Blackdown Greenroofs appreciate that right now, in the depths of winter, maintaining your green roof is probably the last thing that you’re thinking of, but it won’t be long before spring will be pushing ahead and making us think of those important tasks.

By their nature, extensive green roofs are low maintenance, (that’s low maintenance, not no maintenance) unfortunately, it seems in a lot of cases, green roof maintenance is overlooked or considered un-necessary, this is just not the case, after all this is a living system which is trying to flourish in what can be a very hostile environment.

So, here’s a few hints and tips to encourage us to start thinking of what’s required and with a little help from us your green roofs should continue to develop to create a self-sustaining plant community for years to come.

Foot traffic

Light foot traffic on the planted roof, 2-3 times a year, should have no detrimental effect on the plant layer, However, if it’s going to be more frequent than this then consider a hard surface or a least a gravel pathway.

Removal of undesirable plant material

Some people welcome the colonisation of so-called ‘weeds’ to promote biodiversity. However, you may rather have them removed. Timing their removal before they set seed is key to helping keep on top of the weed population and reduce the weed seed bank in the substrate – easing the subsequent build-up of years of weeding!

Application of nutrient

The levels of nutrients available within the green roof substrate will vary from season to season and from year to year. When replenishing them, it’s best to try and use a low nitrogen fertiliser so as not to encourage rapidly growing broadleaf plants at the expense of slower growing wildflowers and sedums. Understanding the N:P:K ratings on your fertiliser is an important aspect of greenroof maintenance.

Correction of system

Over time acidification of the growing medium can occur. This can happen particularly in built up areas where rainfall can be slightly more acidic. Acidified growing mediums can encourage the establishment of moss. Low levels of moss are not a problem and indeed should be viewed as a significant part of the roofs biodiversity. However, if moss becomes too well established this could be at the expense of other preferred plants.

Checking of gutters and outlets

This should be carried out routinely during any maintenance check to ensure drainage and rainwater outlets are not impeded.

Removal of leaf litter

The ideal position for a sedum green roof is in full sun. However, if adjacent trees shed their leaves onto the planted roof surface this could have a detrimental effect upon sedums. Its best to try and remove any buildup of leaf litter soon after they fall.

Safe access

We all want to work safely and ensure our friends and colleagues are not put at risk. Under the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM) 2015, appropriate measures should be taken at both design and construction stages to ensure safe access and passage over the planted roof areas for maintenance personnel.

All inspections/and or maintenance actions carried out on the green roof must be in full compliance with the appropriate health and safety regulations, and particularly those specifically dealing with working at height.

Refer to current HSE publication ‘The Working at Height Regulations’ for further guidance.

Click here to find out more about our Green Roof products

Blackdown are proud to have completed the green roof at the Chester Bus Interchange site which is a £10 million ‘key enabling’ project and part of the wider £300m Chester Northgate Redevelopment.

The bus interchange is capable of handling 156 bus movements per hour & is due to open early in 2017. Blackdown worked alongside Lakesmere, who installed the Kalzip roof and Graham Construction the main contractor.

The project has a 3,434sqm sedum NatureMat roof with a varied pitch from 0-35 degrees installed over a Kalzip standing seam roof.

Blackdown would like to thank both Graham Construction and Lakesmere for the positive and close working partnership throughout the duration of this exciting project.

To find out more about Alumasc’s Blackdown Green Roof products products click here.

2,200m2 of Alumasc’s SupaGOLD roofing system has been installed at the Metropolitan Police Authority’s Quicksilver Patrol Base in London.

Following numerous historic patchwork repairs to the existing waterproofing system, Vinci Facilities commissioned Alumasc to perform a detailed site survey of all flat roof areas. The resulting roof condition report stated that the original system integrity was seriously compromised, with high levels of ponding, standing water and leakage to the main roof area.

Varying levels of deterioration across the roof areas were also recorded and clear recommendations for how these would be addressed were given within the site specific specification. Alumasc’s SupaGOLD Waterproofing System was advised as the perfect replacement for this roof as a key requirement for this project was that the system must be independently insured for up to 20 years.

