Roofing solutions
Green and bio-diverse roof systems
Roof systems that support biodiversity and improve energy efficiency, turning dead roof area into habitat.
A green roof adds a growing medium and planting layer over a robust waterproofing and root-barrier build-up. Extensive systems are shallow, light and effectively self-maintaining; intensive systems carry deeper substrate and a wider planting palette, and need a structure designed for the load.
Beyond the ecological case, green roofs attenuate rainwater run-off, moderate the temperature of the roof surface and extend the life of the waterproofing beneath by shielding it from UV and thermal cycling. They frequently form part of a planning condition or a BREEAM assessment.
The build-up, top to bottom.
What each layer is there to do. The exact products are specified against the building, not before it.
Planting and growing medium
Sedum and wildflower for extensive; deeper substrate and a wider palette for intensive
Filter and drainage layer
Holds water for the plants, lets the excess away, keeps fines out of the outlets
Root barrier
Protects the waterproofing from what is growing above it
Waterproofing and insulation
A robust membrane build-up, specified for a roof that will not be easy to inspect
Deck
Checked for the saturated load before anything is specified
Where this is the right system.
- Planning conditions requiring biodiversity net gain
- Rainwater attenuation and SuDS strategies
- Buildings targeting BREEAM or similar ratings
- Overlooked roofs where the view matters
How a roof is delivered.
The same four steps for every system, because the system is the answer to the survey, not the other way round.
Survey what is there
Core samples, moisture readings, a look at the deck and the drainage. A specification written without a survey is a guess with a guarantee attached.
Specify against the building
The system is chosen for the structure, the use below it and the constraints of getting it installed - not from a preferred supplier list. We tell you what we would specify and why.
Install in phases if the building needs it
Temporary roofs, weather-tight at every stage, and a programme that keeps the floors below trading. At St David's the tenants never closed.
Hand over the guarantee position
Accessories, penetrations and finishes installed as part of the system rather than added afterwards, so the manufacturer's guarantee is intact on the day it starts.
Roofing projects.
Structural roof replacement and high-performance waterproofing, delivered above buildings that stayed open.
Other roofing systems.
Built-up felt systems
Durable multi-layer systems for flat roofs, offering a high-performance, weather-resistant solution at any scale.
Single-ply membranes
Flexible, lightweight and long-lasting, with strong resistance to weather, UV and other external forces.
Liquid waterproofing
A seamless, cold-applied waterproof layer for intricate roof shapes, penetrations and complex detailing.
Structural waterproofing
Protection for commercial and residential structures against water ingress and moisture damage below ground.
Need a roof specified as well as installed?
Send us the survey, the building use and the constraints. We will come back with the system we would specify and why, rather than with whatever we happen to buy cheapest.