Green roof in Batumi: a garden and lawn on the roof
A green roof in Batumi protects the membrane from the sun, holds back part of each downpour and keeps the rooms below noticeably cooler in summer. We build extensive sedum roofs that need minimal care and intensive ones with lawn and shrubs, always over tested waterproofing and with the slab designed for wet substrate. An extensive green roof starts from 235 ₾ per m².
from 235 ₾/m²over existing waterproofing: root barrier, drainage, substrate, sedums. The final price is confirmed once agreed.
- Timeline: a 50–100 m² extensive green roof over existing waterproofing usually takes 1–2 weeks
- Warranty: The green roof layers and irrigation have a 2-year warranty
Who it’s for
A flat roof visible from the house windows that you would like to turn green
An attic or room under the roof that overheats in summer
A roof terrace that needs a corner with lawn and plants
A garage or extension next to the house whose roof you want to plant
An energy-efficient house where every measure against overheating counts
What’s included
- slab check and load calculation with wet substrate
- check or installation of waterproofing
- root barrier and protective geotextile
- drainage layer with water storage
- filter geotextile and substrate
- sedum mats, planting or seeding
- gravel strips at parapets and outlets
- drip irrigation or a connection point
Green roof in Batumi: why have one
A green roof is a layer of plants and substrate laid over the waterproofing of a flat or low-pitched roof. It holds back part of the rainwater and releases it gradually, protects the roof from overheating in summer, and shields the membrane beneath it from the sun. In Batumi, where the summer sun beats on a roof for hours, rooms under a green roof stay noticeably cooler. There is a simpler reason too: the roof is pleasant to look at from the windows of neighbouring houses and upper floors.
A green roof does not replace waterproofing and does not forgive its mistakes. Beneath it you still need proper falls, a membrane with tested seams and access to the outlets. How the base is built is described on the flat roof page.
Extensive or intensive
| Extensive | Intensive | |
|---|---|---|
| Plants | Sedums, succulents, low grasses | Lawn, perennials, shrubs, small trees |
| Substrate depth | Usually 8–15 cm | From 20–40 cm and more |
| Walking on it | Only for maintenance | Like a garden |
| Care | A few times a year | Like a garden, with irrigation |
An extensive roof is light and needs almost no care; it can even go on a low slope if anti-slip grids are fitted. An intensive one is a real roof garden, and it is often combined with a terrace. How to combine planting with a seating area is covered on the roof terrace page.
Weight when saturated
Substrate after a downpour weighs several times more than when dry, and the load must be calculated for a water-saturated layer. An extensive roof adds roughly as much as heavy tiles, an intensive one several times more. In a seismic zone this is mass at the very top of the house, so the slab and frame under a green roof are checked by an engineer, and on an existing house the check comes first, the planting design second.
Layers above the waterproofing
- a root barrier that keeps roots away from the membrane;
- a protective geotextile against mechanical damage;
- a drainage layer with water-storing cups;
- a filter geotextile so substrate does not wash into the drainage;
- a light mineral-based substrate, not garden soil;
- plants: sedum mats, plugs or seed.
Along parapets, around outlets and roof exits we leave a gravel strip 30–50 cm wide. It protects the edges from scouring and wind, keeps roots out of the outlets and gives somewhere to stand during maintenance.
Plants and irrigation in the subtropics
Batumi's wet winter does not hurt rooftop plants; dry summer weeks are more dangerous. Sedums and succulents survive them, but on a sunny roof with thin substrate and no watering they start drying out by late August. So even on an extensive roof we provide drip irrigation on a timer or at least a hose connection point. Plants for sun, shade and wind are chosen at the landscape design stage.
In a warm humid climate tree seeds and weeds arrive on the roof quickly. Their roots can reach the root barrier within a season, so maintenance means weeding in spring and autumn, checking the outlets and feeding once a year.