To find out more about Alumasc’s SupaGOLD products and 20 year independently insured guarantee click here.

Alumasc’s Derbigum waterproofing membrane is the only high-performance bituminous roofing membrane with a 40-year durability statement from the BBA (British Board of Agrément).

Agrement Certificate 86/1593

Whilst competitors’ durability statements are typically for 20 or 25 years, Alumasc’s Derbigum stands out for its proven reliability with a 40-year BBA durability statement, which gives specifiers and end-users added confidence as to the product’s in-service longevity.

With a proven track record of success, Alumasc’s Derbigum systems have held a BBA certificate since 1980 and offer a variety of environmentally-beneficial, sustainable characteristics: including membranes with high levels of recycled content; innovative CO2-neutralising membranes; energy efficient ‘cool’ roofs; and vegetal, non-bituminous solutions.

The original and best APP (Atactic Polypropylene) modified product on the market, more than 20 million square metres of Alumasc’s Derbigum have been installed upon a wide variety of buildings in the UK, including the Shard and Canary Wharf in London.

Click here to download your copy of the BBA certificate or call +44 (0) 3335 771 500.

Trevor Lang, Technical Manager – Roofing Division for Alumasc Exterior Building Products, explains how bituminous roofing membranes can help in the battle against global warming.

Putting ecological roofing membranes on the market is good. Designing membranes that actively purify the air and contribute positively towards reducing global warming, by battling against the most prevalent of greenhouse gases, is even better!

Helping protect the environment

Historically the positive associations between bitumen and the environment have been limited. However, Alumasc’s Derbigum Olivine changed this and shows that bitumen can indeed play a meaningful role in the battle against rising CO₂ levels in the atmosphere.

Because the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere is hundreds of times higher than the amount of other significant hazardous compounds, such as N₂0 (Nitrous Oxide), Alumasc chose to tackle this kind of pollution actively. And, after much detailed research and experimentation, they developed the Alumasc Derbigum Olivine roofing membrane.

Whilst other so-called ‘environmentally friendly’ membranes incorporate titanium dioxide, which requires the use of either sulphuric acid or chlorine gas in its production, the Olivine in Alumasc’s Derbigum Olivine surfacing is a 100% naturally occurring and environmentally safe mineral (magnesium iron silicate) which simply requires grinding down to the right size for it to be used in this application.

So how does it work?

The purification of the air takes place when it rains, when the CO₂ is literally washed out of the air.

When the rainwater comes into contact with the olivine, an irreversible chemical reaction takes place which transforms the CO2 into three environmentally-harmless substances – water, magnesium carbonate and sand.

Research conducted by Prof. Dr. Olaf Schuiling at the University of Utrecht showed that 1kg of Olivine neutralises 1.25kg of CO₂, which means that for every square metre of Alumasc Derbigum Olivine roofing membrane 1.75kg of CO₂ is neutralised (there are 1.4kg of olivine granules per m² of Alumasc Derbigum Olivine roofing membrane).

A very durable solution

From an ecological perspective, Alumasc’s Derbigum Olivine is a very durable solution and is the only bituminous membrane to have been given a 40-year BBA (British Board of Agrément) durability statement.

Olivine is completely UV resistant, meaning that its effectiveness is not degraded when in situ by the sun’s rays, and even with natural ageing, the active compound of the olivine will still be present when the roofing membrane itself is at the end of its lifespan.

Alumasc’s Derbigum Olivine is an Atactic Polypropylene (APP)-modified product which is suitable for use in all temperature zones and has already been utilised on a number of prestigious projects in the UK, including the Shard.

For further information regarding our Derbigum Olivine Flat Roof Membrane or to request a free sample and brochure click here.

Business is brisk at Blackdown Greenroof’s Somerset nursery, based in Somerset, the plant growing nursery is at full production with many orders waiting to be dispatched to greenroof projects around the United Kingdom.

Introduction

By growing our own plant material we can manage, cultivate and ensure that the quality of the material is at it’s best before dispatching to site. Another key aspect to our service is that we are not affected by fluctuating exchange rates or cross channel traffic during the peak summer periods making us highly reliable from initial order through to final delivery.

