If you’ve noticed a garden growing on your neighbor’s roof, or even on some of the commercial buildings in downtown Salem, don’t worry! If it’s a green roof, that’s perfectly normal. If it’s not, then you can (and should) worry about the health of the roof. Green roofing is a relatively new style of roofing that is becoming more popular in Oregon and across the globe. If you’re interested in growing a rooftop garden, contributing to cleaner air, and having a durable roofing system that leverages natural protection, continue reading to learn more about green roofing in Salem.
What is a green roof?
Due to how “fresh” the concept of green roofing in Salem is, many homeowners have heard the term but don’t quite understand what a green roof is. Basically, a green roof has a fire-resistant and insulating base layer installed under a roofing membrane that keeps the roof watertight. From there, each roof is different depending on the type of desired vegetation and a few other variables, but some roofs include irrigation systems and root barriers. On top of that, soil is laid and vegetation is planted. Note that some contractors may refer to green roofing as any type of sustainable roofing (solar, reflective, etc.)
Why green roofing in Salem?
Green roofing is great for the environment. It has been shown to reduce heating and cooling loads on a building by 50-90%, and they can even help fight against the heat island effect in cities. Additionally, they act as a natural filter: from air quality to rainwater, vegetation helps clean up what passes through it. In the event of storms, green roofs can help reduce rain runoff into public sewer systems. This reduces strain on public infrastructure by up to 75% as per research cited by the EPA. If you’re in an urban environment and lack space for a backyard garden, a rooftop garden can give you access to fresh produce that you otherwise might not have been able to grow on your own.
Financially speaking, studies have shown that a green roof could increase the real estate value of an average house by about 7%, green roofs greatly reduce the need to run additional heating and cooling expenses, and can even extend the lifespan of a roof by over 200% by acting as an additional barrier to the underlying waterproofing membrane.
As you can see, green roofing offers a plethora of benefits to home and business owners who opt to install them. They offer financial benefits as well as societal benefits, which means you’re getting the best of both worlds when you install an eco-friendly green roof on your Salem home or business. If you’re interested in working with a roofing contractor in Salem who has installed a number of green roofs, look no further: Slate & Slate Roofing is an expert green roofing contractor in Salem. If you would like an estimate, give us a call today at (503) 585-2338 or use the contact form on the top of our website for a quick and easy roofing estimate.
