Sloped green roofs in Florida, 3-D Mats and Hurricanes

Extensive Green Roof Mat System Cutaway Section

Here is an interesting photo of a Florida extensive green roof - 2-4" thick on a 5/12 slope (built in 2005) with a HDPE root barrier.  A portion of the vegetated roof has been removed for root barrier inspection and root behavioral studies.  The plants are growing in a soil filled woven mat and the roots are thick into the mat.  Once the roots reach the liner they turn and grow parallel with the liner's surface.

Florida is subject to summer tropical storms and hurricanes.  Wind speeds of over one hundred miles per hour are typically seen across rooftop systems during these weather events.

Three dimensional mats serve multiple purposes in green roof systems.

First, the mat holds soil media in place on both flat and sloped roofs.

Second, the mat allows for green roof and living wall plant roots to anchor to a permanently attached roofing component, reducing the potential for blow-off during wind events.

There are many materials a mat may be fabricated from, both natural and synthetic substances.

Consider a growing mat on your next green roof or living wall project.