ROOFBLOOM VOLUME 1, PAGE 2

VOLUME ONE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
WELCOME TO YOUR WATERSHED
PAGE 4

CHAPTER TWO
A GREEN ROOF PRIMER
PAGE 6

CHAPTER THREE
GARAGES AND OTHER OUTBUILDINGS
PAGE 10

CHAPTER FOUR
GREEN ROOF COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS
PAGE 12

CHAPTER FIVE
PLANNING YOUR GREEN ROOF
PAGE 16

CHAPTER SIX
MAINTAINING A GREEN ROOF
PAGE 18

CHAPTER SEVEN
ROOFBLOOM RESOURCES AND WORKSHOPS
PAGE 19
CREDITS
“Green Your Garage” was co-authored by:

CORRIE ZOLL
Minnesota Green Roofs Council
Minneapolis, Minnesota

CHRISTOPHER WEGSCHEID
Cermak Rhoades Architects
St. Paul, Minnesota

CAMILLA CORRELL
Emmons and Olivier Resources
Oakdale, Minnesota

The following contributors offered their generous support and guidance:

PATRICK CAREY
Hadj Design
Seattle, Washington

TOM LIPTAN
City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
Portland, Oregon

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
RoofBloom is a project of the Minnesota Green Roofs Council that has been funded by
a grant from the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and completed with the support
of Cermak Rhoades Architects and Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc.

ROOFBLOOM VOLUME 1, PAGE 3

ROOFBLOOM
CHAPTER ONE
WELCOME TO YOUR WATERSHED
[from Watershed Partners: http://cgee.hamline.edu/watershed]
WHAT IS AN URBAN WATERSHED?
A watershed, or drainage basin, is the area of land from which rain and snowmelt flow
and eventually enter a lake, river, or wetland. Even if your home is not next to a lake,
river, or wetland, you still live in a watershed.
WHAT IS URBAN RUNOFF?
This is water that becomes polluted when it picks up things like grass clippings, leaves,
pesticides, motor oil, and pet waste, and flushes them into storm drains and eventually
into the Mississippi River.
Before urban development your watershed was covered with oak savannah interspersed
with marshland and tall grass prairie. Today, concrete, asphalt and roofs cover close to
half of the Mississippi River watershed in Minneapolis and St. Paul. These surfaces
keep water from being absorbed into the ground. Instead it flows over these surfaces,
picking up pollutants and carrying them directly into the Mississippi River, creating a
problem called urban runoff.
WHAT CAN I DO?
The good news is that the river is cleaner than it has been in the past several decades.
The bad news is that polluted runoff is a major problem. To achieve a clean Mississippi
River, citizen action needs to come from you.
Be a watershed watcher:
In your yard:
• Landscape for cleaner stormwater runoff. Allow water from roofs and
driveways to drain into yards where the water can be absorbed.
• Reduce the amount of concrete or asphalt in your yard.
• Don't dump anything into the streets or down street drains.
VOLUME 1, PAGE 4
In your neighborhood:
• Participate in a river clean up, or organize a project to paint your street drains
to say "Don't dump waste / Drains to Mississippi River."
• Become an advocate for the river and talk to your neighbors to get them
excited about a better future for the Mississippi River.
Consider installing a green roof on your garage, shed, or other outbuilding. This guide
will show you how.
WHAT IS THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT?
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) is the regional governmental unit
chiefly responsible for protecting the water resources of the Minnehaha Creek
watershed, located in the area including and immediately west of Minneapolis,
Minnesota. The District was established in 1967 under the Minnesota Watershed
District Act, which recognizes that hydrological boundaries rarely match political
boundaries, so it established watershed districts to integrate water management efforts
between city, county and state agencies.
The District covers approximately 181 square miles that ultimately drain into the
Minnehaha Creek (which then enters the Mississippi River). The watershed includes
natural treasures such as Minnehaha Creek, Lake Minnetonka, The Minneapolis Chain
of Lakes and Minnehaha Falls. There are eight major creeks, 129 lakes and thousands
of wetlands within the MCWD.
The MCWD also includes all or part of 27 cities and three townships in Hennepin and
Carver Counties.
The MCWD is governed by a seven-member Board of Managers, who are appointed by
the Hennepin and Carver county boards. As required by state law, the MCWD has
developed a comprehensive water resources management plan that describes the
existing water resources and water-related problems within the watershed, possible
solutions to the problems and the objectives of the MCWD. The plan sets forth the
goals and direction of the MCWD.
WHAT DOES THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT DO? WHERE IS THE DISTRICT?

• Water Quality Protection The upper portion of the District drains through 27 square miles of agricultural land
• Stormwater Management and suburbs west of Minneapolis to Lake Minnetonka. As Minnesota's 10th largest
• Flood/Erosion Control water body, this lake covers an additional 21 square miles before discharging to
Minnehaha Creek. As the creek winds toward Minnehaha Falls, it accepts runoff from
• Lake Level Management (via Grays Bay Dam) 80 square miles of the lower watershed, including Minneapolis.
• Lake Restoration
• Wetland Management

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED

DISTRICT?