Blackdown can also cater for any eventuality, for example, if the weather gets too hot then we can ship our UK grown material to site in refrigerated lorries. This provides the plant species with the ideal climate to keep it at its best and provide the ideal start to its green roof life. If the product is not provided with efficient and effective transit methods this can be detrimental to the survival of the product.

Wide Range of Plug Plants

Whether you want a supply & install or a supply only price we have a wide range of sedum and wildflower plugs available within the nursery, these can be delivered to site as individual trays or as bulk palletised deliveries. We are able to contract grow sedum and wildflower plug requirements – just contact our main office or contracts department for more information. If we don’t have the sedum plug species you want then we can grow it for you – just ask for costs and production schedules and we can cater for your requirements and timescales.

Propagation

We have recently installed additional propagation facilities at our Somerset based nursery that enable us to extend the germination and growing season. Our full time horticultural staff provide seven days a week care and servicing of the plants to make sure that the plug plantss are always at their best.

Maintenance & storage

Blackdown have both covered and open-air production as well as storage facilities, so if your project is delayed and you need us to store and maintain your plants before dispatch we can look after them and keep them in top condition until you’re ready for them on-site.

For more information or if you have a project that may require our green roof products please email any drawings, literature or enquiries to contact@alumascroofing.co.uk

On the 17th July 2016, five of the Alumasc team set out on a gruelling 10k race through the mud, also known as the Delamere Commando Trail to raise money to fight coronary heart disease with the British Heart Foundation.

This 10k trail is set in the outstanding Delamere Forest Park, running through multi-terrain and varying underfoot conditions. Along the way, there were sandbags to carry, Camouflage nets to crawl under and water slides to conquer.

David Luukas (second from right), Ashlea Williamson (central) and Jay Connelly (left) from Marketing, Michael Walton (second from left) from Purchasing and Chris Buckley (right) from Technical bravely completed the challenge! The race completion times are as follows:

Mike Walton = 1hr 32mins

Jay Connolly = 1hr 36mins

Dave Luukas = 1hr 44mins

Ashlea Williamson = 1hr 55mins

Chris Buckley = 1hr 55mins

The run was in aid of the British Heart Foundation. “Coronary heart disease is the single biggest killer and we are leading the fight against it.”- BHF. If you would also like to donate to this cause, in order to tackle this difficult fight, follow this link to create a just giving page http://www.justgiving.com/britishheartfoundation.

Alumasc’s Euroroof waterproofing system has been installed on the 3200 m2 roof at Hovis’ prestigious bread-baking factory in the heart of Bradford, protecting this iconic building against water ingress and helping maintain the viability of bread production at the site in Gain Lane, Bradford.

The factory’s previous roof waterproofing system had become severely compromised over time and needed replacing after multiple patchwork repairs to extend its serviceable life.

Alumasc  were chosen to design, supply and install a complete new roof waterproofing system without impacting the working of this busy food-production facility.

The first task was to take off the old mineral surfaced roof waterproofing system and prepare the existing roof deck.

A Euroroof vapour barrier was then laid to provide immediate protection for this fully operational factory, and replaced the original skylights with Naturalight Barrel Vault rooflights, so that production could be maintained without interruption.

Next, a fully engineered Alumasc PIR thermal insulation scheme was laid, before the Euroroof Rapid waterproofing system was torch applied.

Hovis Group Engineering Operations Manager commented: “We now have a high-quality roof waterproofing system protecting our iconic bread-baking factory in the heart of Bradford, where we produce our much-loved Hovis bread products”.

If you have a project that may require our products please email any drawings, literature or enquiries to contact@alumascroofing.co.uk

Planting is all about the cultivation of plants which are wind, frost and drought resistant, require very little maintenance and are self-propagating. This type of vegetation will consist primarily of sedums, but can include herbaceous plants and grasses if the substrate depth and location are suitable.

