Over the weekend, we met a young couple that owns a Chicago greystone. As they've put money into restoring and repairing their building, they've been trying to go green when budget allows. One of the potential projects on their list was a green roof, so we spent some time with them discussing a simple and cost-efficient way to install a green roof on a flat-topped building: the modular tray system...
With a modular tray system, drainage palettes filled with lightweight rock and ground-cover are laid out like tiles on top of the roof. It's an extremely efficient system that's also easy to maintain. A green roof cuts down on heat absorption and naturally cleans runoff, extending the roof's longevity. We haven't researched exact costs, although we do know that new modular technologies are bringing down the price of green roofs and making them more accessible.
We did a little research and found a direct supplier here in the Midwest: LiveRoof. LiveRoof's modules come pre-planted, and they do the installation for you. They've completed many installations in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. For pricing, contact their Midwestern office.
A few more resources if you're interested in a modular green roof:
• Water Not Required: Green Roof Blocks
• Good Questions: Green Roof Worries
• How Do Green Roofs Work?
• Green Roof? from Danny Seo's blog
If you've had direct experience with a modular green roof, let us know in the comments below.
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any companies make these for pitched roofs?
also, any on the west coast? SF bay?
view chris_94131's profile
A couple places sell this particular green roof in California:
http://www.liveroof.com/pg/grower_map.php#ca
view hessilou's profile
Anyone know of similar companies in New England?
view siobhan.'s profile
There's also Green Grid in the midwest; somewhat similar to live roof. There is one right next to the el at Montrose (the dead dying and brown one on the CTA Substation roof to the west of the tracks).
view dn's profile
FYI -- There's a great green roof group in DC. Greenworks is a non-profit that designs and installs green roofs and serves as a job training program.
http://www.dcgreenworks.org/
view hillgirl's profile
I just installed a 8 foot by 14 foot area of green roof on our rooftop using the Green Grid system this weekend. They offer a DIY kit for homeowners. You do the installation yourself and each module is 2 feet by 2 feet and comes with the plastic tray, a bag of lightweight potting mix, and 9 sedum plants. They offer a few different plant "mixes" based on the type of sedum plants you want. The modules were easy to install/plant and once the plants fill in I think it will look great.
http://www.greengridroofs.com/
view darwin's profile
Green roofs are really cool :) The house I'm building will have green roof on a part of the roof, the rest will be tin roof. I live in Sweden and will buy my green roof from
Vegtech http://www.vegtech.se/
or
Nyfam http://nyfam.se/index.cfm?id=15&l=2
view LindaS's profile