The goal of the MCWD is to enhance the water quality of the water resources within
the Minnehaha Creek watershed while at the same time controlling flooding. The
MCWD seeks to carry out this goal principally through analysis of the causes of
harmful impacts on the water resources, public information and education, regulation
of land use, regulation of the use of water bodies and their beds, and capital
improvement projects.

Through its extensive analysis of the watershed, the MCWD has been able to effectively
identify the root causes of water quality degradation and flooding. The MCWD has
then successfully used this knowledge to develop and implement solutions that address
these causes. These solutions include both nonstructural solutions (e.g. regulation of
land and water use and public information and education) and structural solutions (e.g.
construction of wet detention basins/wetlands, a headwaters outlet control structure
and restoration of degraded wetlands). HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MINNEHAHA CREEK
WATERSHED DISTRICT?

The MCWD website at www.minnehahacreek.org is intended to be the primary

comprehensive source of information about the MCWD. If you still need additional
information, feel free to contact the District office by email, or by calling (952) 471-
0590.

For more information on other watershed districts in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota
Association of Watershed Districts at www.mnwatershed.org.

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CHAPTER TWO In North America, the City of Chicago leads the way in promoting green roofs. In
2006, Chicago boasted two million square feet of green roofs either installed or
A GREEN ROOF PRIMER underway.

WHAT IS A GREEN ROOF?
A green roof (or a green rooftop, or an ecoroof, or a vegetated roof) uses living plant
material as part of a roofing system. Green roofs generally include the following
components (we’ll explain these components in greater detail later on):
• A waterproof membrane
• A root barrier
• Thermal insulation
• A drainage system
• A filter layer
• Growing medium
• Living plant material
Plaza areas with minimal green space or planter boxes, while they provide benefits to
urban areas, are not considered green roofs.
THE STATE OF GREEN ROOFS IN MINNESOTA, 2007
In March of 2007, The Minnesota Green Roofs Council (MGRC) developed a list of
80 green roofs in Minnesota. Most of these projects were in the City of Minneapolis,
but the list extended across the Metro Area to existing and planned projects in Bemidji,
Duluth, Rochester, Northfield, and elsewhere. MGRC estimates that this represents
one million square feet of green roofs across the state. MGRC believes the number of
green roofs in Minnesota has doubled in the past five years, and expects that number to
double again in the next five years.
To put this in perspective, Germany is considered a world leader in green roof
technology. One in twenty German buildings features a green roof, and one in eight
new buildings features a green roof. This amounts to billions of square feet of green
roofs installed over the past 50 years.
But we’re coming along. The City of Minneapolis is considered one of the more
progressive cities supporting green roofs and can be favorably compared to cities like
Portland, Seattle, and Boston in promoting green roofs.
THE MINNESOTA GREEN ROOFS COUNCIL
The Minnesota Green Roofs Council (MGRC) promotes green roof technology as a
sustainable building strategy in Minnesota. MGRC works to educate developers,
architects, landscape architects, engineers, roofers, building owners, policy makers and
others about green roofs as a cost-effective strategy to improve building performance,
reduce environmental impacts and improve urban livability. For more information on
what we’re up to, visit www.mngreenroofs.org.
BENEFITS OF GREEN ROOFS
Green roofs bring a wide variety of benefits to buildings and to communities. These
benefits include:
REDUCING ROOF REPLACEMENT COSTS
In Minnesota, a typical gravel-ballasted flat roof is expected to perform for
15 to 20 years before replacement is necessary, but is often replaced much
sooner. Roof membranes deteriorate when exposed to the hot and cold
temperature extremes we experience in Minnesota, and also when exposed to
UV radiation from sunlight. The components of a green roof protect a roof
membrane from these aging factors. The membrane under a green roof can
be expected to perform for 35 to 50 years before replacement is necessary.
This means that a building can avoid one or two roof replacements over a
50-year lifespan. This reduces life cycle costs while reducing the volume of
roofing materials deposited in landfills (asphalt shingles currently account for
about three percent of all municipal waste).
 REDUCING ENERGY COSTS
Green roofs can reduce heating and cooling demands. During a Minnesota
winter, the insulation layer and growing medium of a green roof can add R-
value to a building’s roof. In the summer, the impact is more significant.
Living plant material evaporating moisture from leaf surfaces will cool the
rooftop surface, reducing cooling demand up to 25 percent.
REDUCING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COSTS
Green roofs both reduce the amount of stormwater runoff, and slow its flow.
An extensive green roof with four inches of growing medium can be expected
to hold a one-inch rainfall event before any water runs off the roof surface
(90% of the average annual rainfall in Minnesota is of one-inch size or less).
With a deeper layer of growing medium, or with rainwater or greywater
harvesting systems, a green roof can be used to manage a significantly larger
volume of water.
Holding that water on the roof for use by the plants reduces the amount of
surface runoff that pollutes our local rivers and lakes. In a big rain, any
surplus water that does drain from a green roof is both cleaner and cooler
than water coming off a conventional roof.
As a part of a building’s stormwater management infrastructure, a green roof
can reduce the cost and land use of other stormwater management systems,
and in some cities can reduce monthly stormwater management fees.
The City of Minneapolis uses a stormwater utility fee structure that provides
incentives for using green roofs to manage stormwater on-site. See
www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/stormwater/fee for more information.
IMPROVING URBAN AIR QUALITY
Green space is good for air quality. Green roofs provide opportunities to
increase the amount of green space in densely developed urban areas where
green space can be hard to find.
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A 1998 study by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities developed a model showing
that if six percent of the roofs in the City of Toronto were replaced with
green roofs, the additional green space would remove 30 tons of airborne
particulate pollution each year.
MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE URBAN HEAT
ISLAND EFFECT
Urban areas like Minneapolis-Saint Paul are generally 2-5˚F warmer than
surrounding rural areas. This is known as the urban heat island effect. On
top of that, the US EPA projects a 2-7˚F increase in aggregate temperature
for our region over the course of the 21st century. It is projected that a 3˚F
aggregate temperature increase in Minneapolis would triple annual heat-
related deaths from 60 to nearly 180. By cooling rooftop surfaces and
improving air quality, a critical mass of green roofs can mitigate all of these
impacts.
PROVIDING URBAN GREEN SPACE
Green roofs can provide opportunities for significant green space amenities
in urban areas. East Village Apartments in the Elliot Park neighborhood of
Minneapolis features an at-grade green roof installed over underground
parking. The green space includes picnic tables and provides an amenity to
this affordable housing development. The green roof at Brit’s Pub on
Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis can be used for lawn bowling and private
parties. And pedestrians using the Loring Greenway in Minneapolis may not
even realize that they are walking on green roof surfaces above occupied
spaces.
Hospital administrators know that patients who can see green space outside
their windows can recover more quickly. Nursing home and elder care
facilities can use green roofs as part of horticultural therapy programs.
OTHER BENEFITS
Green roofs also increase urban habitat for beneficial birds and insects, make
buildings quieter, and provide opportunities for urban agriculture.
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TYPES OF GREEN ROOFS

