•
Discover the cost to install a green roof, including average prices, key factors, and tips to save. Get transparent, expert-backed info for your project.
What Is a Green Roof? Here’s What to Know
Add some green to save some green
Get quotes from roofers near you
No obligation · 100% free
Get quotes from roofers near you
No obligation · 100% free
Need Help With a Project? Connect With a Pro
A green roof features a thin layer of vegetation on top of your home, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering ambient temperatures by up to five degrees.
Expect to pay $10 to $30 per square foot for green roof installation, which costs slightly more than standard roofing due to extra materials and expertise.
Your green roof needs annual inspections and regular plant care, with low-maintenance succulents requiring only one or two checks per year for optimal performance.
Hiring a local roofing professional provides expert installation of waterproof membranes and vegetation layers, helping your green roof last up to 40 or 50 years.
Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
What is a green roof? A green roof is a layer of plants growing on top of a building. It can transform your home, improving energy efficiency and creating a green oasis. Green roofs offer more than environmental benefits, though. They can also help to extend the life of your roof.
What Is a Green Roof?
A green roof is a roof that weaves vegetation into its architecture. Sometimes known as a roof garden, an eco-roof, or a living roof, a green roof contains a thin layer of vegetation.
Green roofs are often installed over residential or commercial roof types. They may be installed on low-slope or steep-slope rooftops, although they work best on flat roofs.
The elements of a green roof sit on the roof structure itself, rather than replacing traditional roofing materials.
Pros and Cons of a Green Roof
As with anything, there are some pros and cons of green roofs. Here’s what to know about the benefits and drawbacks of a living roof.
Benefits
Many green roof benefits focus on the environment. When you put plants on top of your home, you help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as the plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
Plants also help to reduce the surface temperature of your roof, which can help to minimize heat islands. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), green roofs can help lower ambient temperatures by up to five degrees Fahrenheit.
Green roofs also help improve stormwater management because they absorb rainwater, slowing down the rate at it which it flows off of your roof. A green roofing system can also help to send rainfall back into the atmosphere, thanks to evaporation.
Beyond the environment, green roofs provide economic perks. Since they rest on top of your home's roofing structure, they help protect it from wear and tear and can extend the life of your roof. As they help to cool your roof, they can also lead to lower energy bills, particularly during the heat of summer.
Drawbacks
The most notable drawbacks of green roofs are that they tend to cost more than many traditional roofing types and increase the weight load on your roofing structure. Their price increase is due not only to the upfront cost of installing the waterproof membrane and vegetation, but also the ongoing maintenance cost of keeping the plants alive and well.
You need to water the vegetation on a green roof, so that means you run the risk of water damage and leaks from the extra moisture.
Types of Green Roofs
Photo: welcomia / iStock / Getty Images
Three types of green roofs exist:
Extensive
Semi-intensive
Intensive
An extensive green roof is the most lightweight and compact option. Extensive green roofs usually feature succulent plants that don't require much water and are relatively low-maintenance.
Semi-intensive and intensive green roofs require a larger amount of growing medium and a more extensive support system. With certain types of intensive green roofs, you may even find trees growing on a roof. However, these types of green roofs are better suited for larger, commercial buildings.
Green Roof vs. Cool Roof
A green roof isn't the same as a cool roof, although both types help to reduce energy bills. Cool roofs are often painted a reflective color, such as white. The light color makes them less likely to absorb heat. However, unlike a green roof, a cool roof doesn't help to manage stormwater run-off.
Green Roof Maintenance
Green roofs require maintenance beyond that of a standard roof. You'll want to hire a local roofing company to inspect them annually.
Along with regular inspections to ensure everything is structurally sound and there are no leaks, you'll also need to care for the plants on the roof.
With succulents and other low-maintenance plants, you may only need to check the roof once or twice a year to ensure the plants are okay. With all other types of vegetation, regular watering, pruning, and other maintenance tasks are necessary. In some cases, you may need to have someone check on the plants once a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Roofing services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.3★ avg. • 120 total reviews
- Chance R.
D1 Roofing delivers outstanding service from beginning to end, backed by a strong warranty and expert teams. I highly recommend them for their excellence in meeting and surpassing expectations with unmatched communication. Choosing D1 Roofing was flawless decision
Division 1 Roofing LLC - Jeremy P.
This place took $25,000 for a flat roof job with a five-year warranty and never returned to fix the leaks that were caused by their work. These people are not professionals and should not be doing this type of work. They incorrectly changed the pitch of the roof, and caused more damage than...
- David B.
The technician was very professional and friendly. He answered all my questions and was very thorough. He left the fireplace area very clean . He inspected from the roof and advised me as to other work that might need to be done. There was no pressure there. I was very satisfied with the...
Supreme brick & chimney - Kevin S.
I am really impressed with their timeliness and turnaround. Mitchell came out, and we decided to move forward with their pricing. Our roof was on within a week, and we could not be happier with their team! Amazing company, great prices and honest, dependable craftsmanship. I highly recommend...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Rob B.
Manuel Calvillo is the best option in the area for roofing and you won't be disappointed.
- Julie K.
They damaged multiple items on my property, including a marble slab used as a table top, tried to hide it, and refused to pay or replace. Arrived day one without a ladder to access roof & delayed a day. Left a mess in back yard; didn't wear face masks; no show by owner to property to see damages
Grants Tree Service - Marcia L.
I've hired Gary/Cherokee Roofing for two different homes, work quality, responsiveness, and completion have been great both times. And the prices quoted were very competitive. I would definitely hire again.
- Paul F.
Lyle did a great job removing asbestos shingles from our front porch roof. They worked together with our roofer to make sure that the new roof was able to be installed on the same day that Lyle removed the asbestos shingles.
Lyle Environmental - Paul F.
Bradley Builders did a good job replacing the roof on our front porch. They color-matched the existing shingles on the rest of the house and installed a metal ridge roll since we live in a historical neighborhood. They did the job while we were out of town. When we got back, everything was...
Bradley Builders, Inc. - Madison B.
I would absolutely recommend this business. They offer a variety of services, including: painting, roofing, and refinishing wood flooring. I hired them to refinish the original hardwood flooring in my home built in 1874. The job was quite challenging, as the floors were extremely aged and...
The homeowners guide to roofing services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Building a home and looking to go as green as possible? Learn about the cost to build a green home and how energy-efficient features will affect the total.
Is a green roof right for you? Weigh the pros and cons of a green roof to see if it makes sense for your home and budget.
Need a new roof but aren’t keen on it looking like everyone else’s? These alternative roofing materials offer a unique curb appeal, sustainability, and more.
Neutral, earthy colors are some of the best options for complimenting green roofs. Here’s more on what colors you can paint a house with a green roof.
A green home inspection gives environmentally conscious buyers an overview of a home’s sustainability. Discover what inspectors look for in a green home.