A YORK roofing company has taken a step away from traditional roofing methods in a bid to help solve flooding problems in the city.

Roofs Above, run by brothers Kevin and Chris Garnett, was founded in 2003, but more recently has started working with “green roofs”.

Entering the Socially Responsible Business of the Year and Business Innovation of the Year categories, the business seeks to highlight how living roofs can contribute towards retaining rainwater, absorbing CO2, and providing and replacing habitats that would otherwise be lost through development.

Director Kevin Garnett said: “The last few years have seen increased numbers of flooding events around the country and here in York we have had more than our fair share of floods where either summer storms or protracted winter rainfall have wreaked havoc in our city and driven people from their homes and businesses.

“Flood defences, a political ‘hot potato’, are either inadequate or too expensive and have become one of many ‘urgent ‘ issues taking its place in the queue for government funding.

“As we are operating in the roofing industry it is perhaps not surprising that we have been motivated to use our skills and experience to work out how we can contribute towards a solution.”

The Garnett brothers, both “Freemen” of York, set about researching how individuals could, in small ways, make a difference. In doing so they discovered that by the simple addition of a Green Roof to a property, some protection for our homes and communities and ultimately our planet, could be achieved.

Mr Garnett said: “Green Roofs can retain up to 95 per cent of rainfall. One square metre of Green Roof will also absorb 5kg of C0 2 annually!

“The plants on Green Roofs can capture airborne particles such as smog, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds from the local atmosphere creating cleaner air and a positive effect upon the health of the local population.

“ In addition, the insulating effect of a Green Roof will reduce energy costs .”