Many types of green roofs can be installed in Minnesota. Some green roofs have less
than two inches of growing medium and some have more than a foot. Some will only
support a few varieties of sedums while others will support native flowers and grasses,
highly maintained turf grass, or even trees and shrubs. Some are assembled on-site,
and others are brought in as premanufactured systems.
EXTENSIVE AND INTENSIVE GREEN ROOFS
Extensive green roofs are generally designed to be lightweight and to
maximize the performance and environmental benefits that a green roof can
bring to a building. Extensive green roofs feature a layer of growing medium
that is six inches deep or less, and are generally planted with sedums or native
plant species. Extensive green roofs are not usually accessible to the public,
unless decks or walkways are provided.
Extensive green roofs in Minnesota include the Ramsey-Washington Metro
Watershed District in Little Canada and the Visitor’s Center at Lebanon
Hills Regional Park in Eagan.
MODULAR AND INTEGRATED GREEN ROOFS
Most green roofs installed in Minnesota are integrated green roofs, in which
the green roof components are installed as a series of layers.
Modular green roofs are partially assembled off-site and installed in units.
Some modular systems feature plastic or metal trays that are filled with
growing medium and placed on the roof. Plants can be grown in these trays
before or after installation. Other systems feature plants pre-grown in mats
that are laid onto the roof surface.
The Macalester College “fishbowl” green roof in St. Paul features modular
Green Roof Blocks and Green Roof Paks systems. Firehouse 14 in
Northeast Minneapolis uses a GreenGrid modular green roof system. The
Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood’s Rainwater Resources Recycling project in
Minneapolis features a pre-grown Xeroflor sedum mat on a pitched
residential garage.

Intensive green roofs are generally designed as amenity space that can be used
by building tenants or by the general public. Intensive green roofs are
generally heavier, include a deeper layer of growing medium, support a wider
variety of plants, and have greater needs for irrigation and maintenance.

The most visible intensive green roof in Minnesota is probably the lawn
bowling club at Brit’s Pub in Downtown Minneapolis. The Crowne Plaza
Northstar Hotel, also in Downtown Minneapolis, has an intensive green roof
that was originally installed in 1962 and features maple trees that are now
ten inches in diameter.

