There is an excellent debate about pavers repair as some feel that it is an unnecessary expense while others consider it necessary for any house. While pavers can look good on their own, they need to be properly maintained by employing a company that offers seal pavers services. Seal pavers are specifically used in residential areas and that’s why you need to hire a professional contractor who knows exactly what he is doing.

Sealing pavers help prevent dirt from entering the ground and insulating it so that water cannot be absorbed. It is also used to prevent damage from frost heaves or to make sure that the ground remains safe for walking on. In addition to sealing pavers, there are other sealing options available such as paving walkways. These walkways are an attractive way of beautifying your yard and adding value to your home.

A major problem associated with patios and driveways is that they become slippery especially during the summer months. The main cause for this is the accumulation of ice on the surface. The only way to remove that ice is to dig a deep hole and use heating elements to melt the snow which often results in pooling of water. If the melting of the snow continues then puddles may form and this becomes a danger for people walking along the surface. It is therefore important to hire a qualified paver repair contractor to carry out necessary maintenance and paver repairs.

You will find a number of different methods available for paver sealing. However, one of the best ways of improving your driveways and patios is to hire a contractor who offers services such as brick pavers repair. This kind of service assures you that your patio or driveway is sealed well so that you can enjoy your outdoor space for years to come. Pavers can be repaired easily by removing the damaged part and replacing it with a new piece. In some cases, the pavers may have to be re-sealed in order to fix an damage that has been done.

Some of the common problems that are addressed by seal pavers services include cracks, holes and erosion. Severe weather conditions such as heavy rains can also result in serious damage to driveways and patios. To avoid this, it is important that the driveway is properly sealed. In addition, you can also employ pavers sealing services to improve the condition of your walkways. These services involve the application of special paints on the walkways to make them more durable and waterproof. The coating helps to protect the pavers from eroding.

A majority of homeowners are not aware that there is a difference between brick paver repair and paver sealing. Baking stone sealants are generally used for covering bricks, mortar or stones in order to seal them and provide them with additional protection. Concrete sealants are sometimes used to provide additional layer of protection for concrete walls and driveways. Pavers are used as a part of the paving process. However, there are specific paver repair services which are required when the pavements are in need of urgent repairs or renovation.

There are several advantages associated with hiring a contractor who offers brick pavers sealing services. For one, you will be able to get professional advice on which type of material would be best suited for your needs. Moreover, your contractor will be able to evaluate the extent of damage that has occurred on the pavers and determine the best options to repair them.

There are several contractors who offer paver repair services to homeowners. The key to identifying a competent company is to find one that has a valid license to operate. Furthermore, you should check whether the contractor has the necessary skill, experience and machinery to carry out the repairs properly. If you do all these things, it will be very easy for you to find a competent paver contractor who can fix any major damages on your paver driveway.

After three years of research, design and construction, our 130 square meter roof is finally finished! 

We are happy to share with you an overview of all the steps we went through, the sustainable technologies we integrated into this project, and the impact we think green roofs can have on our urban landscapes. 

Watch the video below for an explainer of the process of constructing our ecological green roof: 

This journey started three years ago with the demolition of the old roof and replacement with a glulam structure. Along the way we integrated several sustainable technologies that we have documented with articles and videos. For instance, we used recycled tyres for the foundations of our wooden wall structure and protected the exterior timber facade using our charring technique inspired in the traditional japanese process of Yakisugi. 

For more information about these researches, check our previous articles here.

CHARRING STATION

TYRE FOUNDATION

Green roofs are often proposed as a solution to the lack of green space in urban environments or as a way of slowing down the flow of water. But do conventional green roofs actually deliver on these claims? Our research of modern green roofs found that the materials used in construction often do not align with the sustainability ethos that a green roof proclaims. We sought to find alternatives to plastic filters, insulation, and drainage systems: the materials that typically make up the layers of a green roof. In our mission to adopt low-tech, sustainable architecture and construction techniques we wanted to reduce material consumption and also make it as easy to replicate and apply in other situations as possible.

Our green roof layers

Green Roof detail

EPDM

Laying EPDM around rooflights

EPDM Silicone

We needed a waterproof layer to cover the OSB roof layer and protect from water ingress. We chose EPDM, a synthetic rubber, due to its availability and long life span. 

Geotextile

To protect the cork from the plant roots and the substrate a geotextile layer is needed. This prevents silt and other fine particles from clogging the grid drainage system within the cork. Geotextiles are semi permeable fabrics that help separate soil layers but permit the passage of fluids. 

Irrigation System

For the climate we enjoy here in Porto an irrigation system is definitely not necessary. However in order to control the parameters of Neoturf’s experiment a system was installed. In the future we will build a rainwater harvesting system that will allow us to store and re-use rainwater for non potable purposes. Watch this space!

