Yes, I want a green roof! And now? Which solution is best suited to my project? Vegetation mats or sedum cassettes? Can sedum be combined with a PV system? Sempergreen offers various green roof systems. There is a solution for (almost) every roof.
What is the difference between sedum cassettes and sedum mats for a green roof?
The vegetation mat is the most commonly used product for directly greened sedum roofs. It consists of a coconut fiber mat as a base, a roof garden substrate on top and greenery in the form of sedum plants. The sedum plants are rooted into the coconut fiber mat and, together with the mat, form a whole that is delivered rolled up. You can compare it to rolled turf. In addition to sedum, you can also choose other plants such as herbs or grasses. Sedum mats are often 60 x 200 cm in size, making the roll easy to handle when laying. However, other sizes are also possible. The vegetation mats can be used on flat and slightly pitched roofs with a roof pitch of up to 25 degrees. At least 95% of a Sempergreen vegetation mat is always covered with vegetation on delivery. This means that your roof is green immediately after installation.
Sedum cassettes are prefabricated trays that can be placed directly on the roof. This creates a green result on the roof in no time at all. Sempergreen offers various sedum cassettes: the Click 'n go, the Click 'n go Light and the Place 'n go Sedumtray. The cassette consists of a housing filled with roof garden substrate and sedum plants. The size of a sedum cassette is very manageable, approx. 50 x 50 cm per cassette or smaller. The exact size varies depending on the type of cassette. They are easy to lift and also clean to handle, as all the green roof parts are already contained in the cassette. Sedum cassettes can be used on flat and slightly pitched roofs with a pitch of up to 15 to 20 degrees. From an inclination of 10 degrees, the use of a shear protection under the sedum cassettes is recommended. The roof covering should also be root-resistant. The Sempergreen Sedum cassettes are also always 95% green on delivery, so that a green result is achieved immediately after installation.
Creating a green roof with Sempergreen sedum cassettes
The main difference between sedum mats and sedum cassettes is the way in which they are laid. When laying a green roof with vegetation mats, several layers are applied on top of each other. First, a drainage layer with filter fleece is laid on the roof. A roof garden substrate is then applied and, as a final step, the vegetation mats are rolled out on the roof.
With sedum cassettes, the drainage and substrate are already integrated into the cassette. The only thing left to do is to lay the sedum cassettes together. Some cassette types can be clicked into each other, while other cassette types are laid close together. To protect the roof covering, it is advisable to lay a protective film under the cassettes.
Watch the video to see how easy it is to lay a green roof.
Size of the green roof
In practice, sedum cassettes are mainly used for smaller projects such as carports, sheds, verandas, smaller consumer roofs or bus stops, for example, due to their ease of installation. If necessary, the sedum cassettes can be easily removed from the roof and relocated. A roof with Sedum cassettes is also the most convenient solution for places that are difficult to access. We are also seeing more and more local initiatives where a neighborhood wants to green its district together. Here too, Sedum cassettes are often chosen because they are easy to install and easy to handle. Convenience plays an important role here.
For roofs with a larger surface area, green roofs with vegetation mats are usually chosen, as the price per square meter is lower than with sedum cassettes.
Advantages of a green roof with sedum mats or sedum cassettes
In addition to the above-mentioned differences in terms of installation and project size, vegetation mats or sedum cassettes also have many similarities. These mainly lie in the benefits that these green roof solutions offer.
Below you will find a brief overview of these advantages that apply to both variants:
- is water-retaining: captures rainwater and buffers it over longer periods of time to prevent sewer overflow
- stimulates biodiversity
- dampens environmental noise
- purifies the air and converts CO2 into oxygen
- regulates the ambient temperature
- extends the life of the roof
- increases the value of the property
- increases the yield of solar collectors
- is low-maintenanceis a feast for the eyes
How do sedum shoots compare with sedum mats and sedum cassettes?
Sedum shoots are often prescribed on the market because they are cheaper to install than a green roof with sedum mats or sedum cassettes. However, a roofer or landscaper should be aware that it takes a very long time for a green roof sown with sedum shoots to be at least 60 % covered. Until then, the customer is not obliged to pay for the green roof. It also requires a great deal of maintenance to bring a green roof with shoots to its full size. These maintenance costs should also be included in the construction costs. As a green roof with sedum mats or sedum cassettes is 95% greened immediately after installation and also requires hardly any maintenance, the installer is also paid immediately after completion of the work. You can read more about this in this article.
Green roofs in combination with a PV system
Green roofs are also a useful addition to a roof with a photovoltaic system. Sedum vegetation mats can be placed around and under the solar modules. The plants on the green roof provide more cooling. The output of the solar modules is higher on cool roofs than on warm roofs. A green roof therefore increases the production of solar systems and reduces energy costs. The higher output (pdf) of PV modules in combination with a green roof can be between 5 and 16 %. So you kill two birds with one stone: the promotion of biodiversity and the generation of sustainable electricity. Read more about the Sempergreen solar green roof here.
Expand green roof with biodiversity package
A green roof is already a great enrichment for inner-city nature. Would you like to do even more? Then you can supplement your green roof with a Sempergreen biodiversity package. This package consists of a balanced amount of stones, tree trunks, host and nectar plants, sand and gravel. The perfect combination to provide nesting opportunities, shelter and food for insects, birds and butterflies.
Would you like to find out more about the different Sempergreen systems?
Are you wondering which green roof solution is right for your project? You can find all the information about Sempergreen green roof systems on our website. Our green roof specialists can inform you about all available green roof systems. Just drop by our stand in Hall 8, Stand 103 or make an appointment in advance here. The Sempergreen industry get-together will also take place every afternoon from 16:00-18:00. Register here. We look forward to interesting discussions!
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