Some green roofs contain features of both intensive and extensive green
roofs. These are referred to as semi-intensive green roofs. The Green
Institute’s green roof at the Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center is a highly visible
semi-intensive green roof. While the roof features a range of extensive
plantings and is designed to be low-maintenance, it is also fully ADA-
accessible and can hold 30 people for events.
ROOFBLOOM VOLUME 1, PAGE 9
ROOFBLOOM
CHAPTER 3
GARAGES AND OTHER OUTBUILDINGS
WHY SMALL GREEN ROOFS?
Garages and other small outbuildings may not seem like the place to start promoting
green roof technologies. These are the smallest roofs in the watershed, and make up
only a small fraction of total rooftop area. Garages are generally not heated or air-
conditioned, and cannot take advantage of the reduced energy demands that are
provided by green roofs.
But garages are a great place to start:
• Even though green roofs have a proven record spanning several decades in
other countries, they’re still an unfamiliar idea to most Americans. Few
people risk using unfamiliar technology on their homes; more homeowners
are willing to experiment with green roofs on their garages.
• Garages and other outbuildings do represent a significant land use in urban
areas. As an example, fifty thousand two-car garages, each with a 480-square
foot roof, represent 24 million square feet of impermeable surface. That’s
550 acres of green space.
• Garages in Minnesota generally have roofs sloped between 20 and 30%.
This is shallow enough to support many different green roof systems. Many
single family homes in our region feature roofs sloped at 50% or more, which
is too steep for most green roof systems. Also, garage roofs are usually
simpler and easier to roof, with fewer complicated valleys and penetrations.
• Garage roofs are visible. People will be able to see a green roof on a garage.
This is in contrast to many commercial green roofs, which are often
inaccessible and invisible to the public on top of a building. A garage with a
green roof sends a clear message that green roof technology can be used
economically on a wide range of building types.
VOLUME 1, PAGE 10
• Once green roofs are established as a viable means of reducing roofing costs
and energy use, all while protecting our watersheds, homeowners will find
ways to use green roofs on their homes. For now, though, garages and other
small outbuildings present an ideal place to demonstrate the possibilities of
green roofs.
WHAT CAN (AND CAN’T) YOU EXPECT FROM A GREEN ROOF?
RoofBloom is intended as a way to educate homeowners about the practical aspects of
green roofs. Our goal is for homeowners to think of green roofs as a practical
sustainable building strategy. It is important to understand what a homeowner can
expect from a green roof on a garage or other small outbuilding. Below are some
realistic expectations.
• Expect a longer-lasting roof. Most garages are roofed with asphalt shingles.
The American Society of Home Inspectors estimates the life expectancy of
asphalt shingles at 15-30 years. Asphalt shingles deteriorate over time due
to exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight as well as exposure to
temperature extremes, wind, rain, ice and snow.
The components of a green roof protect a membrane from each of these aging
factors. A green roof can be expected to last 35 – 50 years, so you should
expect a green roof to last as much as three times as long as an asphalt shingle
roof.
• Expect reduced stormwater fees. In the City of Minneapolis, property owners
are charged a stormwater utility fee based on the square footage of hard
surface (roofs, driveways, sidewalks) on a property. A green roof reduces the
area of hard surface on a property and is generally eligible for a stormwater
fee credit. In 2007, this credit will generally be less than $100 per year for a
typical single-family homeowner. Most homeowners would consider $100
per year to be minimal when compared to the cost of a green roof. It is
reasonable to expect this fee to increase over time, and it is reasonable to
expect other cities in Minnesota to implement stormwater fee credits in the
future.
• Expect a more comfortable garage. The insulating layers of a green roof can
keep a garage warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Most garages
 in Minnesota are not heated or air conditioned. If you spend time in your
garage, the difference should be noticeable. Asphalt shingles on a roof can
reach temperatures well above 150˚F in the sun on a hot day. A green roof
actually cools the rooftop surface, and so your garage will be much more
bearable in the summer. A green roof won’t warm your garage in the winter,
but you can expect it to hold heat better than a shingle roof. And if you DO
heat or cool your garage, a green roof should decrease heating and cooling
loads.
• Expect a more beautiful (and more valuable) home. Any project that adds
healthy green space to your property can make it more livable and enjoyable.
The added green space and extended roof lifespan may also increase the value
of your home.
• Expect to be part of a movement. In 2007, only a handful of garages in the
Twin Cities area have green roofs. In the past few years, we’ve heard from
hundreds of homeowners wondering whether a garage green roof was possible.
Unfortunately, resources like RoofBloom have been hard to find. Through
RoofBloom, we hope to make green roof projects accessible to more
homeowners. And when watershed residents begin to see more green roofs in
their neighborhoods, green roofs will be seen less as a novelty and more as a
sensible environmental choice. By incorporating green building strategies
like green roofs in our own back yards, we will raise expectations for public
and private developers to do the same.
• Don’t expect a huge financial payback. For large buildings like the
Minneapolis Central Library, a green roof can reduce life cycle costs to the
building by extending the life of the roof membrane, reducing energy costs
and operating as part of the building’s stormwater management system. On a
small residential garage, the financial benefits described above may or may
not displace the additional cost of a green roof over time. For now, at least,
green roofs on garages in Minnesota should not be seen as a way to save
money.
• Don’t expect to create recreational space. The sort of green roof that can be
installed on a typical pitched garage roof is not a recreational space. You will
not be able to use this space for lying in the sun or for entertaining guests,
unless special provisions are made. A green roof that is designed for
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recreational use must have more weight-bearing capacity, should have little or
no slope, and requires railings or other safety measures. A RoofBloom roof
should be accessed only for periodic maintenance.
IS MY GARAGE A GOOD FIT?
As versatile as green roofs are, not every garage is a good place for one. A green roof
system can be found, though, to fit most buildings. The characteristics of your building
will help to determine what sort of green roof system is a good fit.
• How old is the roof? A green roof should be installed as part of a new roofing
system. While some green roof systems can be installed on existing roofs
under special circumstances, careful consideration is needed to avoid long-
term problems. A green roof works best when installed either on a new
building or on an existing building when a roof is replaced.
• How high is the roof off the ground? Green roofs can be installed on
buildings of virtually any height, from doghouses to skyscrapers. Higher
roofs will present a greater challenge for lifting materials, for performing
installation tasks, and for ongoing maintenance. Remember: someone is
going to have to actually get on top of the green roof occasionally to perform
maintenance tasks.
• What is the structural capacity of the roof? A green roof can add as little as
ten pounds per square foot to the weight of a roof, or more than 100 pounds
per square foot. The building structure, from the top of the roof all the way
down through the foundations, must be able to support the weight of all
roofing components, plus any stormwater absorbed by the green roof, plus any
potential snow load on top of that. If you’re considering putting a green roof
on an existing garage, contact a structural engineer who can assess its load
bearing capacity. Since the roof structure of most garages is left exposed,
structural upgrades may be possible at a reasonable cost – but this must be
evaluated by a qualified engineer. Keep in mind that building permits are
required when adding a green roof: even if you’re not building a new garage or
reinforcing the structure of an existing one, the city will need to see structural
calculations to be assured that you aren’t creating a dangerous situation.
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• Volume Two of this guide will contain building permit-ready plans for one- CHAPTER FOUR
and two-car garages and a garden shed, all of which are specifically
engineered to support a RoofBloom green roof. Please visit
www.roofbloom.org for more information on how to obtain this valuable
GREEN ROOF COMPONENTS AND
resource. SYSTEMS
• How steep is the roof? Green roof can be installed on slopes up to 40% or Every green roof is made up of a series of layers, each with its own role in the system.
50%, or 6:12 (6” of “rise” over 12” of “run”), but the steeper the slope, the Some systems use components that do double duty and eliminate others, but the basic
more complicated and expensive the installation and maintenance. Most pieces are generally arranged as shown here:
garages in our watershed feature slopes shallower than this, and as with
structural capacity, changes can be made. However, decreasing the slope of
an overly steep roof will require replacement of roof joists or trusses, which is
a substantial job.

