The article “The Concrete Advantage”, taken from the Green Rooftop website (n.d), provides readers with a deeper understanding of the benefits of having a water-proof concrete green roof. According to the article, concrete green roofs which incorporate “permanent built in water-proofing” will not be damaged. They will have higher sustainability and lower construction costs. The removal of membranes on developments will shorten the process of design, construction and maintenance. The article states that with fewer exposure risks for owners and designers, water-proof green roofs are more economical, which boosts return on investment and project value. It is also more cost effective for owners as there is no need for replacement of membranes thus lowering life-cycle cost. The website also mentions that the usage of “hydrophobic technology” removes dangerous components, making fewer contact risks for anyone who owns a green roof. When there is a crack on the concrete green roof, a simple inoculation from the bottom side will mend it without disrupting growing medium or plants. With these points in mind, the waterproof concrete green roof will make a more feasible choice as compared to the typical green roof as the benefits clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
The reason why concrete green roof makes a better choice is because of the benefits that it can provide. From the above-mentioned article, it shows that besides being sustainable, the concrete green roof is very durable and is cost effective. It is durable and cost effective because the hydrophobic technology is backed by a proven track record of over forty years, reducing the liability of all parties and the technology is economical because of the initial cost/construction savings, as well as the significant long-term savings. The implementation of waterproof concrete green roof reduces the need of additional maintenance and will ease the jobs for the contractors and designers as they do not have to apply or specifically design any membranes. This will speed up the construction time and reduce the cost of developing and maintaining the roof. Apart from the stated advantages, I feel that choosing the right waterproofing method is important in the construction industry as it can affect the efficiency and the project’s timeline.
Most roofing systems fail from leaks, and the average roof needs to be replaced four times. (Waterproofing, n.d.). Compared with the waterproof concrete green roof, the typical green roofs are more inclined to wear and tear despite having a root barrier coating applied by the contractors. Plant roots can easily go through the waterproof membrane and can cause leaks in the roofs, which can lead to structural damage to the buildings. To get rid of leaks, frequent checks must be done and this can be costly. Contractors must also be cautious during the application of the membrane and designers have to come up with a detailed design of the membrane. All membranes become brittle over time and these are caused by exposure to heat, cold and UV rays from sunlight. Therefore, typical green roofs require additional maintenance and precise manufacturing to protect and develop the membranes. This increases the cost of the roofs.
In the article “Concrete that fears water no more” by Barista (2007), Jack Avery, SVP and Project Managing Director with Sellen Construction mentioned that the cost of waterproofing membrane is 40% more expensive than the waterproof concrete. This statement shows that waterproof concrete is a better choice as it is less costly compared to the waterproof membrane. The article also states that waterproofing membrane is applied to every square inch of the typical concrete in order to make the structure waterproof. This statement shows that it will be a tedious task to apply waterproofing membrane and it will increase costs due to labor requirements and additional waterproofing maintenance to ensure that the membrane does not wear out.
In conclusion, waterproof concrete green roof makes a better choice because of the advantages that are stated in the above-mentioned paragraphs. As cost is one of the most important deciding factors when it comes to choosing of a roof, companies or homeowners that have a bigger surface area of the roof will definitely choose the waterproof concrete green roof as it is more beneficial in the long run.
References
Barista, D. (2007). Concrete that fears water no more. Hycrete.com. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from http://www.hycrete.com/concrete-that-fears-water-no-more/
Greenrooftops.org. (n.d.). The Concrete Advantage. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from http://www.greenrooftops.org/advantage.html
Greenrooftops.org. (n.d.). Green Rooftops. Retrieved November 24, 2016, from http://www.greenrooftops.org/
Greenroofs.com (n.d.). Waterproofing. Retrieved November 24, 2016, from http://www.greenroofs.com/Greenroofs101/waterproofing.htm
Growinggreenguide.org. (n.d). Waterproofing Green Roofs. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from http://www.growinggreenguide.org/technical-guide/construction-and-installation/green-roofs/waterproofing/
Home improvement remodeling foundationsocial.org. (n.d.). 4 Advantages and 4 Disadvantages of green roof systems. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from http://www.foundationsocial.org/128/4-advantages-and-4-disadvantages-of-green-roof-systems.html
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