and soil, and sometimes include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage layer.

Green roofs can help insulate a building, reduce energy consumption (very practical in Montreal), filter rainwater, improve air quality, create wildlife habitat and extend the life of the roof.

There are two main types of green roofs: intensive and extensive. Intensive green roofs are thicker and can accommodate more plants than extensive green roofs. They are often found in urban areas where there is less space for landscaping on the ground.

Extensive green roofs are thinner and weigh less per square foot than intensive green roofs. They often include native plants that require little maintenance once established.

Green roofs can be installed on new or existing buildings. If you are installing a green roof on an existing building, it is important to ensure that the structure can support the additional weight of the vegetation and soil.

The type of vegetation you choose will depend on the climate, available sunlight, water requirements and desired appearance.

Installing a green roof on a Montreal building can be costly as it requires special materials and expertise. However, many people find that the benefits outweigh the costs.

Green roofs, an urban trend from the 20th century

The use of green roofs in cities has a long history. In ancient times, the rooftops of many urban dwellings were used to grow crops or keep livestock.

This practice continued into the medieval period in Europe, where it was common for houses to have flat roofs that were covered with soil and planted with gardens. In some cases, these rooftop gardens were quite elaborate, featuring fountains, sculptures, and even trees.

The modern concept of the green roof began to take shape in the early 20th century. German architect Heinz Mebusch proposed using living vegetation to cover the roofs of buildings in order to protect them from weather damage and reduce noise pollution.

Mebusch’s ideas were further developed by Austrian architect Fritz Eckinger, who designed several successful green roofs in Vienna during the 1930s.

Eckinger’s work inspired others to experiment with plant-covered rooftops; by the 1950s there were numerous examples of green roofs around Europe and North America. However, it was not until the 1970s that interest in this type of architecture really took off.

This was due in part to an increased awareness of environmental issues (such as air pollution and energy conservation), as well as advances in technology that made it easier to construct green roofs without compromising the structural integrity of buildings.

Today there are hundreds of examples of green roofs all over the world; they can be found on office towers, shopping malls, schools, hospitals… even airports!

As more people become aware of their benefits (both environmental and economic), it is likely that we will see even more widespread adoption of this type of sustainable architecture in cities around the globe.

The benefits of green roofs in a city like Montreal...

One of the most significant benefits of a green roof is the improvement in insulation it can provide. By creating an extra layer of vegetation on top of the roof, heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer is reduced. This results in lower heating and cooling costs for the building, as well as reduced emissions from HVAC systems.

In addition to providing better insulation, green roofs can also help manage stormwater runoff. By absorbing rainfall, they reduce the amount of water that flows off the roof and into drains or sewers. This helps to prevent flooding and erosion, while also recharging groundwater supplies. Green roofs can also delay and filter rainwater before it reaches the ground, improving water quality overall.

Finally, green roofs can increase energy efficiency by reducing the “urban heat island” effect. The dark surfaces of traditional roofs absorb sunlight and radiate heat back into the atmosphere, leading to higher temperatures in urban areas.

Green roofs reflect more sunlight away from buildings, helping to keep things cooler overall. This not only reduces air conditioning costs but also has positive public health effects by decreasing smog formation and related respiratory problems.

The disadvantages of a green roof in general

One disadvantage is that green roofs can be expensive to install and maintain. The initial cost of installing a green roof can be up to twice as much as a traditional roof. Furthermore, the vegetation on a green roof requires regular maintenance, including watering, fertilizing, and trimming.

Another disadvantage of green roofs is that they can add significant weight to a building. This extra weight can put stress on the structure of the building and make it more likely to collapse in an earthquake or high winds.

Finally, green roofs can attract pests such as rodents and birds which can damage the vegetation or create messes on the roof itself.

If you have any questions about your green roof project in Montreal, do not hesitate to contact us at (514) 600-4891. It will be our pleasure to discuss with you and answer all your questions.