Unlike the traditional system involving the use of concrete, using gravel is an option that brings a number of attractive advantages:

• it protects the roof against wind and UV rays
• it protects the roof against mechanical damage
• it is low maintenance
• it provides thermal comfort in summer as it shades the roof
• it makes the whole roof system practically fireproof
• it is long lasting.

In building, the choice of a ballasted roof is often prompted by aesthetic reasons for a holiday home or a hotel by the sea, or in an area with high sunshine hours… while it also caters to the need for optimal insulation and low maintenance.

The TeMa Building Solutions answer for protecting ballasted roofs

When gravel is laid, the load can tear the waterproofing layer on the roof underneath, and this comes with the risk of leaks, with all the ensuing stain, mould and structural damage issues.
So it is important to address the need for rainwater drainage and mechanical protection of the waterproofing.

TeMa Building Solutions has come up with a product that serves multiple functions: the product in question is T-Kone G Drain, the studded membrane (which serves to protect the waterproofing) featuring a geotextile (addressing the need for filtration and separation).

Placed between the gravel layer and waterproofing, T-Kone G-Drain is thin, strong and ideal for an effective build-up without the bulk.

The post Ballasted roofs: why gravel, and how to protect their waterproofing appeared first on TeMa Corporation.

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.

Over the holidays, car parks on the roofs of public buildings or buildings for use by the public could also provide refuge for the cars of passers-through. During the offices’ closing time, for example, these parking spaces can become a real asset, an ideal solution for making use of otherwise unused space and increasing the number of car parks for people travelling to tourist hot spots

Continual vehicular traffic and exposure to the elements — from freezing temperatures to sweltering heat — mean the construction materials used must be fit for purpose. Intensive use means it’s imperative all the proper layers are in place (build-up design) to serve the different specific functions. Let’s see what these layers are.

What do we need to be careful about when designing a rooftop car park?

This kind of roof is subjected to high loads, both static and dynamic, from vehicles of all kinds. This makes the mechanical protection of the waterproofing layer and the need for high compressive strength two key focus areas.

Drainage is another aspect to be factored into the design. Rainwater can seep into the underlying layers and damage them, so we need to ensure that water is drained off the roof properly.

We recommend applying studded membranes laminated with nonwovens or drainage geocomposites made from monofilaments or geonets.

Our drainage geocomposite T-Mix Drain Plus is a good candidate for the drainage layer. Alternatively, you can opt for the T-Net Drain 5 and T-Net Drain 7 geonets, which are sandwiched between nonwovens.

The job of mechanical protection, together with drainage, can instead be handled by the drainage geocomposite TMD 1011. The product consists of a filter geotextile laminated to a studded membrane, whose conformation delivers effective drainage even under the strain of high loads (up to 400 kPa).

The post Rooftop car park: next-level solution for making the most of underused space. appeared first on TeMa Corporation.

The use of materials such as aluminium, titanium zinc or steel for walls and roofs is an innovative and design-oriented solution that is now increasingly widespread in residential and commercial applications.

But let’s take a look step by step.

Advantages of metal roofs and walls

One of the economic advantages is certainly low maintenance: metal has a fairly high initial cost, but it’s recovered over the years that follow. Not least is its durability: unlike traditional materials, metal does not deteriorate easily and is much less susceptible to weather conditions and temperature changes, which makes it last for several decades. Unlike conventional roofs, metal ones are much lighter therefore difficulties are also minimised during installation. Lastly, they are recyclable: respect for the environment is always appreciated.

Let’s not forget that metal roofs and walls, when well-insulated, are also good for the pocket. A little energy saving is never a bad thing, considering energy costs in recent months. This material, in the best-suited colours, reflects summer heat instead of absorbing it.It’s also beneficial to the value of the property!

Did you know that?
Metal-clad structures offer natural protection against lightning due to the ‘Faraday cage’ system.

What to look out for

You can imagine that an inconvenience of metal roofs and roofing is sound insulation: the noise of rain or, even worse, hail, especially in areas with heavy rainfall, is an annoyance. Another more damaging effect that needs to be considered is the formation of condensation on the inner façade, which needs to be properly drained.

K-Roof was created to solve both problems. This underlayment for metal roofs and walls provides an efficient drainage system and excellent sound insulation.

Discover all the specifications here.

The post The new frontier in metal roofs and walls appeared first on TeMa Corporation.

In building elements, the persistence of moisture and condensation can cause a structure to deteriorate. This is evident in the appearance of efflorescence (those white spots that appear as a result of the solidification of salts contained in water) and, subsequently, mould.

Multilayer vapour membranes are excellent for protecting buildings against water seepage. They can be divided into vapour diffusion, barrier and retarder.

Although often confused and considered interchangeable, they actually perform quite separate functions.Let’s take a look at them in detail.

What makes them differ?

What makes these products differ is mainly the degree of vapour breathability, its resistance capacity, measured with an S_d indicator. The lower the S_d value, the more breathable the material. The UNI 11470:2015 standard sets out application methods for breathable screens and membranes and their use on pitched roofs, on continuous or discontinuous supports or in direct contact with thermal insulation.

Vapour diffusion

With S_d ≤0.1 m, diffusion membranes are impermeable to water but highly permeable to vapour that is created in a room and can escape.

On roofing, a breathable diffusion membrane is applied to the outside of a building over insulation, as it facilitates the evaporation of moisture, even residual moisture, whereas on the inside – below the insulation – a retarder or barrier should be chosen.

TeMa Building Solutions suggests T-VAPO FAST 150, T-VAPO FAST 180 andT-VAPO FAST 210.

Vapour retarder

These membranes (2 m < Sd ≤ 20 m) completely block the passage of water but only partially block vapour, thereby controlling the passage of moisture and preventing the formation of interstitial condensation.

They are generally placed inside a structure because it slows down the passage of vapour that is conveyed, in winter, by warm air to the outside and which might deteriorate materials.

TeMa Building Solutions suggests T-VAPO SLOW NET.

N.B. The watertightness of breathable membranes and vapour retarders refers to their ability to withstand rainwater if a roof covering is damaged or breaks: it should not be considered in relation to pressurised water.

Vapour barrier

Lastly, a vapour barrier is a material that is completely impermeable to both water and vapour (Sd ≥ 100 m). It is mainly, but not exclusively, used in humid environments such as swimming pools.

The position of a vapour barrier depends on the heat flow: it should be placed against insulation on the warm side.

TeMa Building Solutions suggests T-VAPO STOP and T-VAPO STOP ALU.

Which one should you choose?

There is no single answer. A technician will recommend the right product after a passive thermographic analysis and precise thermal engineering design. In principle, the most important factor is to block vapour where it forms while allowing any residue to pass through so that the waterproof layer remains intact.

As mentioned above, choosing which membrane to use requires an evaluation of various aspects, including climatic conditions, the type of insulation, structural components and a technical assessment based on thermo-hygrometric measurements.

Discover the full range offered by TeMa Building Solutions here.

The post Vapour diffusion, retarder and barrier: how do they differ? appeared first on TeMa Corporation.

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.