GardenScapes Garden Roofing from GAF

Wayne, NJ, March 01, 2008 --(PR.com)-- After over 40 years of success in Europe, garden roofing is catching on in the United States and for good reason - garden roofing can offer many benefits. According to recent studies, property owners can benefit from up to 15% in energy savings alone. Also, in some cities a garden roof will allow you to build a larger structure or add square footage onto existing property, making it larger than would normally be allowed by code. This is due to the reduction in size or elimination of large, on-site storm water retention ponds. In addition, the federal government and many state and local governments have enacted tax benefits for property owners who install garden roofs.

The list of benefits for garden roofs is long, but before selecting a garden roof, property owners should be aware of common pitfalls often associated with garden roof systems. There are many complicated, ineffective designs on the market - some having up to 8 different components - that can be time consuming and difficult to install. If installed improperly, these systems can perform poorly or even fail. Additionally, most garden roof systems rely on different trades – roofing contractors, landscapers, etc. – for installation, which can lead to longer installation time and business interruptions. Lastly, most garden roof systems have multiple guarantee sources, making it complex to resolve any issues that might arise after installation; will all of the various trades people even be in business in a few years, much less 20 years or more from now?

GAF’s GardenScapes roof systems have addressed the major hassles associated with garden roofs. They feature simple, effective designs that start with a choice of GAF’s field-proven single-ply TPO or multiple-ply TriPosite™ XL roofing systems as the waterproofing layer. On top of the membrane is GAF’s exclusive DuraGro™ 4-in-1 drainage foundation system, that combines four functions into one: it protects the roofing membrane from direct contact with the growing medium, it retains just enough water to help keep the plants from drying, it slows the drainage of excess water into storm sewers, and it helps screen the drain water to keep the DuraGro™ system from clogging. Next is GAF’s custom-formulated StartRite™ growing medium, designed for specific geographic locations. It includes a special organic superfood that promotes fuller, faster plant growth. And to help improve the quality of the runoff water, it even includes a unique carbon filtering compound. Finally, GardenScapes systems offer a choice of regional plant varieties suited to your specific climate and to meet your personal taste or landscaping objectives—a critical step in creating a successful garden roof system.

GardenScapes systems are installed by GAF factory-certified installers. This ensures the quality of the installation and provides a single source for maintenance and service of your complete system, from the waterproofing membrane right up to the final layer of vegetation. Rich Pieros, President of Pieros Construction, a certified GardenScapes installer, adds “The GardenScapes system installs really fast, so the property owner can avoid a lot of hassles and minimize any business interruption.” A single-source guarantee from GAF Materials Corporation protects the complete garden roof system, and even includes a plant maturation guarantee that covers your plants during the critical early stages of growth. Also, the GardenScapes owner’s manual includes system specifications, a maintenance plan, and more.

GAF Materials Corporation has grown to become the largest roofing and ventilation manufacturer in North America, with sales over $2 billion annually. Its success is driven by a commitment to provide property owners and specifiers with their best and safest choice in roofing, and by helping supportive contractors and distributors to build their businesses and avoid hassles. Its products include a comprehensive portfolio of steep-slope roofing systems (marketed under the GAF-Elk brand) and low-slope roofing systems (marketed under the GAF brand). These products are supported by an extensive national network of factory-certified contractors. The Company also supports the industry through CARE®, the Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence. CARE’s mission is to help professional contractors and distributors to build their businesses through sales and management education, and to provide product and installation training to contractors, distributors, architects, property owners, and related industry personnel. Since its inception, CARE has provided education to over 65,000 professionals.

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