What does the future hold for roofing materials?

In the last few decades, the types of roofing materials chosen by designers and architects for different projects have changed drastically. As technology has now become so far advanced, there are many more options available to choose from. These include materials like polycarbonate, as well as your more traditional options.

The other big change was the shift in focus towards more energy efficient options to minimize the carbon footprint that is extracted from Mother Nature. Developers want to have environmentally friendly materials, as well as saving money on energy costs in the long run.

Roof insulation has seen its R values almost triple in the last couple of decades and this looks set to continue into the future. With advanced VOC regulations being enacted, there are a lot stricter rules when it comes to coatings, sealants and adhesives that are being used.

roofing materialsOne of the big buzzwords in today’s world is “The Internet of Things.” It seems logical that this phenomenon will move its way to the rooftop, making it a lot easier and effective when integrating rooftop energy into the energy system of the structure as a whole. This means that the roofing materials themselves will play a larger role in how efficient the transfer of thermal energy may be.

Roofs will also become even more durable and resilient. As weather is becoming more volatile and stronger weather conditions have been hitting many buildings, something that has been put down in large part to climate change, there is a growing demand for more resilient roofs. This could mean being more resistant to fires, winds, hail and other adverse conditions. Roof ratings are set to explode even further in the coming years.

Finally, the removal of roofs will become very important, as people will start wanting to reuse these roofing materials when putting on the new roof. This is more environmentally friendly, as well as cost effective if it can be done in the correct manner.

At Danpal, we are always on the cutting edge of new developments and are constantly tweaking and improving existing products to meet with these growing demands. We pride ourselves on having a roofing system that is aesthetically pleasing, as well as being fundamentally sound and energy efficient. Daylight is maximised in the winter, while solar heat will be blocked in the summer, making it a win-win.

Safety parameters involved with rainscreen cladding

One of the most important features that the latest forms of rainscreen cladding have is the ventilated cavity. These days it is buildings that make up to 40% of energy consumption in the main powerhouse countries in the world. This is why insulation is becoming such a big trend and many architects are having to carefully look at the R-rating of the structures they are designing and with what materials and types of products they are using for the building.

It is also important to ensure that gas is properly distributed throughout these cavities to ensure that there is not an excessive build-up that could lead to big problems down the line. This is why there is a lot of research currently being carried out when it comes to rainscreen cladding, as the presence of even a small amount of methane the molar concentration of the cavity is going to be significantly decreased, which is not desirable.

Danpal’s Rainscreen Cladding system

rainscreen claddingSystems like the Danpal VRS Rainscreen Cladding System achieve great energy efficiency thanks to the optimal ventilation and water tightness of the system. Natural ventilation is achieved thanks to an air gap which allows for a connective motion of air to permeate throughout the gap behind the panels. This will insure that the insulation remains dry and that efficiency is maximised over time. Thanks to the system double notching; which achieves a superb level of water tightness.

The rainscreen cladding market has become huge in recent years, with estimations pointing towards it being worth $12.1 billion by 2022. This is due to more and more architects and developer steering towards more environmentally and energy friendly options when it comes to the design and building of their structures.

Learn more on Rainscreen Cladding here.

A monumental works that brings the best together

To build a football stadium with a design with forms in the vanguard, allowing for the comfort of its occupants in a safe and sustainable manner, with the best materials, while incorporating the newest in technology for the television broadcasting of matches, is a real architectural challenge.

For Juan Andrés Vergara and Luis Fernández de Ortega, of the VFO Arquitectos office, experienced in this type of monumental building, the BBVA Bancomer Monterrey stadium is their latest achievement in sports architecture.

In a joint venture with the international firm Populous (formerly HOK Sports) and other companies and national and international institutions, they started the design of this project in 2007 with the idea of building a new stadium for the Rayados team and to create a landmark building for the “regiomontana” city, as Monterrey is known.

