Mike Cottage, managing director, Greenfix

I swear by …

Using the best possible drainage material that can be afforded.

The best recent innovation is …

Bio-diverse or “brown” roofing. They are even more ecologically sound versions of green roofs, which use a different sort of substrate, need less or no soil and can support a vast diversity of natural material. We take what would otherwise be put into landfill and put this salvaged habitation on top of the buildings.

My specification nightmare is …

When people try to get us to put up a green roof by the cheapest route possible.

The next big thing will be …

Legislation for building green roofs, such as compulsory orders. Although this will be good for us, the government shouldn’t tell people to do them. People should do them because they want to.

The worst piece of red tape is …

Our obligation to provide operation and maintenance manuals – it’s a real drag doing them.

Topics

Specifier 1 June 2007