Green Roof Reno
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October 8, 2008
The Modules
The green roof modules finally arrived – our first step towards planting our Brooklyn roof! They came without soil or plants in a 2 x 2 x 2 box – 20 in all. Or I guess 21 if you count the two that were stuck together. To my shock and disappointment, the green roof blocks, or modules, were old, used and even slightly damaged. They looked like they had been recycled from a previous project! Even some of the protection board footers had fallen or were falling off. As you might imagine, I was pretty upset. I mean, who does this?!?
I had heard mixed reviews about the company previously but this really made me question my decision to go with “Green Roof Blocks.” Basically the modules are just anodized aluminum planters – 4 inches deep with protection board footers so that they sit on the roof and weep holes to allow for some drainage. I thought these modules would be best for our situation because they allow for flexibility and for the fact that I could get them without the soil or plants. I wanted to find my own sources for these – both to cut down on costs while also injecting some of my own decisions on soil and plantings into this process.
These modules do have some design flaws – they are missing a drainage layer and filter fabric which would definitely make for better soil conditions and more stormwater retention. But considering our still unresolved roof situation, the positives of flexibility outweighed the negatives.
I complained to my contact at Green Roof Blocks about the product we received - they actually agreed to send me an entirely new shipment. So, assuming that really happens I am not sure what else I could reasonably expect. Delivering old, used and dirty planters sucks, but recognizing the error and fixing it goes a long way. . .
Soil’s up next. I have a nice, lightweight, expanded shale and organic mix that I’m picking up in Connecticut later this week. . . .more to follow.
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Comments
Please let me know the final cost - I would to get this done.
thx
K
Posted by: HurricaneKate at October 8, 2008 12:48 PM
In terms of general costs - your looking at about $20/square foot.
I would be happy to share more specific costs by email - I'm at greenroofguy@gmail.com
Posted by: Green Roof Guy at October 8, 2008 1:16 PM
Is that $20 including the $4.50 psft tax credit? IOW will it be $15 psft after?
Posted by: denton at October 8, 2008 2:38 PM
Missing a drainage layer? And this is supposed to grow healthy plants in the rain/drought cycle?
Posted by: Marie Brown at October 8, 2008 7:20 PM
Denton - Like all government programs with their red tape, getting the tax abatement can be difficult. Meaning that there are many contigencies to doing so - for example greening at least 50% of your roof space, or using only drought tolerant species like sedums, sempervivums, and delosperma. There are also specifications to the types of layers that you use. I'll be posting on that in more detail soon.
Posted by: Green Roof Guy at October 8, 2008 9:36 PM
Prices also vary based on total square footage of your roof in addition to accessibility - i.e. a 10,000 sqft green roof on the first floor could be $10/sqft, while a 200 sqft green roof on the 20th floor could be $35/sqft - it all just depends on your site and the conditions.
Posted by: Green Roof Guy at October 8, 2008 9:42 PM
Marie Brown - All the plants selected are drought-tolerant, xeriscape plants that should be fully healthy without any irrigation at all. In regards to the drainage of the trays, there are weep holes as I mentioned, just no eggshell drainage layer that some of the planted in place green roof systems have. The advantage of the eggshell layer is that it holds more of the intial first flush of stormwater and allows that water to slowly evapotranspire up into the soil media - acting like a kind of perlite that slowly releases moisture into the soil.
Posted by: Green Roof Guy at October 8, 2008 9:50 PM
While of course I understand your desire that all your modules are functional, I am a bit confused (amused?) by your dismay that they were used before. Isn't one element of a "green" lifestyle the recycling of materials? I would think this would especially be true with something which is going to be covered with plants.
Good luck with your project.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at October 9, 2008 9:58 AM
Putnam - I like your point - but obviously when you pay money for something, you want to get what's advertised. If they had wanted to send me the used modules at half price, I would have jumped at the opportunity to use the recycled modules.
In the end, we paid half-price anyway, because they sent us replacements. We'll use the old modules to start, because as you mentioned, we're covering it with soil and plants - so who really cares?
Posted by: Green Roof Guy at October 11, 2008 8:50 AM
cool.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at October 13, 2008 9:06 AM
Hi,
I'm thinking of doing one of these myself. Anyway I can get the names of the engineers, contractors etc. who are helping you out?
Thanks!
Posted by: new2 at October 15, 2008 12:23 PM
New2 - Sure drop me an email at greenroofguy@gmail.com
Posted by: Green Roof Guy at October 21, 2008 8:37 AM
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