Green City Life has introduced ZinCo green roof technology to the Polish market
Roofs covered with vegetation, from a prestigious solution available to a few, have become a widespread method of roofing, strongly competing with classic solutions such as sheet metal, ceramic tile or roofing paper. Green roof technology allows more efficient use of space on the plot and serves to combat adverse climate change. In addition to many other advantages, it is these two aspects that make this solution stand out.
More and more investors are choosing to change the classic roofing to one that provides vegetation, and architects are increasingly turning to this solution when developing concepts for new buildings. This is also because there are fewer and fewer restrictions on, for example, the structure of the building or the angle of the roof slope. An additional advantage for any architect is the range of solutions that make it possible to realize even the most visionary ideas.
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Green roofs with ZinCo technology - BUW, Warsaw, Poland.
© GCL
GCL - a wide range of solutions
As a company with the largest and longest experience in the Polish market in the field of green roofs, we have had the opportunity to work on many award-winning facilities where vegetated roofs were a key element. This could not have happened without a thorough examination of solutions available on global markets. Introducing the green roof technology of ZinCo, a world leader in developing solutions that enable practical development of space on the roof, to the Polish market, we knew that this would allow us to offer our clients many possibilities for technical solutions, from the simplest green roofs with extensive vegetation, to more sophisticated retention roofs, climatic roofs, biodiverse roofs or roofs covered with intensive vegetation, with a whole range of solutions that do not require anchoring their elements to the building structure.
- GCL representatives write.
All solutions in Green City Life Sp. z o.o.'s offer, such as separation strips, fencing elements, structures for photovoltaic panels or systems for safe work at height, have been designed in such a way that they do not pose an additional risk of leakage in the waterproofing of the building by attaching to its structure. These solutions are used both on slopeless, flat roofs and sloping roofs with an angle of up to 45°. It is also important to remember the appropriate substrate. In the case of roofs, this is a specialized roofing substrate, which varies depending on what kind of roof it is installed on and what kind of vegetation will be grown in it. That's why GCL, as a manufacturer, offers substrates that vary in terms of weight and nutrient content needed by plants for proper development.
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Intensive roofs in ZinCo technology - ECS, Gdansk, Poland .
© GCL
Green roof - quality first
The construction of a green roof differs significantly from other types of roofs primarily because the system consists of several layers that allow vegetation of plants and management of snowmelt and rainwater within the roof. The key, therefore, should be the selection of quality materials. Any malfunction of one layer leads to malfunction of the entire roof. The cost of potential repairs more than doubles the cost of the original investment. This is why ZinCo takes special care to ensure that all the system's materials have adequate durability, taking into account the installation stage of the materials, during which damage is most likely to occur. It should be remembered that the compressive strength quoted in the technical sheets for 1 m² does not take into account, for example, the passage of a wheelbarrow loaded with material over the surface of the drainage element. It is worth verifying the quality of the material organoleptically to avoid problems during installation. This is the simplest method of verifying the quality of a given material.
The specialized substrate used on vegetation-covered roofs should be treated similarly. Its properties have a major impact on the functioning of the entire roof system and the proper development of vegetation. As a manufacturer, we strictly adhere to the FLL guidelines defining the parameters that should characterize the substrate used on the surface of the roof covered with vegetation. To ensure the highest standard, these products are systematically subjected to strict inspection by independent certified testing bodies.
Green Line - a house in Warmia, proj.: Mobius Architects
© GCL
ZinCo's eco-friendly green roof system - a second life for materials
Vegetation is the most environmentally friendly form of roofing for a building. So it is worth asking whether the materials used in their construction are as well. Well, using ZinCo green roof technologies, we can be sure that they will. Starting from drainage elements through nonwoven fabrics and ending with a specialized roofing substrate, each element is created from previously recycled materials. We are therefore guaranteed that by using specialized roof substrate, we are not degrading the environment by using aggregates sourced from natural sources, but giving a second life to building materials that no longer have another use. An excellent example is demolition brick as a substrate component. Thanks to standards for building demolition technology, it is free of admixtures of harmful substances, such as asbestos, and is suitable for reuse as a substrate framework, storing water in its pores. The same is true of the drainage elements and nonwoven fabrics used in the ZinCo system, which are made of pre-sorted recyclable plastic. These materials are both durable and ensure the highest quality.
{Extensive roof in ZinCo technology,title=Extensive roof in ZinCo technology}
Extensive roof in ZinCo technology - private house
© GCL
Green roofs in design - GLC training courses
Over the years, we have organized a number of trainings for investors, architects and installers alike, aimed at spreading knowledge regarding the many aspects of using green roofs as a building roofing. We believe that this is the basis for realizations in Poland to be put on a par with others from around the world. In turn, individual consultations have always allowed us to develop customized solutions that are the result of designers' bold ideas, GCL experts say.
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By using Zinco's green roof system materials, we can be sure that we are working to benefit the environment while satisfying the needs of even the most demanding investors. We are also here to help architects realize even the boldest visions, which include the use of vegetation on the roofs of buildings.
Aleksander LECH
GCL Sp. z o.o.
For more information, visit the company's Green City Life Sp. z o.o. page on the A&B portal.
