How to fit a Living Sedum Roof on your Garden Office

A new garden building is a fantastic way of creating extra space, but if you’re worried it will compromise the greenness of your garden, think about adding a living sedum roof.

A living sedum roof is an eco-friendly roof finish that not only looks great but also adds to the building's insulative properties, reduces sound transfer and creates a haven for wildlife. You can order the kit to install yourself at any time or have our team of expert installers lay the sedum while constructing your garden room.

This step-by-step guide will help you install a living sedum roof on your garden office or shed. Discover more about how eco-friendly our garden buildings are.

Preparation

The roof construction must be completed prior to delivery of the living sedum roof to ensure installation can take place right away. Delivery from the supplier can arrive from multiple sources so sometimes, multiple deliveries will be required to fulfil the shipment.

The drainage board will be the first component needed in the installation and will be the same colour on both sides, but it is important to orient the board correctly before installation. The board has a profile similar to a store-bought box of eggs, and needs to be placed cup-side-up.

When fitting the drainage board, make sure it is cut 25mm short around the edge of the EPDM to avoid a sharp edge potentially damaging the roof membrane. Lay down the drainage board and when laying two pieces side-by-side, put the fabric underneath the board for a neat finish.

Layout the Growth Medium

Growth medium, as it says on the bag is there to help support the growth of the living sedum roof. The growth medium is supplied in 25kg bags which should be spaced out evenly across the roof. Open and carefully spread the contents over the drainage board ensuring the finish is free from lumps & bumps.

Make sure to cut a 200mm hole in the drainage board around the gutter outlet. Our installers find it best practice to position some pebbles around the gutter outlet to prevent debris from blocking the drainage.

Roll out the sedum

Now the exciting part, laying out your new eco-roof! 

When lifting the rolls of sedum, remember, that this is a living material and the turf can be fragile. A top tip from our installers is to prepare a sling with an old tarp to cradle the turf rolls whilst lifting and manoeuvring.

Once the turf is on the roof, simply roll out the sedum to cover the whole surface of the drainage board, removing a small section around the gutter outlet. The sedum will arrive in sections of approximately 1.2m x 2m. Some sections will need to be trimmed to size and can be easily cut with an old hand saw or utility knife. 

Maintenance

Immediately after installation, the plant can be a little fragile. It's a good idea to keep an eye on it, making sure it doesn't dry out as it establishes. If it's slow to establish, it may require an initial feed.

Sedum is very low maintenance and rarely requires attention. However, If you don’t have a clear view of your new roof, you should check the plant from time to time.

Periodically, you may need to:

• Weed & remove any moss from the turf.
• Check for wilting and water if required (usually just during a heatwave).
• Feed the sedum every couple of years (unless the birds are already doing that for you!).