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How Much Do You Know About The Products You Are Using?

22-30mm Minipad for Paving

Inferior plastic will crack in sub-zero temperatures. So if your project requires the installation of decking supports or paving supports, what steps are you taking to ensure that you have a quality product?

With potentially catastrophic safety issues should any product fail to function once installed, it is absolutely essential that before purchasing a product, you can be certain of its qualities and durability.

Cutting No Corners

Some manufacturers use fillers in order to save money – this can weaken the structural integrity of the pedestals but this is not the case with anything available from the Wallbarn product range. We do not cut corners and it is very important that you do not either when creating or retro-fitting a raised deck.

Independent Testing

Do you have the required access to the safety test documentation for your required products? Our customers can request access to all the independently-verified technical data relating to any of our products.

High-Quality Decking Support Pedestals

The Wallbarn range of paving and decking supports are lightweight and easy to handle, helping to ensure a smooth installation but there has been no compromise in strength or durability to achieve this.

Amongst many other tests*, our products are temperature tested by an independent testing laboratory to ensure their continued functionality from temperatures ranging between -40°C and as high as +75°C.

A Robust Range

Our robust range of decking and paving pedestals/supports are manufactured from injection moulded polypropylene and can tolerate loads of 683kg per unit Normal Weight Tolerance (end of linear behaviour) with a Maximum Load of 1171kg.

Offering proven durability, a project utilising our paving supports in Montreal in 2014 offers the perfect example. Exposed to extreme cold since their installation in 2014 and still working perfectly.

Offering Key Advantages

Our range of support pedestals share common features and benefits ensuring their quality and durability:

  • Achieve stunning finishes
  • Suspended system
  • Fully adjustable
  • Superior quality
  • Suitable for paving slabs and timber decking

*tests completed by an independent testing laboratory

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Taking Steps To Become Carbon Neutral

“AMBITIOUS” plans for how BCP Council will become carbon neutral by 2030 have been outlined in a new action plan.

Wide-ranging recommendations

More than 150 measures are outlined in the draft strategy which will form the basis of public consultation, should it be backed at Tuesday’s meeting of the council.

They include the possibility of introducing a congestion charge, encouraging the use of electric and hydrogen-powered taxis and purchasing land for “large-scale renewable energy installations”.

“We are uncertain of the full extent that the effects of climate change will have on our area but know it will be more severe if we do not act now,” a report published ahead of the meeting says.

“Non-achievement of our declaration commitments will contribute to a further degraded and hostile global environment with local consequences.”

Publication of the plan

Publication of the action plan follows the July decision of the council to declare a climate and ecological emergency and its subsequent pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.

It also promised to work with organisations and people to help the whole area reach a “net-zero position” ahead of the 2050 target set by the government.

The council is responsible for just under 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year – about one per cent of the total for the area.

Most of this comes from its direct burning of fuel, such as petrol in cars, and through its use of electricity.

Including green roofs

We were delighted to see that one of the measures outlined in the extensive plans relates to an increased focus on installing green roofs.

‘Seek to promote the development of green roofs and walls, street trees and urban greening.’

To read the full list of measures, please visit the Bournemouth Echo website via the following link – https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18093377.bcp-council-unveils-aims-become-carbon-neutral-2030/

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New Green Roof Legislation is Coming To New York

Two laws requiring new property owners to build solar panels or green spaces on their roofs went into effect on Nov. 15 — marking a major step towards Brooklyn’s environmental sustainability, according to local green thumbs.

“It’s important and very valuable,” said environmental activist Pete Sikora from the New York Community for Change, a local nonprofit. “It’s a critical step for New York City to meet the Green New Deal goals.”

New Legislation For Developers

The legislation — which Councilman Rafael Espinal (D-Bedford Stuyvesant) first introduced to the City Council in July of 2018 — requires developers to install either solar panels, greenery, or a combination of the two on all new roofs.

The mandate exempts very slanted roofs and roofs that already contain structures, such as water towers, greenhouses and other equipment, according to a representative from the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. Low-rise residential buildings with less than 100 square feet of available space and other types of buildings with less than 200 square feet will also be exempt, and the sustainable measures won’t take the place of recreational spaces that are integral to the building’s use, such as playgrounds on school roofs or terraces on apartment buildings.

Not Limited To New Roofs

The laws also apply to property owners seeking to renovate their roofs, including the owners of historic buildings — who will have to take their green roof plans to the Landmarks Preservation Commission before obtaining a construction permit from the Department of Buildings.

Environmental officials say that property owners will be in charge of funding and maintaining solar panels — which is no cheap task. The average solar panel array costs about $30,000, but since the panels power the building, the electricity generator eventually pays for itself, according to the executive of a solar panel company.

“Any time you’re not buying power from Con Ed, you’re saving money,” said TR Ludwig, the CEO of Brooklyn Solarworks, who said that it usually takes homeowners four to eight years to pay off the price of the panels before they have free energy.

