• Roof with green and red sedum, with pebbles in the foreground
  • Green hill with yellow flowers under a blue sky with clouds
  • Green roof with yellow and white flowers next to a modern building with a glass facade
  • Green ground cover in the foreground with a brick apartment building behind it

Green roofs are ecologically and economically attractive. Save energy, extend the lifespan of your roof, and increase the value of your building.

  • Groendak met dakraam naast bakstenen muur, op de voorgrond een grindpad

    Quickly installed, also on existing roofs

    The ECCOsedum trays are pre-grown and ready for immediate installation. With a weight of 84 kg/m² when saturated, they are light enough for almost any existing flat or slightly sloped roof, without additional structural modifications. Installation is possible year-round. Need to temporarily remove the trays? They are easy to remove and reinstall.


     

  • Zonnig park met pad links en bloeiende planten langs de rand, bomen op de achtergrond

    Water buffering and climate resilience

    An ECCOsedum roof buffers up to 35 litres of rainwater per square metre. The water is gradually drained off or absorbed by the vegetation, which noticeably reduces the load on the sewer system. For projects in urban or paved environments, this is a concrete argument towards the client or municipality, especially in light of increasing regulations on rainwater management and surface sealing.


     

  • Minimal maintenance, maximum lifespan

    Sedum plants are drought-resistant and require virtually no maintenance. Pruning once a year is sufficient, preferably in September. The consistent substrate thickness of the ECCOsedum trays structurally limits weed growth. At the same time, the vegetation layer protects the underlying roof membrane against UV radiation and temperature fluctuations, extending the roof’s lifespan two to three times compared to a traditional roof.

The benefits of a green roof

  • Lower sewer tax: buffers up to 35 litres of rainwater per m²
  • Up to 3 times longer lifespan for your roof
  • More biodiversity: sedum serves as a nectar source for bees and butterflies
  • Qualify for subsidies and grants from municipalities and regions
  • Reduces roof temperature and increases the efficiency of solar panels
  • Reduces energy consumption: less cooling in summer, less heating in winter
  • Sound and heat insulating

Installing and maintaining a green roof

Quickly installed, hardly any maintenance

You install an extensive green roof using pre-cultivated trays that you place directly on the roof covering, including on slightly sloping roofs. Thanks to the low weight (approx. 84 kg/m² when saturated), this is possible on most existing roofs without major structural modifications, so without significant additional cost. The trays can also be removed afterwards, and installation is possible year-round. Maintenance remains limited. Sedum is drought-resistant and requires little care: one pruning per year is sufficient, preferably in September, to remove weeds and spent plants. Thanks to the consistent substrate thickness, weed growth also remains limited. Only give the roof some extra water during prolonged dry periods. This makes a green roof not only a sustainable choice, but also a low-maintenance long-term investment.

Green roof with yellow flowers in front of a modern glass building, a few people on the walkway.

Installing and maintaining a green roof

Quickly installed, hardly any maintenance

You install an extensive green roof using pre-cultivated trays that you place directly on the roof covering, including on slightly sloping roofs. Thanks to the low weight (approx. 84 kg/m² when saturated), this is possible on most existing roofs without major structural modifications, so without significant additional cost. The trays can also be removed afterwards, and installation is possible year-round. Maintenance remains limited. Sedum is drought-resistant and requires little care: one pruning per year is sufficient, preferably in September, to remove weeds and spent plants. Thanks to the consistent substrate thickness, weed growth also remains limited. Only give the roof some extra water during prolonged dry periods. This makes a green roof not only a sustainable choice, but also a low-maintenance long-term investment.

ECCOsedum: available filled or unfilled

ECCO Products supplies ECCOsedum in two versions: pre-grown trays, ready for immediate installation, and empty trays for growers who want to cultivate sedum themselves. The empty trays are available in four variants with different dimensions, weights and drainage capacity—each designed for specific applications such as colder climates or more intensive planting.

  • Person kneeling and scraping moss off a flat roof with a scraper

    ECCOsedum pre-grown trays

  • Zwarte kunststof batterijhouder met honingraatvakjes op witte achtergrond

    ECCOsedum empty trays

Inspiration
  • Brick apartment building behind a wide grassy lawn with small red flowers
    Trends

    Green roofs for a more sustainable city

    Why green roofs are a smart choice in cities
    Green roofs are an ideal way to make a city more sustainable. The roofs not only add aesthetic value, but also offer numerous functional benefits.
  • Person kneeling and scraping moss off a flat roof with a scraper
    Tips

    Maintenance of a green roof in 5 easy steps

    How to maintain a sedum roof
    A sedum roof such as the ECCOsedum system requires little maintenance, but it isn’t completely maintenance-free. To keep the roof in top condition, a small amount of upkeep is needed. Fortunately, that’s quick and easy to do!
    Read more
  • Low-angle view of grass with a concrete edge and tall trees in the background
    Trends

    Installing a green roof: towards a climate-friendly roof

    Why install a green roof
    Green roofs are rapidly gaining importance in cities and towns. They buffer rainwater, improve insulation, and bring nature closer to people. That’s why more and more property developers, architects, and contractors are choosing a professional green-roof system, such as a well-designed solution with sedum tiles installed with the proper build-up.

Frequently asked questions

  • Can ECCOsedum be installed on any roof?

    When installing ECCOsedum green roofs, two risks are decisive: leaching or sliding of the substrate, and sliding of the entire system down the roof slope. The slope determines which precautionary measures are required.