• What’s the sun exposure? The solar orientation of a green roof should be
taken into account during the planning and plant selection phases. Each side
of a pitched roof might receive different amounts of sun exposure, or may
receive sunlight at different times of the day. Adjacent buildings and trees
may also affect sun exposure. Plants should be selected to correspond with
sun exposure.
From the bottom up, the components of a typical green roof are:
ROOF DECK
This is the stuff that covers the rafters or trusses of your roof, which on
garages is usually either wood planks, plywood or oriented strand board
(OSB). Solid wood and plywood decking are suitable under a green roof, but
OSB should be avoided because it has a greater tendency to swell and
deteriorate if it happens to get wet.
WATERPROOFING
Waterproofing is the part of your roof that actually keeps the water out. On a
garage, this is usually asphalt shingles over some sort of underlayment, but
asphalt shingles – like a lot of roofing products – aren’t suitable for constant
exposure to the water stored in a green roof. Large, commercial green roofs
often use a liquid-applied, fully adhered membrane that’s applied directly to
the substrate, but smaller roofs can use self-adhesive sheet goods that are
easier for the homeowner or small contractor to install.
ROOT BARRIER
A root barrier keeps aggressive plant roots from damaging the waterproofing.
While maintenance is important to keep aggressive plant species from
becoming established on a roof, a green roof should be designed to protect the
membrane in the event an aggressive plant manages to take root.
INSULATION
Insulation as part of a green roof can serve three purposes. In Minnesota,
most plants are dormant during the winter, and these plants survive winter
best by staying frozen until spring. Too many freeze-thaw cycles can damage
plants and reduce their odds for survival. Insulation will keep heat from
inside a building from thawing plants in the winter. If desired, extra
insulation can be installed to increase the insulation value of the roof to
decrease heating and cooling costs. Also, insulation is often put down on top
of the waterproofing, which helps protect the waterproofing from damage
during construction. It’s relatively cheap insurance.
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DRAINAGE AND RETENTION
A drainage system is used on a green roof to allow excess water to flow to
drains and off the roof surface. While green roofs are often designed to
capture stormwater, extreme storm events can produce rainfall amounts in
excess of what a green roof can manage. Drainage systems are generally less
important on pitched green roofs as gravity can often effectively remove any
excess water.
A drainage layer can also be designed to retain a certain amount of water.
Tiny reservoirs or absorbent mats in the assembly help retain water for the
plants to use between rains or watering.
FILTRATION
Filtration is used to keep plant nutrients and fine particles in growing
medium from washing off a green roof. The most common filter used on
green roofs is similar to the non-woven black “geotextile” cloth available at
some garden stores and landscaping centers.
GROWING MEDIUM
Plants on the ground grow in soil, but most soils are unsuitable for use on a
green roof. Plants on green roofs generally grow in an engineered mixture of
compost, sand, minerals, and a lightweight aggregate material like expanded
shale. This mixture is called the growing medium, and is designed to be
lightweight and to meet the nutritional needs of green roof plants. The
organic content in growing medium must be carefully balanced: too much
organic material will encourage weed growth and break down over time,
clogging the drainage system, and too little will starve the plants.
PLANTS
You can grow almost anything on a green roof, but you can’t grow everything
on every roof. The requirements of plants should be taken into special
consideration when planning a green roof. Trees require special membrane
protection. Food crops require heavy, nutrient-rich growing medium and
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often require significant growing medium depth. Turf grass requires high
levels of maintenance.
Most green roof plants are selected to survive hot and cold extremes, wet and
dry extremes, and to survive in a shallow layer of growing medium. It’s
important to remember that you’re selecting plants for the environment on
the roof, not on the ground, so a plant that thrives next to your garage may
not survive on top of it.
IRRIGATION
After installation, green roof plants will need water. Depending on your
plant choice, watering needs should decrease significantly after plants have
been established. A permanent irrigation system can be installed, or plants
can be watered with an ordinary garden hose and sprinkler. Some local
garage green roofs are irrigated using a soaker hose that is held in place along
the ridge of the roof.

