Green, Brown & Blue Roof Systems
Turn Your Roof Into an Asset That Works for Your Building — Not Just Sits on Top of It.
Green roofs for biodiversity. Brown roofs for habitat creation. Blue roofs for stormwater management. All designed and installed by waterproofing specialists who understand what goes beneath the planting.
The Waterproofing Is the Foundation
The most common failure point in any green, brown, or blue roof system isn't the planting \u2014 it's the waterproofing beneath it. Once substrate, drainage layers, and vegetation are installed, the membrane is buried and effectively inaccessible.
If that membrane fails, the entire build-up has to come off to fix it. That's why the waterproofing specification is the single most important decision in any living roof project \u2014 and why it should be designed by waterproofing specialists, not assumed by the landscaper.
We design the waterproofing. We verify it with electronic leak detection before anything goes on top. Then we build the roof system.
Our Design Advantage
- Root-resistant membranes certified to EN 13948
- Electronic leak detection verification before build-up
- System-agnostic — we specify from across the market
- Structural load assessment and drainage design
- Full compliance with BS 8616 (green roof code of practice)
- PI-insured design specifications
- Integration with Tector moisture monitoring
- Ongoing maintenance via Roof Shield™ programme
Systems We Design & Install
From simple sedum blankets to complex blue-green attenuation systems.
Green Roofs (Extensive)
Low-maintenance sedum and wildflower systems with shallow substrate depths (80–150mm). Lightweight, self-sustaining, and designed to thrive with minimal intervention. Ideal for commercial flat roofs where visual impact and biodiversity are priorities.
Green Roofs (Intensive)
Full roof gardens with deeper substrates (200mm+), supporting shrubs, trees, lawns, and hard landscaping. Designed as accessible amenity spaces for occupants — requiring irrigation and regular maintenance, but delivering exceptional value.
Brown Roofs (Biodiverse)
Unplanted substrate systems designed to be colonised naturally by local flora and fauna. Varying substrate depths with rubble, logs, and aggregates create diverse habitats for invertebrates and ground-nesting birds. Often required by planning conditions.
Blue Roofs (SuDS Attenuation)
Engineered stormwater management systems that temporarily store rainwater on the roof, releasing it slowly into the drainage network. Reduces peak runoff by up to 80%, helping buildings meet Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) requirements.
Blue-Green Roofs
Combined systems that deliver both stormwater attenuation and biodiversity in a single build-up. The blue layer stores water beneath the green roof substrate, irrigating the planting above while managing runoff below.
Bio-Solar Roofs
Green roof systems designed to work alongside rooftop solar PV arrays. The vegetation keeps the roof surface cooler, improving solar panel efficiency by up to 8% while delivering all the biodiversity and drainage benefits of a living roof.
Why Building Owners Choose Living Roofs
Commonly Asked Questions
Can my existing roof support a green roof?
It depends on the structural capacity. Extensive sedum systems weigh 60–150 kg/m² when saturated — within the tolerance of most commercial flat roofs built to modern standards. Intensive systems and blue roofs are heavier and may require structural assessment. We’ll survey your roof and advise honestly whether it’s suitable or whether strengthening is needed.
What about waterproofing underneath?
This is where most green roof projects go wrong — and why you want a waterproofing specialist, not just a landscaper. The membrane beneath a green roof must be root-resistant (EN 13948 certified), fully bonded, and tested before any substrate goes on top. Because once it’s planted, you can’t easily get back to it. We install the waterproofing, verify it with electronic leak detection, and then build the green roof system on top.
What’s the difference between a green roof and a brown roof?
A green roof is deliberately planted with selected species — sedums, wildflowers, or intensive planting. A brown roof is left unplanted, using locally sourced substrate that’s allowed to colonise naturally over time. Brown roofs are typically specified by ecologists to replicate habitats lost to development, and they’re often a planning condition rather than a design choice.
How does a blue roof work?
A blue roof uses a specially engineered drainage layer with flow restrictors to temporarily store rainwater on the roof. Instead of all the water hitting the drainage network at once during a storm, it’s released slowly over hours or days. This reduces peak runoff and helps meet SuDS requirements without needing ground-level attenuation tanks — saving space and cost.
Do green roofs need ongoing maintenance?
Extensive sedum systems need very little — typically two visits per year for weeding, clearing drainage outlets, and checking the membrane edges. Intensive roof gardens require regular maintenance similar to a ground-level garden. We offer maintenance as part of our Roof Shield™ programme, so the waterproofing and the planting are both looked after by the same team.
What does a green roof cost?
An extensive sedum system typically costs £70–£120 per m² including waterproofing, root barrier, drainage, substrate, and planting. Intensive systems and blue roofs vary significantly based on design complexity. We’ll design and cost the full build-up after surveying your roof — one specification, one price, no surprises.