Cork Insulation

Cork grid

Laying the cork panels

The most cutting edge element of this design is the inclusion of cork insulation, thanks to a partnership with Neoturf, who conducted the research about this design. This is the first time this design and technology has been implemented on a green roof of this size so we are very excited and hopeful for the results. The expanded cork is a by-product of the industrial process for manufacturing wine corks and is being increasingly used in construction. We explain more about this carbon negative wonder material in a full article here. 

Cork is a carbon negative material as the trees it is harvested from absorb CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow. These cork boards provide insulation – with the thermal efficiency of Lambda 0.038-0.040 watts per meter kelvin or R3.6/inch.In cold months this is comparable to synthetic materials such as expanded polystyrene during warm weather synthetic insulation performs very poorly due to having low thermal mass [1].  Additionally, in order to allow water to drain a grid was pre-cut into the panels: vital to withstand Porto’s frequent downpours. By using this design and material we negate the need for synthetic insulation, plastic drainage cups, and other plastic liners. 

Substrates

The second experimental aspect of our green roof is being investigated in partnership with Neoturf, who specialise in landscape design and nature based solutions. The soil that is used on green roofs cannot be composed of simply hummus. It requires other gravels or materials that reduce compaction and promote effective drainage. Neoturf are investigating how well 3 different substrates that use recycled construction waste perform in contrast to the commercially available alternative. Should this research prove successful they will promote the widespread use of recycled waste as substrate across the industry. Over the next two years they will monitor the progress of the plants growing on our roof. 

Interview with Paolo Palha from Neoturf

Check out an in-depth interview with Paolo Palha, researcher and engineer from Neoturf, that gives us insights into the significance of his research and what they are expecting to find in the next couple of years, monitoring the plants’ growth:

Conclusion

This green roof represents three years of hard work, prototype development, and teamwork. Countless hands have helped repair walls, build structure, haul earth and the thousands of other tasks needed to realise this ambitious project. We send huge love and thanks to everyone who has helped in any way. This is a major milestone for us and we are excited to see our plants grow healthy and strong. Neoturf will continue with this research over the next two years, after which we can adapt the roof to grow our own food and reach a higher level of self-sustainability.

Are you interested in implementing an ecological green roof in your project? Critical Concrete can provide advice, design and construction services for the whole process: including structure, procurement and material sourcing. Contact our studio today!

Interested in using this technology in your project?

Critical Studio can help!

Learn More!

We need your support to continue researching and developing ecological, low tech solutions. Check out our patreon to see what perks we offer in return for helping us on our sustainable mission.

The post How to make green roofs really green? first appeared on Critical Concrete.
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How to fix a cracked concrete driveway? It may sound like a stupid question when your driveway is in tatters, but the truth is that it can be a problem if not taken care of. Cracks usually appear on driveways due to excessive heat and weathering, so you need to remedy this immediately. Most people think that you should rip up the entire section, but this is actually the last thing you should do.

The best option would be to repair the cracks to get back to the surface’s original condition. This would entail getting a penetrating solvent and ensuring that you have no water or other liquid leaks present. Once you are done, you can be sanding the surface until you get the original condition. Then you will seal everything using polyethylene sheeting and repair any hardware. If you had to move the vehicle out of the garage, then all you need is to patch up any damages that you might have overlooked.

How to fix cracked asphalt driveway? This is actually a little more involved than cracking concrete. You first need to make sure that there are no pools of water underneath your driveway; otherwise, you will end up with puddles all around. Once you have cleaned the area, you need to remove the shrink wrap and apply some new asphalt to the bottom of the cracks.

How to fix cracked concrete on a patio? This requires some heavy-duty equipment that you will not be able to get at your local home supply store. Basically, you will need to dig up the crack area and then add new concrete where the old concrete ends. This will have to be done in stages to get the right consistency. The idea is to have the concrete dry quickly to prevent pools of water from forming.

How to fix cracked asphalt on a cement block? This can be done very quickly by adding a second layer of asphalt. To do this properly, however, you will need a truck with a chute. The problem with this, of course, is that you may need to stay home all day to get the job done.

How to fix cracked asphalt on a driveway that you have never laid concrete on before? This requires some heavy equipment and long hours. First, you will need to chip away at the concrete until it becomes thin enough to spread over the entire crack. Then, you will need to use a heavy-duty industrial sprayer to apply the asphalt, making sure to get an even layer on all sides of the crack.

How to fix cracked concrete on a driveway that is already worn? This is one more DIY project that may take a few days or a week to complete. Basically, you will have to scrape off the old asphalt to expose the new concrete. From there, you will have to put up a sealer (for the first time!)

How to fix cracked concrete on a driveway without any mechanization? This is perhaps the most time-consuming and expensive way to get a new driveway. In fact, the only other DIY job that could be as tedious is replacing a single asphalt patch. If you are not willing to spend countless hours on the project, then you should hire someone to do it for you. Make sure you have a contract in place before you begin, though, so that you both know what your obligations are. There’s nothing worse than finding out you can’t have the job done because you can’t afford the materials!