Varieties of sedum are the most common plants seen on green roofs across MANUFACTURED SYSTEMS
North America. Sedums are succulent plants that can hold significant
amounts of moisture in their waxy leaves and survive temperature and It is common on large, commercial green roofs for a building owner to buy a complete
moisture extremes. Some green roof advocates are concerned that sedums do green roof system from a single supplier. This can also be done for a small green roof
not provide optimal wildlife habitat and represent the introduction of non- on a garage. A list of systems that are suitable for use on a garage or other small
native species to our region. outbuilding will be available in Volume Two of this guide.
Certain varieties of native grasses and flowers do well on green roofs. These
plants are adapted to weather conditions in Minnesota and are accustomed to
surviving through drought periods without irrigation. Some green roof
advocates are concerned that dense mats of native plants could present a fire
hazard. Proper plant maintenance can address this concern.

EROSION CONTROL

On flat green roofs, a biodegradable erosion control blanket (made of straw,

coir, coconut fiber, or other materials) is often installed on top of the growing
medium. The erosion control blanket shades plant roots, holds moisture, and
protects small plants from birds. The blanket will decompose over 2-5
growing seasons, by which time plant root systems should be significantly
developed to displace the need for erosion control.

On a pitched green roof, additional attention to erosion control is important

to keep plants and growing medium from sliding down the roof surface.
Several types of structures have been used to successfully keep plants in place
on a pitched green roof. This support is most necessary during the
establishment phase of a green roof; a fully developed mat of roots on a
mature green roof should require no additional support.
ROOFBLOOM VOLUME 1, PAGE 15
ROOFBLOOM
CHAPTER FIVE
PLANNING YOUR GREEN ROOF
WHY DO YOU WANT A GREEN ROOF?
RoofBloom believes that some sort of green roof can be designed to meet almost any
need. Here are just a few perfectly good reasons you might want a green roof:
• To do your part to reduce hard surfaces in your watershed.
• To reduce stormwater runoff from your property.
• To attract birds and butterflies to your property.
• To have the best-looking garage on your block.
• To make your garage last longer.
• To make your in-laws think you’re crazy.
• To have something nicer to see out the window.
• To host rooftop parties.
• Because it’s the coolest thing you’ve heard of in years.
Any of these are good reasons to install a green roof on your garage. Each of them will
affect the kind of green roof project that is appropriate for you. For example, if you
want to host rooftop parties, you will need a flat roof with lots of structural support, a
stair, a deck of some sort to walk on, and railings and other safety features. And if you
are interested in a green roof to protect your garage and increase the value of your
home, then you may be less willing to take the risks involved with doing the project
yourself or experimenting with untested materials.
GREENING YOUR GREEN ROOF
A green roof is generally considered to be a sustainable building strategy or a “green”
building strategy. That means a green roof is generally installed to reduce the overall
environmental impact of a building and a site. In order to do this effectively,
sustainability issues should be considered at every stage of the process.
VOLUME 1, PAGE 16
THE THREE E’s
Sustainability is sometimes described as a three-legged stool. The three legs are
represented by Three E’s: Environment, Equity, and Economy. Without any one of
these legs, the stool cannot stand. In terms of a garage green roof, these three E’s might
mean:
• Environment:
Your project should be a net benefit for the environment. The benefits
of reduced waste, reduced stormwater runoff and reduced hard surfaces
should not be overshadowed by use of toxic materials, constant
irrigation, improper use of chemical fertilizer, excess site runoff during
construction, or other unsustainable activities.
• Equity:
This means social equity, or equal opportunity. When hiring
professionals, have you considered minority-owned or women-owned
businesses? Will laborers hired to work on your project make a living
wage?
• Economy:
Your project should be economically viable. If a green roof adds $5,000
to the cost of your garage, you should consider whether this $5,000 is a
good investment, and whether it could be better spent replacing an old
furnace, upgrading inefficient windows, or addressing other stormwater
runoff issues on your property.
THE THREE R’s
It is also a good idea to remember the Three R’s when planning your green roof project:
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Design and planning:
• Select wall heights and roof slopes that use full lengths of lumber
and use full sheets of plywood. Not only does this reduce waste, it
also makes construction less expensive by reducing labor.
• Choose plants that require minimal irrigation and fertilizing.
Choosing materials:
• Look for FSC Certified Lumber. Lumber certified by the Forest
Stewardship Council has been shown to be sustainably harvested.
 • Use salvaged and reclaimed materials when available – but do check
with a structural engineer before using salvaged lumber for
structural members.
• Buy local whenever possible.
Implementation:
• Separate waste to maximize recycling and instruct your contractors
to do the same.
• Pay attention to erosion control on-site during construction.
Heavy construction vehicles can tear up the ground and compact
soil.
DOING IT YOURSELF VERSUS HIRING PROFESSIONALS
A homeowner might consider a garage green roof as a do-it-yourself project, or a
homeowner might be looking for the simplest way to hire a competent contractor who
can get the job done. Most likely, homeowners will want to accomplish some tasks on
their own while hiring professionals to complete other aspects of the work.
