Wolfin waterproofing system offers long term protection that outlasts and outperforms other systems. This was once again proven in an actual application when Wolfin membrane system was found perfectly intact after 11 years of waterproofing planter boxes containing plants with extremely aggressive roots.

In 2007, Wolfin membrane system was installed to over 10 000m² at a large corporate facility located in Bella Vista. Wolfin was applied to various critical areas on the property including the planter boxes located inside the main offices.

These planter boxes, waterproofed with Wolfin, have been in service for over 11 years and contain a growing medium that supports bamboo plantings. Bamboo is an ideal plant for indoor office spaces for several reasons. Bamboo produces 35% more oxygen than trees, which means it absorbs a lot more carbon dioxide and filters formaldehyde and xylene from the air. Bamboo can easily survive in low light conditions. Very importantly, especially from an interior perspective, bamboo also transpires a litre of water a day, making them great natural humidifiers.

However, bamboo roots/ rhizomes are known for penetrating and breaching waterproofing membranes. The very aggressive roots create runners that continually expand, spreading even up to 5 metres in a single year. This is why it’s imperative to ensure correct membrane selection for these types of critical applications.

Earlier this year, the owner of the building in Bella Vista decided to replace the plants and soil in two of these longstanding planters. When the planter boxes were completely emptied and cleaned out, the original Wolfin membrane was found to be totally intact and unaffected.

Prior to reinstating the soil, the building owner contacted Projex Group (distributor of Wolfin Waterproofing Systems) to re-inspect the membrane and confirm that it had not deteriorated, been damaged or punctured during the previous 11 years of service.

On inspection, it was found that the Wolfin membrane was still in excellent condition with no signs of deterioration or root damage. In fact, the roots have been forced to migrate upwards (as they could not penetrate the membrane) and work their way through the coping stone that sat atop the planter box walls.

The uncovered, undamaged and unpenetrated membrane can clearly be seen in the photograph. Wolfin membranes are certified and tested to FLL Standards for resistance to root penetration, which makes Wolfin the ideal waterproofing solution for green roofs, planter boxes and landscaped podiums among others.

If you are planning to build and waterproof planter boxes, green roofs or similar, make sure you think long-term and choose the right waterproofing membrane for the application. Making the wrong choice could end up being a very costly and painful process.

In this case study, the building owner avoided the typical leakage problems associated with these installations including rectification costs to repair and/or replace the damaged membranes. They will continue to benefit for many years to come having installed Wolfin, the superior waterproofing membrane system.

Architecture & Design Team

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Projex Group

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