On green roofs, maintenance makes the difference.
Professional care is the only way to keep your buildings’ green roof cost-effective and at optimal performance for the long term. Preventive maintenance catches potential issues early, avoiding costly and unnecessary repairs. Our highly skilled crews look for poor or blocked drainage that can lead to water pooling, leaks and mould. Crews check for plant stress, and if there are weeds or saplings, they need to go as they can quickly take over a green roof, damaging plants, and if left unchecked, can threaten the waterproofing membrane and the integrity of the system.
A dynamic, diagnostic green roof maintenance plan ensures that potential issues are prevented or quickly resolved. Doing things right saves time, money, and stress. You’ll see the difference maintenance makes.
Key elements to consider:
Property access: we coordinate maintenance visits with property management and schedule smooth and timely visits that work for the building and its occupants.
Access points: ensure that elevators and stairwells used to transport the crew, tools and materials to the green roof are safe.
Co-ordinated visits: essential on new construction sites where active trades can unintentionally damage green roof components.
Establishing plant coverage: new green roofs take about two years to mature and typically require seven seasonal visits from May to November.
Improves stormwater performance: the green roof effectively manages retention and slows runoff, which protects against flooding and minimizes waterway pollution.
Ensures full vegetative coverage: helps the building qualify for any available incentives or grants.
Prevents unwanted growth: invasive species won’t take over, optimizing plant health and the appearance and performance of the green roof.
Reduces unnecessary and costly repairs: assessment of irrigation, membrane, and drainage means potential issues don’t escalate.
Supports long-term structural integrity: preventing root intrusion protects the membrane and extends roof lifespan and property investment.
Better energy efficiency: vegetation density contributes to better insulation and better cooling.
Creates biodiversity: a stable habitat for pollinators, birds and other beneficial insects.
Do green roofs need maintenance?
Absolutely. Once the roots are established, they can be low maintenance, but there is no such thing as a maintenance free roof. Even conventional roofs require periodic check-ups to assess any damage that can lead to large repair costs down the road.
Ongoing maintenance guarantees that the plants are healthy, and the green roof is functioning according to manufacturer guidelines and warranties. Without regular maintenance we subject the roof to invasive species, overgrowth into vegetation free zones, erosion from wind exposure and nutrient deficiencies.
A maintenance program during the first few years after a roof is installed means upfront costs will result in lower maintenance down the road and a healthy green roof for decades.
Maintenance neglect during this period typically results in costly future vegetation replacement and other avoidable repairs.
What services does GINKGO offer for routine maintenance?
We are your one stop solution. Our services cover fertilization, dispersal of soil and mulch to combat erosion, weeding, irrigation, the clearing of root-free zones, and trimming as required. We will provide you with an automated report per visit to reflect the work done.
During routine visits, our team looks for any issues on the roof itself and is proactive with what needs to be done. Issues can run from pooling water, broken skylights or damaged siding. Our reports show our findings.
Every green roof is different. GINKGO does soil testing annually to assess and address nutrient levels with a fertilizer tailored to the roof. We specialize in large and small vegetation repairs to ensure full coverage and regenerative growth.
How often should my green roof receive maintenance?
We begin with a site assessment. This determines the health of the vegetation and roof system that was installed. The next step is a maintenance proposal outlining our recommendations based on the specific needs of the roof. Our packages can range from a bi-weekly maintenance visit to one every few months. Generally, we suggest a visit monthly from May to November. When a green roof is fully established site visits are typically four times a season.
How much should I budget for green roof maintenance?
The cost is always customized based on the roofs’ needs and is informed by multiple factors. There is rarely a “one size fits all” pricing as an estimate is based on design, site conditions, square meters covered, and the history of maintenance or the lack thereof.
As a starting point annual budget allocations range from $600 to $1,500 for small private residential projects, $2,000 to $6,000 for commercial green roofs and most multi-use residential buildings, and upwards of $15,000 to $30,000 for large and multiple green roofs on complexes like shopping malls and institutional buildings.
An upfront site assessment will best determine what needs to be done and how it can be achieved within your budget.