“The site is right next to the slopes of the Cerro de la Silla, the most important icon of the northern region of the country. We proposed that the stadium roof have an inclination to the south and that a big window open it to the mountain. This way, you’re joining the functional part with the aesthetic and thematic parts, anchoring to its site, so that for people going to a football game, the first thing they’ll say is ‘we are in Monterrey, we are in our stadium, this is our team and we will win’ “, says Juan Andrés Vergara, CEO.

VFO uses in its projects technology that allow them to create more advanced and complex forms, representing major challenges in terms of construction.

“We wanted that this building be a very radical change in the quality of design in Mexico, so that the materials had to stand up to various situations. Due to the origins of the stadium’s company owner, we thought of metal pots and pans; these curved shapes could be achieved with metallic materials while achieving a brightness that reflected the sun, the colors of the vegetation and the hill”, adds Andrés.

The metal structure surrounds the stadium, leaving spaces for air to enter and cool the public in a natural way, and continues over the stands with an overhang of up to 50 meters. To build it, they used Building Information Modeling, BIM, a modeling technology which allows for design the structure and allowing to know exactly the materials, locations and virtually exact amounts needed for construction.

danpalon The last twelve meters of this overhang are covered by a special polycarbonate material, called Danpalon System, which allows a visual transition between parts in light and those in shadow. “It is an extremely important effect because this way people do not strain their vision as the transition is smooth, and the television cameras also benefit as well”.

This material, in the opinion of Andrés Vergara, offers “great resistance and also the level of translucency we need to apply it with this function. It is very easy to install and contributes to protect the environment”. This is the only polycarbonate in Mexico that can guarantee quality and durability over 25 years and more, which is the best choice for this kind of works that represent a large investment and that must maintain their functionality for several decades.

“When choosing materials, we always say that when an investment of 200 million dollars or more is on the line, one cannot give it to someone who is not experienced; we like to experiment, but safely, we like to bet when we’re going to win. And we know we will win because we have all the tools to make things succeed, the limit is always the imagination, but that imagination has to go with a knowledge of which things are achievable and that is what we apply”, asserts Vergara.

In this regard, Luis Fernandez de Ortega adds: “We seek materials that we know will have the expected performance in a particular building, not delude ourselves with the issue of cost. We rely more on an already proven track record and that is why we put our trust in products we are confident will meet those expectations. One thing I always tell our team when they are doing their job, ‘keep in mind that not only you are putting your name on this, we all are, when you place your name out in front it means you’re putting forward a reputation, that forces us to be very careful with the selection of materials and systems, which is why we study those things so much”.

After eight years of work, the stadium was inaugurated a few weeks ago. The result is a building that “will generate a lot of history for sport in Mexico, and will be the trigger of a higher level of design that will elevate the level of dignity of the people”, in the words of Andrés Vergara.

The construction process would have been impossible without the application of the most cutting-edge technologies, using the most advanced materials and the talent and work of human hands and minds.

“Now that we’ve been at the opening of the stadium, we realized that all attendees became one. This is a phenomenon that football does: it coalesces a large group of people into one that moves in one direction, and I believe that’s what a building like this really brings to a city. A building is nothing if it does not have people within it and that’s the great opportunity that this stadium represents, not only for the public, for the team or for the owner, but also for us”, concludes Luis Fernández de Ortega.

Interior panels bring your interior design together

When it comes to designing the interior of a space, it is important that all of your goals and aims are achieved in a balanced way. You don’t want to focus on each area individually, as when everything is put together; it may appear disjointed and too busy.

Instead, it is a good idea to always think of the design on a macro level, where everything pulls together to achieve one collective goal.

There are so many factors that go into designing a quality interior, that it takes a lot of careful planning and a lot of tough choices will need to be made.

Aligning the walls and ceilings

interior panelsWhen it comes to the walls, interior panels need to be properly used in order to give off an illusion of space and cleanliness. Danpal achieve this thanks to the interior panels which come in a variety of colours, have clean lines and maximize lighting effects to give a feeling of illuminance to any space that you step foot in.

Many people forget about the importance of ceilings when it comes to interior design, but they are one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.

