A ballast roof or brown roof is created when a roofing membrane has a layer of gravel, pebbles, or stones added as the finished layer.
There are many advantages to a ballast roofs, one of the main advantages is that they are not as absorbent as soil. This means they do not hold as much water/weight or grow as much greenery, therefore they require less long-term maintenance.
Ballast roofs also help weigh down the waterproofing membrane and keep it in place. This provides resistance against wind uplift and offers protection against UV.
These roofs can help a structure blend into the surroundings and be more cohesive. A ballast roof can introduce landscaping textures to the roofscape and can offer a micro-habitat for lichen and insects. They can also provide a desirable terrain for birdlife in the city.
To create a ballast roof there are four key additions to consider in the design:
1. A robust waterproofing membrane.
2. A geotech drainage grid to allow drainage between the ballast and the membrane.
3. A geotextile fabric filter layer preventing soil particles from entering the drainage area.
4. A barrier detail to keep the ballast out of the gutters.
You must also consider the structural elements of designing a ballast roof and take into account the substrate and weight load.
Future-proofing a ballast roof can be done by specifying Nuraply 3PG membrane. With an inbuilt root inhibitor, the double layer membrane system is robust and durable solution to handle the added layer of gravel, stone or peddles.
The system also includes Nuramat Green Drain which has an integrated geotextile filter layer and water retention capacity. This means water will evaporate from the filter quickly and not weigh down the roof.
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Understanding Roof Falls and Tapered Insulation
Influencing Action Through Emissions Reduction
Membrane Technology: Knowing Your Options
Designing Roofs to Meet H1’s Increased Insulation Requirements
Low Carbon Design: Utilising Flat Roofs to Combat Carbon
System Solutions for Efficient Energy Use
Specifying an H1 Compliant Membrane Roof on a Commercial Project
Ballast Roofs/ Brown Roofs: An Alternative to Green Roofs
Utilising Passive House Principles in Warm Roof Design
Futureproofing Your Waterproofing Specification
The Ultimate Decking Solution: Windproof Nurajacks
Advantages of Membrane Roof Renewals
Why to Use Pre-Applied Membranes When Building on Brown Fields
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Taking Advantage of Roofs as Liveable Space
Thermal Bridge vs Continuous Thermal Envelope
Designing for Internal Moisture
