Across Dublin’s skyline, Sedum and Blue Roof systems are redefining how we build for the future. Once a niche sustainability feature, these living roofs are now standard in high-performance architecture — reducing flooding, regulating temperature, and turning concrete rooftops into thriving ecological habitats.
From the National Treasury Department to VHI Carrickmines and Clancy Quay, Sedum and Blue Roofs have become the green signature of Dublin’s sustainable developments.
What Is a Sedum Roof?
A Sedum roof — also called an extensive green roof — uses low-growing, drought-tolerant succulents that can thrive in thin layers of substrate. Common species such as Sedum album, Sedum spurium, and Sedum reflexum store water in their leaves and withstand Dublin’s changing weather with little intervention.
A typical Sedum system includes:
- A waterproofing membrane
- Drainage layer (often integrated with a blue-roof cell)
- Filter fleece
- Lightweight substrate
- Sedum blanket or plug planting
The result is a self-sustaining, lightweight, and biodiverse living surface that retains rainwater, cools the building below, and enhances visual appeal.
What Is a Blue Roof — and Why Combine the Two?
A Blue Roof is a flat roof system designed to store and release rainwater in a controlled way. Instead of allowing stormwater to rush into Dublin’s drainage network, a blue roof temporarily holds the water and gradually releases it through precision outlets.
When combined with Sedum vegetation, this creates what researchers call a Blue-Green Roof — an engineered ecosystem that manages rainwater while supporting biodiversity and cooling the urban environment.
Studies published by MDPI and IWA Online show that blue-green roofs can retain up to 80% of rainfall, lower rooftop temperatures by 3–5°C, and extend waterproof-membrane lifespan significantly.
Why Maintenance Is Essential
Although marketed as “low-maintenance,” Sedum and Blue Roofs require specialised horticultural care to remain effective. Without it, problems such as these can quickly appear:
- Sedum decline caused by nutrient loss or oversaturation
- Blocked drainage outlets leading to flooding and waterlogging
- Weed or moss invasion competing with Sedum growth
- Substrate compaction reducing oxygen and plant health
Routine inspections, correct feeding, and drainage management are crucial to preserving both roof function and warranty compliance.
Why Choose Grasshopper Services
At Grasshopper Services, we are Ireland’s leading horticultural specialists in Sedum and Blue Roof maintenance — not roofers, but horticultural professionals trained in living roof ecology.
Our experience spans every major roof type across Dublin’s corporate and public sectors, including PayPal, VHI, and National Treasury Department sites.
We supply all materials directly from Green Roof Direct in Antrim, ensuring consistent quality and FLL-compliant substrate and sedum stock.
Our services include:
- Comprehensive CDEM Roof Reports (Condition, Drainage, Environmental, Maintenance)
- Quarterly or bi-annual maintenance schedules
- Drainage-outlet inspection and cleaning
- Granular feeds and substrate top-ups to restore Sedum colour and coverage
- Drone and photographic reporting for facilities and asset managers
Partner With Grasshopper Services
Dublin City Council’s Green & Blue Roof Guide (2022) now recommends vegetated roofs on all new buildings over 100 m². That means Sedum and Blue Roof systems are no longer optional — they’re part of Dublin’s sustainability framework.
Protecting those investments requires expertise, not guesswork. A roofer can seal a roof — but only a horticultural specialist can keep it alive.
Make the Green Choice Today
If you’re thinking about improving your property’s energy efficiency and environmental footprint, a Sedum roof is one of the most effective upgrades you can make.
Contact Grasshopper Services today to arrange a site assessment or quotation for your Dublin home or business.
Email: info@grasshopperservices.ie
North Dublin: IDA Park, Unit 32, Port Tunnel Business Park, Oscar Traynor Road, Dublin 17
South Dublin: 1 Castleyard, 20/21 St Patricks Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin
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