You searched for tematex - TeMa Corporation

Green surfaces and green roofs: benefits and technical ins and outs

Tema Corporation — Tue, 02 May 2023 08:28:57 +0000

In recent years, “green” has become more and more of a buzzword, encompassing simple and cost-effective solutions that can be adopted by anyone with a roof. We’re talking green roofs, which, in addition to bringing undeniable environmental benefits, are the perfect place for relaxing with the family or enjoying summer drinks with friends. The origins of roof gardens date back to ancient times — think Hanging Gardens of Babylon — and, today, are built for extreme reliability, including long service life, with excellent products producing even more advantages.

Let’s take a look at the full picture in detail.

The advantages of green areas

For the environment

Plants and grass are natural carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂ and releasing oxygen, in addition to filtering particulate matter. In addition, they lessen the urban microclimate effect by lowering temperatures by several degrees centigrade, and reduce electrosmog caused by any electronic device.

They muffle noise and, if designed well, absorb and retain the early sudden downpours associated with significant rain events.

A series of sustainable improvements for urban wellbeing, improving air quality with less smog and particulate matter.

For occupant comfort

Vegetation also acts as natural thermal insulation — which is no small advantage given the energy crises of recent months — and soundproofing in loft bedrooms. Furthermore, it provides the roof with effective protection against UV rays, mechanical stress and daily variations in temperature, thus increasing the average service life of waterproofing.

Lastly, creating a garden on a roof increases the value of the property.

From a technical point of view

A green roof build-up comprises a number of layers, including geosynthetics offering better performance than traditional systems in terms of drainage, mechanical protection of waterproofing, and filtration. The products used are lighter and non-bulky, easy to transport and quick to install.

Functions required of the roof

There are 4 main functions involved:

Reservoir (to hold rainwater for irrigation purposes until it is needed) and drainage (to remove excess water). This combined function is addressed with 20mm HDPE studded membranes T-Kone H XL and T-Kone H XL S.
Control of surface erosion caused by atmospheric agents. This function is addressed with natural fibre matting T-Juta 500 and the synthetic geomat T-Mat.
Drainage. This is where T-Mix Drain 20 SS comes in, the cuspated-fibre geomat sandwiched between 2 geotextiles.
Mechanical protection of waterproofing. The geotextiles from the Tematex NW PET range, in white and black, fit the bill.

The post Green surfaces and green roofs: benefits and technical ins and outs appeared first on TeMa Corporation.

The roof: problems to be tackled and solutions to be adopted

Tema Corporation — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 14:39:08 +0000

“A hole in the roof is enough to ruin a home.”

So the (Italian) saying goes. Of course, there may not be any holes in the roof in the strict sense of the word, but, unfortunately, in a broad sense there might be. Roofs are subject to problems such as water seepage, damp and, in the case of trafficable flat roofs or car park roofs, heavy loads.

The roof is the part of a building directly exposed to weather conditions, such as rain, snow and hail, but also to heavy loads. It’s the least visible part of the house and the most difficult to inspect. When building a roof, it’s therefore essential to consider factors that might affect its integrity and safety, as well as harm the health of occupants.

Water seepage leads to damp and peeling walls. Dampness means mould and unhealthy attic environments.

So, let’s take a look at the main problems and see what solutions can be found.

Water seepage

Ponding on a roof will wet and ruin the materials used. It’s therefore necessary to install a drainage system for rainwater or, in the case of trafficable flat roofs, for accidental leaks of oil or fuel from vehicles. This applies to green roofs, trafficable flat roofs and ballasted flat roofs.

Solutions need to be found that don’t increase the “load” on the roof.

Solutions

TeMa Building Solutions recommends installing its drainage geocomposite , T-Mix Drain Plus and TMD 1011, ideal for trafficable flat roofs and flat green roofs; its T-Kone G Drain studded membrane, suitable for ballasted flat roofs and flat green roofs; or T-Net Drain geonet for trafficable flat roofs.

Vapour control

It’s also necessary to focus on vapour control. Due to temperature differences between the air and the roof material, there’s a risk of condensation forming. To prevent this, highly waterproof vapour diffusion membranes need to be laid.

Solutions

The membranes in the T-Vapo range act as a barrier, retarder and vapour diffuser for pitched roofs.

Mechanical protection of waterproofing

The first step is to ensure that the waterproofing layer is intact and remains that way. Any cracks, cuts or inaccurate application in corners can cause irreparable damage to the underlying surface, requiring major intervention and considerable costs. By the time damp patches appear, the damage is often already severe.

Moreover, in the case of roofs used as parking areas or flat green roofs, the heavy weight that the materials need to withstand must be considered.

Solutions

TeMa Building Solutions proposes its T-Kone G Drain studded membrane and the Tematex range of geotextiles for flat green roofs.

The post The roof: problems to be tackled and solutions to be adopted appeared first on TeMa Corporation.