A leafy landscaped garden around a commercial property for users of the building to socialise and relax in is a great idea for many businesses. As great as commercial rooftop gardens are, they are incredibly complex to build as many properties have space constraints.

Studies have proven that there are numerous benefits to having greenery in the workplace including increased productivity and mood, but many businesses don’t have the room for an outdoors breakout area. Therefore, rooftop gardens are often the best option for an outdoor space in many office buildings.

Benefits of Commercial Rooftop Gardens

Roof gardens have a huge number of benefits for commercial buildings for many reasons. Not only do they provide a breakout area for those working in the building space, but they also help to insulate the building and can even control stormwater runoff.

Studies have shown that taking an outdoor break helps to boost productivity, and if many companies have these available more staff will undoubtedly benefit.

Restaurants and bars in busy cities benefit from stylish roof gardens too. Not only do they allow businesses to welcome more customers, which in turn boosts profit margins, but a commercial rooftop garden also gives your business a point of difference and may even boost your footfall if people are trying to maintain social distancing.

It’s not just office buildings and restaurants that can benefit from a roof garden, though. Schools and colleges can also benefit from rooftop spaces as it gives them somewhere to grow plants and vegetables or can even be used as an outside classroom in the summer months.

Things to consider for a commercial rooftop garden

While roof gardens have many benefits, there are a few important considerations that you need to think about before going ahead.

Structural considerations and approval

Before beginning your project, the first thing you need to do is have a structural engineer confirm the load capacity of the rooftop, especially its ability to hold water tanks, furniture and any other accessories.

What if the rooftop has a limited load capacity?

If you have had your rooftop assessed and have found out that it’s unable to withstand a complete garden, consider container gardens that are much lighter. When assessing the weight, always think of how heavy your garden will be at its wettest.

Before starting any project, including a rooftop garden, it’s recommended that you complete all the formalities with your local council at the beginning too in order to avoid problems later down the line. The last thing you want is to put all the hard work in only for council approval to fall through so make this a top priority.

You need to ensure that your rooftop has things such as waterproofing, insulation and drainage features – the last thing you want is to have a leak inside your main building! You should also consider the weather elements – come win, sun, rain or shine you need to assess whether you need any additional components to block them out to ensure you’re making the space usable at all times.

Cosmetic considerations

One of the most important considerations you need to make as part of your rooftop garden transformation is the selection of live plants you plan to have.

Another consideration is whether you plan to use your roof garden to grow vegetables and herbs. Rooftop farming can be a welcome addition to any outdoor space, even in the midst of a concrete jungle, so this should be something you consider, especially if you are a bar or restaurant.

When selecting outdoor seating and furniture for your rooftop garden such as tables, umbrellas and patio heaters consider how they will withstand the elements and remain secured to your rooftop.

While there are a lot of things to consider with a rooftop garden, think about how you will make it enjoyable for your employees and customers. Adding some fun elements such as giant games, an outdoor bar or even a barbecue will all add value to your space and ensure it is enjoyed by all no matter what the weather!

 

Talk to us today about your commercial garden projects.