You can use the ceiling to add colour and life to the space. Danpal offers unique solutions which can cover large areas of concrete or celling surfaces, all in a manner that is quick and easy to implement. The ceiling surfaces are smooth and clean, allowing light to be optimally integrated.

Composition of the panelling

When it comes to interior panels, you are spoilt for choice with Danpal’s range of offerings. No matter what textures, finishing or colours you decide to go with, you are guaranteed a structure that is exceptionally durable, has superior light diffusion and is high impact. This will leave your interior space looking great, as well as lasting long into the future.

The reason Danpal can achieve all of these great features is thanks to the Microcell panels which vary in thickness and widths depending on your needs. They have been purposely built with tight spacing in between the ribs in order to ensure superior lighting diffusion.
The beauty of the Danpal interior panels
If you want to create a blended look to your interior, or you want to go for a more bold design, Danpal has the consistency in quality and aesthetics to achieve any goals.

There are now so many different aesthetic possibilities opened up to you. This means that you can transform previously mundane and uninspiring spaces into a revolutionary structure which has been transformed by sleek design and quality light.

Everything from the walls to the partitions and ceilings can be transformed into radiant sculptural elements that will help to contribute to an amazingly unique ambience in the space.

Your creativity will know no bounds when it come sot using the Danpal interior system, as you can maximise the visual potential of both artificial and natural light. Best of all, it is quick and easy to install thanks to its lightweight nature.

What are the benefits of rainscreen cladding?

When it comes to the longevity of a building, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration.

During the design process, you have to factor in variables like the visually appealing aspect of a design, the efficiency of the design and of course the cost factors associated with how the building is structured, what materials are being used.

There is one thing that should not be overlooked, but often is. That is adding a form of protection onto the structure to ensure that the design and integrity of the building does not deteriorate over time.

Due to different weather elements like wind, rain and snow, buildings can quickly become shabby and develop structural faults, such as poor insulation, mould, corrosion and high levels of permeability. This will lead to a lot of heartache down the road if you do not take appropriate measures to prevent this from happening.

Why use rainscreen cladding?

The idea of rainscreen cladding is to protect a building from excessive moisture. When it comes to exterior damage on a building, rain is the number one culprit. This is why you need to have a form of protection in place in the form of rainscreen cladding.

As well as providing protection from moisture and the long list of subsequent problems associated with it, you can also add to the aesthetic value of the façade of a building.

The way it works is due to its structure, it is made up of a ventilated cavity, an outer panel and an inner sheet. The gap that exists between the building’s exterior and the cladding keeps water from being able to seep into the wall. The ventilated cavity encourages good air flow, with the overhangs and screens stopping rainwater form even entering in the first place.
Benefits of Danpal’s rainscreen cladding
rainscreen claddingDanpal is one of the leading figures when it comes to rainscreen cladding. The Ventilated Rainscreen System is light but extremely solid. This is thanks to the material it is made out of – connector-bound Microcell polycarbonate panels which are as much as three times lighter than the mainstream rainscreen cladding that is found on the market today.

This means that it is also simple and quick to install as the connections are completed on the support directly, which means that there is no need for extra framed structures.

Thanks to the ventilation system, there is great insulation efficiency, saving you when it comes to your energy costs, as well as having perfect water tightness due to the double notching of the panels.

The decision to install rainscreen cladding really is a no-brainer.

It adds much needed protection to the exterior of a building from the terribleness of moisture. It can help to enhance the appearance of a building, giving it an updated and more modern look.

It is very easily installed which means that there will be very little disruption. By improving the insulation of the structure, it is sustainable and you can even reuse the cladding if the building is being demolished. Finally, there are many customisable options to choose from when it comes to design and colour.

Choosing the right Roofing Material

Useful advice to keep in mind when choosing the right roofing material

No matter what sort of structure you are involved with designing, the roof is always one of the most important pieces of the overall puzzle. It is the icing on the cake. If you get the roofing material wrong, all of your hard work that has gone into the overall structure will have been for nothing.