    Up to 15° (27%) ECCOsedum can be installed without additional measures. The specific build-up of the system provides sufficient erosion protection on these slopes.

    Between 15° and 20° (27–36%) a batten system above the roof waterproofing is required. Wooden battens suffice here: the wood decays over time, but the substrate’s root penetration provides sufficient anchoring. Advantages of a system above the roof waterproofing: the waterproofing layer is not affected and no water stagnation occurs.

    From 20° (36%) heavier measures are needed. There are two options:

    1. Step system: segments the roof build-up into levels to reduce the effective slope, similar to a terrace construction.

    2. Batten system — divides the substrate layer into compartments. The spacing between the battens is determined by the slope gradient. Two versions:

    • Below the roof waterproofing: wooden battens, with a long service life. Battens without rounded edges require a protective layer to avoid damage to the waterproofing layer. Note: water retention behind the battens can negatively affect the sliding of the substrate.
    • Above the roof waterproofing: battens generally made of plastic. The roof waterproofing is not affected and no water stagnation occurs.

  • Can you install a green roof on a roof that is largely in the shade?

    Succulents, including many sedum species, can generally tolerate both sun and shade, but they usually prefer sunlight. They are accustomed to dry, sunny conditions and are well adapted to storing water in their leaves. This makes them extremely suitable for green roofs and gardens with limited water availability.


    In shady conditions, succulents can also grow, but they will often perform less well than in full sun. They may grow more slowly, bloom less, and become less dense.

  • How many layers does an ECCOsedum green roof consist of?

    An ECCOsedum green roof consists of 3 layers:

    1. Drainage layer: The tiles have a structure designed in such a way that rainwater that is not absorbed by the green roof system can quickly drain away without obstruction to the drainage points. The bottom drainage holes are located 1 cm from the underside so that non-capillary water can also be stored to a limited extent.
    2. Substrate layer – water retention layer: The trays are filled with substrate to the full height (8 cm). In some places (at the level of the emergency overflows) the substrate thickness is 3.5 cm. The minimum thickness of the substrate is therefore 3.5 cm – the average thickness is 6 cm. The substrate layer has multiple functions. It provides nutrients and water for the vegetation and ensures oxygen and anchoring of the roots. The trays are filled with a roof-garden substrate, composed of lava, pumice and green compost.
      Water retention volume per tray: 32.5 litres/m²
      Grain size: 0–12 mm
      Bulk density of substrate after compaction in dry condition: 0.78 g/cm³
      Bulk density of substrate after compaction at maximum water capacity: 1.27 g/cm³
    3. Vegetation layer: The pre-vegetated extensive green roof system is supplied with at least 7 types of sedum plants. The cassettes are delivered with at least 80% coverage.

  • Is there an additional water-retention layer in the ECCOsedum green roof system?

    Yes, the ECCOProtect400 root barrier fabric provides an additional buffer volume of 4 l/m².

  • Is there an additional water-retention layer in the ECCOsedum green roof system?

    Yes, thanks to the ECCOProtect400 root barrier fabric there is an additional buffer volume of 4 l/m².

  • What are the advantages of an ECCOsedum green roof compared to a classic green roof?

    • Our sedum trays are pre-grown up to 80–85%. This means you get instant results and we are talking about a ready-to-use system. With a traditional build-up, substrate layers and sedum cuttings/sedum mats are used, which always need a certain period to take root and grow densely. As a result, weeds get every chance to establish themselves in the green roof.
    • The sedum cassettes are very easy to install and can be done by 1 person, which ensures a very fast and efficient installation. With a traditional build-up, blower trucks or big bags are used.
    • Since the system uses trays, they can be very easily removed if any roof works are needed after installation. With the traditional system, the entire substrate layer must be removed in order to reinstall everything afterwards.
    • The cassettes provide a constant substrate thickness. In traditional systems, the thickness of the substrate can vary between 1 and 8 cm, which also leads to weed growth.
    • On roofs with a slope, the substrate remains in the tray. With the traditional system, there is a risk of slippage and of weed growth at the lowest point of the slope, since moisture settles at the lowest level and thus encourages weed growth.

  • What types of sedum are included in an ECCOsedum green roof?

    When selecting the plant species, the following parameters were taken into account:

    • Aesthetic value (e.g. flowering): wide sedum variety of at least 7 species.
    • Drought resistance in relation to substrate thickness, substrate composition and water buffer. Since each sedum species thrives optimally under slightly different climatic conditions, a wide variety of sedum species provides greater certainty.
    • Rate of propagation, to prevent one particular species from becoming invasive
    • Regenerative capacity after extreme drought.
    • Different flowering periods: when pre-growing ECCOsedum green roofs, cuttings material is used; these are runners from mother plants that are clipped off. To know the correct dosage of cuttings material for each sedum species, it is important to know how quickly they multiply after planting (to avoid monoculture). By using production fields (mother plants) each with a single sedum species, the correct mix of the cuttings material can always be guaranteed, which is important for a diverse roof vegetation.

    ECCOsedum green roofs contain at least 7 sedum species:

    • Sedum Immergrunchen
    • Sedum Album
    • Sedum Reflexum
    • Sedum Sexangulare
    • Sedum Acre
    • Sedum Spurium
    • Sedum Lydium

    The choice of the cuttings mix and the dosage of each type was carefully studied with green-roof experts. The ECCOsedum green-roof system was also subjected to long-term tests on roofs and simulated extreme weather conditions. After various tests, the final plant mix proved to be highly efficient.