How much a green roof costs
An extensive green roof over existing waterproofing costs from 235 ₾ per m²: root barrier, drainage, filter, substrate and sedums. An intensive one with lawn and shrubs starts from 440 ₾ per m². Waterproofing for a usable roof as a separate line starts from 155 ₾ per m², and a roof outlet from 335 ₾. Irrigation, lighting and paths are priced from the design. The final price is set after checking the slab, once the estimate is agreed.
Stages and timelines
-
Check and design
1–3 weeks
Slab calculation, choice of planting type, plants and irrigation.
-
Waterproofing
3–7 days
Flood test of the membrane or its installation, photos of seams.
-
Protective and drainage layers
2–4 days
Root barrier, geotextile, drainage, filter.
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Substrate and irrigation
2–5 days
Substrate lifted onto the roof, drip lines, gravel strips.
-
Planting
1–3 days
Sedum mats, planting, first watering.
Local specifics in Batumi
The hardest part in Batumi is getting substrate onto the roof. Bags are lifted by crane or hoist, and on a narrow street this has to be arranged in advance. We use a light substrate based on expanded minerals: garden soil becomes heavy and dense after downpours, and water cannot pass through it.
Wind off the sea dries thin substrate and tears fresh sedum mats at the roof edges. So we plant in spring or autumn, cover the edge with mesh against wind for the first weeks and water more often. On seafront roofs we choose plants that tolerate salt, not just sun.
Materials and brands
Root barrier membranes or waterproofing membranes with a root-resistant additive, geotextile from 300 g/m², plastic drainage boards with water cups. Substrate based on pumice, crushed expanded clay, perlite and compost. Plants: sedum mats, succulents, drought-tolerant grasses, and for intensive roofs lawn and shrubs in substrate of the right depth. Drip irrigation on a timer.
What makes up the cost
Timeline: a 50–100 m² extensive green roof over existing waterproofing usually takes 1–2 weeks
- checking and strengthening the slab for the weight
What raises the cost
- intensive planting with shrubs and trees
- lifting substrate by crane onto a tall house
- automatic drip irrigation
- low slope with anti-slip grids
What lowers the cost
- extensive sedum roof on a level roof
- existing tested waterproofing
We prepare the exact estimate from measurements and photos. It’s free and comes with no obligation.
Get an estimateGuarantees
The green roof layers and irrigation have a 2-year warranty. The membrane and root barrier carry the manufacturer's warranty. Plant establishment depends on watering and care, and we hand over care notes with the file.
Questions and answers
How much does a green roof cost in Batumi?
An extensive green roof over existing waterproofing costs from 235 ₾ per m²: root barrier, drainage, filter, substrate and sedums. An intensive one with lawn and shrubs starts from 440 ₾ per m². Waterproofing, irrigation, lighting and paths are priced separately. The final price is set after checking the slab, once the estimate is agreed.
Will the plants make the roof leak?
Leaks come from the membrane, not the plants, if there is a root barrier under the substrate. We flood-test the waterproofing before covering it and leave gravel strips at outlets and parapets. The danger is roots of trees grown from stray seeds, so they are weeded out in spring and autumn.
Which plants grow on a roof in Batumi?
For an extensive roof, sedums and other succulents, drought-tolerant grasses and ground covers that handle sun and wind. For an intensive roof, lawn, perennials and low shrubs with shallow roots. On roofs by the sea plants are also chosen for salt tolerance.
Does a green roof need watering?
An extensive one hardly does: rain is enough in winter and spring. But in July and August thin substrate on a sunny roof dries out, and without water the sedums turn yellow. So we install drip irrigation on a timer or at least a tap on the roof. An intensive roof is watered like an ordinary garden.
Can a green roof go on a pitched roof?
On low slopes yes, using anti-slip grids and stops that hold the substrate. The steeper the slope, the harder it is to hold the layer and the faster the top dries. For steep slopes in Batumi a green roof is usually not worth it; tiles are simpler and more reliable.
Further reading
Send us roof photos and dimensions: we will check whether it can take a green roof
We reply within an hour during business hours. Message us or leave a request: we’ll call you back, go over the details and suggest the next step.
Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00, Sat 11:00–16:00