This is how precise you have to be with your selection, as there is a staggering amount of options out there on the market today for you to choose from, that it can often be a stressful period trying to find the one that is best suited to that particular design and structure.

There are some key factors to take into consideration during the selection process and by thinking about them carefully, you will get a much better idea of what it is that you are looking for.

Weather conditions

One of the fundamental things that you have to consider when selecting a roof is ensuring that it will be able to withstand any potential conditions that are going to be thrown at it, whether that is heavy winds, hail or snow.

This is the main barrier between the interior and the exterior of the building and needs to be able to withstand large volumes of snow if you are in such an area, as well as the effects that excessive heat or cold may have on the roof. Certain types of roofs work better in particular types of climates.

Appearance

roofing materialOf course when it comes to design, the appearance of the roof is one of the most important parts of the equation.

You want your structure to look visually pleasing. The roof is very visible when you look at any structure from the street, so this has a significant effect on the finished look of the building. You should have the texture, type and colour of the roof matched with the rest of the building’s exterior style and finish.

Always stay true to your vision as an architect or designer, as well as keeping in line with the architectural style of the building. You don’t want to mismatch two different styles, as it will look conjoined and rushed.

Durability and longevity of the roofing material

While cost of the roof is an important factor to consider, you really need to figure out how long this roof will last on the structure. You could buy a cheap roof that gives you all sorts of problems not long down the line and you will incur more expense trying to repair it than you would have spent paying extra for the higher quality roof.

Danpal and their selection of roofs

As one of the leaders in roofing, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to the options that Danpal provides. No matter what sort of design or features you are looking for, Danpal will be able to fulfil your needs.

Whether you are looking for modern and aesthetically slick roofs or more basic and traditional ones, you need not look further.

Advice to keep in mind when working with polycarbonate panels

When it comes to choosing the right plastic material for your task at hand, look no further than polycarbonate panels. This material is pretty much unbreakable and usually come in two different iterations; as a

  • multiwall polycarbonate which is a structured sheet that has air chambers which are hollow

Or

  •  solid polycarbonate which is clear, flat sheeting that has the appearance of glass

Both of these polycarbonate panels have their own distinct advantages and it often comes down to which is more aesthetically pleasing for the project at hand rather than the functionality of the panels coming into play.

Does this type of panelling scratch?

While plastic and glass panelling is liable to scratching, the polycarbonate surface is a material that has been hardened to withstand high levels of resistant.

If a piece of glass is scratched, the glass breaks away in tiny shards and the scratch is not very visible to the human eye. Alternatively, when plastic panelling is scratched, the fragments don’t break away, they move to another location which leaves a visible indentation that is raised on the surface.

This sort of effect needs to be taken into consideration when you are deciding to use plastic sheeting.

On the other hand, it is a lot harder to cause cracks or breaks in the polycarbonate panels as even though it is half the weight of glass, it is actually more than 200 times stronger than glass.

It is also flexible while maintaining strength levels and rigidity. This is why polycarbonate panels are often used as a guard in moving machinery parts, farming machinery wind shields and in security screens.

Does polycarbonate panelling bend?

This type of panelling does bend, which gives you a lot more flexibility when it comes to the design of the project at hand. Larger sheets will have a bend with a greater radius and are well fitted for arching rooves. The greater the thickness and the smaller in size a panel are, the harder it will be to bend.

The advantages of Danpal polycarbonate panels

polycarbonate-panel2At Danpal, there are a number of different systems that utilise polycarbonate panels.

One such example is the ventilated rain system which gives a structure an aesthetically pleasing exterior while also efficiently insulating the structure from any damage that may be caused by adverse weather conditions.

Thanks to the air gap, there is a lot of natural ventilation which will allow the insulation to stay dry and perform effectively long into the future.

It is said that approximately 40% of the primary energy consumption comes from the building itself, which is why the Danpal system is so effective when it comes to saving on energy costs.

This extra form of protection is the perfect type of insulation for the task at hand. Best of all, it is quick and easy to install, as well as there being so much choice when it comes to design and the colour of the panelling.