Significant Tax Incentives Available

Building owners will also receive significant tax incentives for the solar panels, getting back 20% of the equipment costs in the form of a property tax abatement, and receiving a $5,000 tax credit, among other pluses, Ludwig said.

Greenery, which helps reduce flooding and provides better building insulation, is significantly cheaper, costing between $10 and $40 to install per square foot, the New York Times reported. The gardens require some maintenance, like periodic weeding, although they don’t need to be watered frequently.

To read the full article, please visit the Brooklyn Paper website by clicking here.

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Can a ‘green roof’ strategy could reduce the impact of excess rainfall?

A close up image of a green roof installation

A green roof strategy could help cut the negative impact caused by severe storms and flooding, studies have shown.

Effective Protection Against Excess Rainfall

A study by the United States Environmental Protection Agency has taken a closer look at the way green roofs can effectively combat the threat posed by annual rainfall.

“Results indicate that the green roofs are capable of removing 50% of the annual rainfall volume from a roof through retention and evapotranspiration. Rainfall not retained by green roofs is detained, effectively increasing the time to peak, and slowing peak flows for a watershed.”

“There are seasonal considerations as more runoff is generated during winter and for many summer storms, there was no runoff. Green roof runoff does contain concentrations of some nutrients and other parameters, but values are in line with other planted systems. Due to the volume reduction, actual nutrient loadings from green roofs are less than asphalt roofing runoff or otherwise manageable at the downspout.”

Click here to view the full study.

Amazing Results

Researchers at Newcastle University compared the effectiveness of urban green infrastructures such as green roofs, ponds, and water channels with traditional engineering measures such as culverts or flood walls in reducing disruption during extreme rainfall events such as ‘Thunder Thursday’. They found that greening every roof in the city could reduce travel disruption by over 25%.

Green infrastructure uses natural processes to store rainwater and decrease the amount released on roads and pavements.

As a result, the depth of flooding is reduced which can make its impact more manageable.

Richard Dawson, professor of earth systems engineering at Newcastle University, said: “We saw on Thunder Thursday the massive amount of damage and disruption that flooding can have on our transport networks.”

For more on this story, please click here.

Additional Benefits of Green Roof

Along with this huge benefit, the installation of a green roof also offers the following benefits to the property and the surrounding area.

The benefits of constructing a green roof include:

  • Improving the local environment by providing wildlife habitats
  • Absorbing CO2, pollution and particulates from the atmosphere
  • Improving sound and vibration insulation
  • Improving thermal insulation
  • Reducing the amount and speed of rainwater run-off by around 50% and forming part of a SUDS design
  • Reducing the “heat island” effect in built-up areas and helping to improve air quality and environment
  • Protecting the structure and waterproofing membrane from:
    • UV light and heat from the sun
    • impact and abrasion
    • environmental elements including extremes of temperature
    • plant and bird infestation
  • Ballasting inverted waterproofing systems
  • Optimising the structural footprint by:
    • Increasing space – providing new and attractive natural amenity areas
    • Adding floor space in often high-density developments
    • Adding focal points
    • Decreasing energy costs
    • The increasing value of the development
    • Properties with green roofs sell/rent faster rate than naked buildings
  • Making the planning process easier
  • Money-saving

Innovation in Green Roofing Systems

Wallbarn has developed a new, improved design for the M-Tray® modular green roof system for 2019. This pre-grown sedum green roof product is supplied in easy-to-handle plastic tray units.

For more on this, please click here.

Currently Browsing: Can a ‘green roof’ strategy could cut storm traffic delays
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Creating A Suspended Decking Solution

Image of a completed timber decking tiles installation

By using suspended Wallbarn Timber Paving Tiles, installers combine the natural, attractive finish of timber decking with the speed and ease of laying paving slabs.

Traditionally laying timber decking directly onto these deck surfaces led to additional costs of employing specialist carpenters. Laying timber joists directly onto the waterproofing membrane also risked damage over time. Wallbarn Timber Paving Tiles offer the ideal solution. The weight of the tile will hold the system in place.

The Benefits of a Suspended System

This suspended system avoids having to fix anything onto the deck and lifts all the timber away from any standing water, avoiding the dangers of a slippery surface.

As everything is free-standing, the tiles can be taken up and replaced without disrupting the whole area, should the deck need to be inspected. Unsightly items such as drainage outlets, cables and pipes can be hidden beneath the tiles and accessed easily.

Creating a Stunning Finish

Stunning finishes can be achieved. The tiles can be laid in a straight line pattern or in a “chessboard” style, depending on the client’s wishes. We have a range of different timber available sourced from South America, chosen for their beauty and durability including Ipe and Cumaru. We can also supply FSC® certified timber as we have FSC® Chain of Custody (please speak to your Wallbarn representative).

For more on our range of hardwood timber decking tiles, please click here.

Informed Advice Available

Wallbarn can advise and assist on all aspects of scoping, installing and maintaining your decking project.

Just pick up the phone, ask a question using the live chat facility on this site or send us an email at info@wallbarn.com and we’ll get back to you next working day at the latest.

Currently Browsing: Creating A Suspended Terrace Decking System