Hiring professionals can seem expensive, but commercially available products installed
by certified contractors often come with a warranty. Doing the work yourself can be
satisfying and can save money, but few manufacturers will warrant your work.
Before taking on any do-it-yourself project, a homeowner should consider the relative
risks involved. Below are some of the risks that could come with a do-it-yourself green
roof project.
• Improper structural considerations can lead to a sagging or collapsing roof
that could injure or kill individuals on top of the roof or underneath it.
• Improper choice or installation of waterproofing can lead to leakage, causing
significant damage to your structure or its contents.
• Improper attention to root control can lead to waterproofing damage.
• Improper choice of growing medium can damage plants, degrade the
membrane, and clog drainage systems.
• Improper handling of heavy materials can lead to personal injury or damage
to the materials. Remember: you’re up on a roof, so take precautions.
• Improper maintenance can lead to loss of plants or damage to the roof
membrane.
ROOFBLOOM
HIRING CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTORS
Chances are, unless you have very qualified friends who owe you very large favors, you’ll
need to hire at least one professional to get the job done. A wide range of skills will be
needed during the course of the project, and it will be important at each stage to
consider that a green roof will be part of the project: green roofs can fail if other aspects
of the projects are not implemented with the green roof in mind. Below is a list of
professionals you might need. Keep in mind that a single consultant or contractor
might be able to complete multiple tasks. One of the professionals on this list might
also serve as a general contractor on the project, coordinating the work done during the
various stages of the project.
Professionals you might need include:
• Architect, to design your structure.
• Structural Engineer, to calculate the size and type of structural members and
their connections, or to determine the suitability of an existing structure.
• Builder, to put your building together.
• Roofer, to install your waterproofing.
• Landscape designer or landscape architect, to select plants.
• Plant suppliers and contract growers, to cultivate and deliver your plants.
• Green roof installer, to install green roof components.
• Landscaper, to install and/or maintain plants.
Questions to ask a contractor:
• What aspects of the job can you complete?
• Are you licensed to work in my jurisdiction?
• Are you bonded and insured?
• How many other green roofs have you installed?
• What was your role in other green roof projects?
• Can I see your other green roof projects?
Questions to ask yourself:
• What can I realistically do myself?
• How can I get materials onto the roof?
• How much am I prepared to spend?
• How much risk am I prepared to take?
VOLUME 1, PAGE 17
ROOFBLOOM
CHAPTER SIX
MAINTAINING A GREEN ROOF
A green roof is a living part of a building and will not continue to function if it does
not remain living. When properly planned and executed, maintenance can be minimal
– but a property owner should be realistic about maintenance. A green roof will require
irrigation, weeding, and regular inspections. Planning ahead is important to keeping
maintenance minimal.
WATERING
When:
• For best results, check with your plant supplier about watering requirements.
• Depending on the time of year planting occurs, plants will probably need daily
watering for two to four weeks after installation.
• Weekly watering is recommended for one full growing season after planting.
There’s no need to water during rainy weeks, of course.
What to do:
• A soaker hose laid along the peak of a garage roof is often adequate for
watering.
• Remember, the growing medium under your plants is shallow, and so a
complete soaking will take much less water than soaking a similar area of
lawn.
• Stop watering when the green roof is saturated and water begins to run off.
WEEDING
When:
• A thorough weeding twice a year should be sufficient but, as with any garden,
more regular weeding keeps the job smaller.
What to do:
• Become familiar with the plants installed on your roof. This will help you to
know what plants belong on your roof and which plants should be removed.
• Take pictures of your plants, ask for pictures from your plant supplier, or find
pictures online or in books. Plants may change in appearance from season to
season or as they mature.
VOLUME 1, PAGE 18
• Some weeds may be introduced in the growing medium or in the plant plugs.
Weed seeds will also be carried to the roof by birds, insects, and by the wind.
• The most important plants to remove will be trees. If you have cottonwood
and elm seeds sprouting in your garden every spring, then these will likely
sprout on your roof as well, and you should be prepared to remove them.
Luckily, tree seedlings are easy to identify and the shallow growing medium
means that they are also easy to remove.
• Weeding requirements will decrease after the first and second years, as the
desired species develop and out-compete the weeds.
INSPECTING
When:
• After a storm.
• Before the ground freezes in the fall.
• After the snow melts in the spring.
What to do:
• Check for dead or dying plants.
• Look for materials missing from the roof or laying on the ground.
• Look for branches or other debris on the roof.
• Check the fascia and drainage systems for damage.
• Look for moisture or water stains on the inside of the roof or inside the
building.
ADDRESSING PROBLEMS
When:
• Problems should be addressed as soon as they are discovered. Left
unaddressed, problems with your green roof can cause long-term damage to
your garage and its contents.
What to do:
• If your plants die off suddenly or look diseased, check with your plant
supplier. Some plants may be under warranty.
• If you notice leaking, check with your membrane manufacturer. Most roof
membranes come with a warranty.
• Contact RoofBloom and see if we can help.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ROOFBLOOM RESOURCES AND ROOFBLOOM WORKSHOPS