Intensive: Hard and Soft Landscaping

Intensive green roof systems are often a mixture of hard and soft elements; this may include a variety of planting types, from semi-mature trees, lawns, shrubs and herbaceous borders to vegetable beds. Substrate depths can vary from 400-1500mm. With this variety of planting an automated irrigation system is usually essential.

Ponds, paving, lighting, seating and planters can all be accommodated to suit requirements.

Semi-Intensive: Wildflower Mat, Plugs or Seed

As the depth of the substrate is typically 150-200mm on a semi-intensive system, the range of plants that can be utilised on the roof includes a variety of wildflowers, sedum, herbs, grasses and alpines in the form of mat, plugs, seeds and bulbs. A 40mm drainage layer is used to help increase and retain additional moisture for the plants. Semi-intensive green roofs can offer a more natural look to a planted roof. As with extensive green roofs, a semi-intensive green roof is not deigned to be trafficked or to have a permanent irrigation system.

Bio-diverse: Natural Habitat

Randomly graduated substrate, from 80-200mm, interspersed variably with shelter stones, aggregate piles, shallow pools and logs in conjunction with specialist seed mixes replicates specific habitats. The objective is to attract specific wildlife species, in accordance with the projects bio-diversity plan.

Sedum NatureMat1

NatureMat1 is a composite vegetated mat consisting of a biodegradable base layer, a specially formulated substrate layer and a 90% mature plant cover comprising 6 core and 13 randomly sown species (predominantly sedums), grown to maturity in Blackdown’s fields in Somerset.

Laid onto a Blackdown substrate and drainage layer, NatureMat1 is particularly suited to pitched or curved roofs.

Extensive Sedum Plug

A diverse selection of over 25 species of hardy succulent plug plants, supported by a minimum of 70mm of Blackdown’s extensive substrate and 25mm drainage layer, provides attractive plant cover with a range of colours, shapes, heights and flowering times and periods.

A variety of wild flowers, herbs, grasses, alpines and bulbs can equally be incorporated;varying the substrate depth to suit (70-150mm).

Extensive Sedum Hydro-plant

A mix of sedum cuttings, seeds, tackifier and fertiliser are applied through hydroplanting, onto the prepared Blackdown substrate and drainage layer. The plant cover will establish and grow (typically over 1 to 2 growing seasons) to deliver the long-term benefits of a green roof. Particularly suited to restricted budgets and large roof areas.

If you have a project that may require our products please email any drawings, literature or enquiries to contact@alumascroofing.co.uk

Environmental Strategy

Alumasc actively pursues sustainability in the range of products and systems offered and is committed to continuous assessment of procedures and quality control standards that monitor them.

BREEAM

Alumasc systems score highly in BREEAM ratings (notably in Section MAT5 for responsible sourcing of materials). They contribute to a very generic rating in the BRE’s Green Guide to Specification, capable of an ‘A+’ rating when installed on timber or metal decks.

Recycled Materials

Innovative production technologies enable the use of up to 30% recycled content in core waterproofing products, and our bituminous membrane systems are 100% recyclable.

Rainwater Management

A valuable contribution to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) is achieved through rainwater attenuation provision within green and blue roofs, along with clean recycled rainwater run-off from acrylic coated roofing membranes.

Green Roofs

Environmental benefits derived from the use of green roofs include the reduction of the urban heat island effect, reduced levels of pollution, the provision of the natural habitat for flora and fauna, and rainwater retention.

Carbon Emissions

CO2 emissions of buildings are minimised by the use of thermal insulation, reflective ‘cool roofs’ and CO2 neutralising membranes. This contributed to the reduction of the greenhouse effect and helps specifiers to meet target emission rates.

Whole Life Cycle

Long-term new build and overlay refurbishment waterproofing solutions, including systems which will last the lifetime of the structure, greatly reduce life-cycle costs, and minimise requirements for costly land-fill.

Quality Management

Alumasc’s Quality Management System is independently audited to ISO 9001:2008. Alumasc is also accredited to the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management Standard.

If you have a project that may require our products please email any drawings, literature or enquiries to contact@alumascroofing.co.uk