Holcim Building Envelope Acquires ZinCo Holcim has acquired ZinCo, a leader in advanced green roofing systems based in Germany with global operations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. With its integrated green and solar roofing systems, ZinCo is expanding Holcim’s specification selling approach. Working with partners across the value chain, ZinCo’s tailored solutions are able to bring more nature into cities, improving urban wellbeing from reducing heat island effects to improving air quality. With this acquisition, Holcim is advancing its goal of expanding its Solutions & Product ..read more

By Iko Commercial Images courtesy of Iko Commercial Ponding, or any standing water on a roof, can contribute to several different problems. Commercial buildings often have flat or low-sloped roofs that need special drainage solutions. This article will give you an overview of the types of drainage systems suitable for commercial buildings and the materials and components of those systems. Also, we’ll cover what kind of maintenance a flat roof drainage system requires. The Function and Importance of Drainage on Flat and Low-Slope Roofs The basic function of a roof is to protect the buildi ..read more

By Aaron King Photos courtesy of Aaron King EcoFinish is a highly durable and UV-stable thermoplastic powder coat. This method requires the most bespoke equipment and skill sets. In a world where ICFs (insulated concrete forms) have rapidly made their way into the mainstream from single-family homes to multistory commercial and schools, one area of huge growth has more potential than all the others, but that potential comes with many technical challenges: Pools. The pool market in general saw huge percentages of growth over the past three years. Low interest rates coupled with less abili ..read more

World of Concrete Exhibits: January 23-25 Education: January 22-25 Las Vegas Convention Center www.worldofconcrete.com When the new year rolls around, so does the trade show schedule. Trade shows can be overwhelming, with thousands of attendees and hundreds of events spread out over a large area. To make the most of in-person events, it helps to have a plan. Download the event’s app ahead of time and check out the website. Scout out the booths that relate to your industry or interest ahead of time and make a list. Take note if any of them are offering demonstrations or product giveaways and ..read more

By Richard C. Hayden, GRP ASLA-Emeritus Photo by Alan Karchmer Multiple stepped roof structures on the Center of Developing Entrepreneurs (CODE) building in Charlottesville, Virginia, are protected by Hydrotech’s Garden Roof and Architectural Paver/Wood Tile Ultimate Assemblies. Building owners and developers are continuing to place increasing value on the roof spaces that every building needs. In urban areas, these roof spaces need to perform their primary function: keeping the building interior dry. In the increasingly competitive real estate market, however, building owners are demand ..read more

By Iltaz Alam, GCP Photos courtesy of GCP How to mitigate the risk with proven below-grade waterproofing solutions With space at a premium in many urban areas, developers are digging deeper foundations to increase the square footage of high end residential, commercial and mixed-use building projects. The lack of above grade space is leading to increased use of basements for storage, archives, retail space and parking spaces. In other cases, a deep foundation may be needed due to large design loads or poor soil at shallow depths. In San Francisco for example, the Salesforce Tower is built o ..read more

By Patrick Nevison, P.E. (4) Photos courtesy of Metropolitan Industries A finished crawl space, above. An unfinished crawl space below at left, and the same crawl space after encapsulation, at right. Excess moisture in a crawl space can lead to several issues throughout the home. Areas with high humidity are ideal for mold growth. Mold can cause respiratory ailments for the occupants of the home. Excessive moisture can also allow the building materials to rot and lead to unsafe structural components supporting the floors above. A crawl space can also be a source of radon. Radon is one of t ..read more

By ISI Building Products Photos courtesy ISI Building Products Smart Crawl Space Encapsulation Outside construction trades and building science circles, few homeowners grasp how impactful the crawl space can be to the overall health of a structure. Since nearly 30 million U.S. homes contain crawl spaces, understanding how to properly monitor and maintain them is important. Let’s explore how an encapsulation project in Ocean City, New Jersey, turned a problematic area into a bright, clean “smart space.” About the Area Ocean City is located about 30 minutes south of Atlantic City and is co ..read more

By Scott Schendel Photos courtesy EPRO EPRO’s E.Series waterproofing and Geo-Seal vapor barrier systems holding back the swamp. Washington D.C. has truly transformed over recent years and continues to grow. EPRO was recently involved in a critical project located in an up-and-coming area of the city, called Florida Avenue NE. This corridor has multiple land uses and several critical public transit connections and is also experiencing a high level of new development. “This project was an adventure for me,” explains Daniel Hammill, EPRO’s technical support specialist. “From setting up a ne ..read more

Polyglass joins ARMA in Elevating Industry Sustainability Standards Deerfield Beach, FL – Polyglass U.S.A. Inc., a leading manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing solutions, is excited to announce the successful completion of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for several of its roofing membrane products, published by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA). The updated EPD program at ARMA marks Polyglass’ significant commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility within the industry. Through rigorous collaborative effort involving ARMA stakeholders ..read more