WORKSHOPS
“GREEN YOUR GARAGE: VOLUME ONE”
This first volume of the printed RoofBloom guide, “A Homeowner’s Guide to Green
Roofs,” is available for free download at www.roofbloom.org. Please feel free to share it
with your neighbors and friends!
“GREEN YOUR GARAGE: VOLUME TWO”
Volume Two, “Green Roof Resources for the Homeowner,” provides additional in-
depth information on assemblies and plants, construction drawings, a professional
directory, and other resources. As the chapters of Volume Two become available, they
will be offered for a reasonable fee to help offset the cost of their production. Planned
chapters for Volume Two include:
RoofBloom will offer at least three classroom sessions and one hands-on workshop
within the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. During the hands-on workshop,
volunteers will get their hands dirty installing a green roof on a garage or other small
outbuilding.
ROOFBLOOM GUILD
With sufficient participation, RoofBloom will establish a local Green Roof Guild.
Homeowners interested in a garage green roof will receive training during our hands-on
workshops. After attending two or three workshops, a homeowner will be eligible to
host a RoofBloom hands-on workshop on their own garage.

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE ROOFBLOOM SYSTEMS

A description of two green roof assemblies suitable for the professional
contractor or dedicated do-it-yourselfer to install on a garage or other small
outbuilding. Contains construction drawings and detailed information on
components, sourcing, and assembly.

CHAPTER NINE: GREEN ROOF PLANTS

Plant lists (including descriptions and photographs), planting schemes, and
local and national sources.

CHAPTER TEN: BUILDING PLANS

Building permit-ready construction drawings for one- and two-car garages
and a garden shed, all specifically designed to accommodate green roofs.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: RESOURCES

Where to turn for more information and guidance. Includes lists of
professional consultants, contractors, manufactured systems, and materials.

ROOFBLOOM VOLUME 1, PAGE 19