Right the first time

Sustainable roof protection for green roofs and planters Wonderwoods

With the completion of Wonderwoods, the vibrant heart of Utrecht has gained an iconic building. The tallest green building in the Netherlands provides space for 80,000 square meters of housing, offices, catering and retail, divided over two towers and surrounded by greenery. Thanks to as much as a hectare of greenery on the facades, balconies and roof parks, a new ecosystem should be created in the city, with plants and trees attracting large numbers of insects and birds. To make Wonderwoods' green ambition possible, numerous specialists are putting their best foot forward. This included Triflex, which supplied approximately 12 kilometers of edge finishing for the green roofs. In addition, the manufacturer and supplier of liquid plastics provided the sealing systems for the 150 planters on the facades.

Wonderwoods is inspired by Milan's "Bosco Verticale," which was also designed by Stefano Boeri. The 105-meter-high Boeri Tower will have a green facade with no less than 4 (!) kilometers of planters and 155 tree boxes. It will also feature nearly 6,000 m2 of rooftop parkland, spread over several floors. There will be 9 interior gardens in the 70-meter-high MVSA tower. Parts that require solid waterproofing.

Complicated concrete edges, details and connections 

Triflex was involved in project Wonderwoods at an early stage, explains Simon Zwart, Rayon Manager at Triflex. "In the specifications, the roof edges and details prescribed a scaly finish, to be specified, in the form of, for example, compression strips with sealant. In view of the many complicated concrete edges, details and connections at the locations of the balconies, roof terraces, galleries and drip trays under the tree boxes, combined with the short lifespan of sealant finishes, BOKO Dakbedekkers, in collaboration with Tissink Specialistische Afdichtingen (TSA), proposed a better alternative: the Triflex ProDetail sealing system." 

Crowning the work

For years, Triflex ProDetail has been synonymous with quality and durability in the world of liquid sealing. Since its inception, this system has been the crowning glory of many diverse projects, from large industrial sites to architectural gems such as Wonderwoods. "The Triflex ProDetail sealing system involves a high-quality, liquid, crack-bridging roofing system that permanently encloses every roof detail like a second skin," explains Zwart. "Even corners, upstands and other critical details become impenetrable. In addition, the waterproofing system is well suited for green roofs, which must be completely waterproof and root resistant. To ensure proper processing in project Wonderwoods, we provided on-site implementation support in addition to the production and delivery of the sealing system." 

Edging and final closing

To ensure proper adhesion of the Triflex ProDetail sealing system, the roof edges were first treated with a Triflex Primer 276. The Triflex Primer 276 and Triflex ProDetail were applied by Tissink Specialistische Afdichtingen (bulk) and BOKO Dakbedekkers (selective detail work). "In addition to the edging work, the products were applied as final sealing against the rising façade and for the edging work from the traditional Wédéflex roofing," says Zwart. "The planters are completely treated on the inside. Because most of these planters were already installed, the work on them had to be carried out from suspended scaffolding. In order for all the work to fit together seamlessly and not get in each other's way, good planning and coordination were essential. Challenges that were solved in good consultation by Tissink Specialistische Afdichtingen and BOKO Dakbedekkers."

Reliable adhesion, long life

The Triflex ProDetail roof system is applied liquid and coated with a special reinforcement fleece, says Zwart. "The full adhesion to the substrate prevents moisture from penetrating under the complete seal in the event of mechanical damage. The two-component reinforced sealing system is waterproof within 20 minutes and is processable at a substrate temperature as low as -5°C. The sealing system is elastic, crack-bridging, extremely weather-resistant and excellent root resistance according to FLL test methods. This was certainly a must, due to the extensive vegetation in this project. In addition, the product is maintenance-free. This too is essential, because details are sealed where one can hardly reach later. So the work has to be done right the first time." Triflex ProDetail has a proven lifespan of 25 years. "Comprehensive testing by KIWA/BDA even shows a proven life expectancy of 40 years. A milestone that highlights our commitment to innovation and quality and one that we are more than proud of."