In construction, a finished project’s long-term durability and permanence is universally appreciated by the craftsmen who built the work regardless of scope, scale, or complexity. Simply put, in order to be good, it has to last. Construction that stands the test of time is a combination of the right products, the right preparation, and the right installation.
Finding the exact sequence of product, preparation, and installation is often driven by the building site’s particular challenges. Such was the case for the Town of Jean Lafitte, La., when in September 2008, Hurricane Ike destroyed the town auditorium while flooding thousands of homes and businesses in Jefferson Parrish. The existing auditorium’s central location adjacent to Lafitte Library and both the elementary and middle schools, was critical to its success as a community landmark. The town was determined to rebuild in place and resolving site issues related to the flood plain was an obvious concern.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funded the new auditorium and required that the site be raised out of the flood plain before new construction could begin. Filled with more than nine feet of a local soil known as river sand, the site was raised as required and a pile-supported building was designed for the new 18,000 sf auditorium. Elevating the site so much ultimately resulted in some drainage complications along the parking lot where a steep embankment transitions down to a ball field at the original grade.
“The slope needed to be stabilized beyond the parking lot because of the steep grade and concerns about erosion,” says Robby Oswald, owner of Bomanite of New Orleans, the contractor hired to resolve the issue. Oswald describes the hill as descending about seven feet in just 12 feet of distance and with rain runoff in Louisiana’s damp climate, the hill side would likely deteriorate fairly quickly. Once it did it would be an eyesore at least and potentially dangerous as well in a highly-trafficked area between the schools and library.
“Grasscrete was the ideal solution because it forms a concrete lattice that allows grass or other vegetation to grow within the voids. In this case it was covered with sod,” continues Oswald, who along with other Bomanite Licensees across the country has exclusive rights to this innovative concrete system that has been around since the mid-1970s. Beyond the ability to be planted naturally, a key to Grasscrete’s success is its overall strength and durability. Grasscrete is constructed using a molded-pulp formwork system that allows cast-in-place concrete to be monolithically placed. When the concrete matrix is continuously reinforced with #4 rebar, the result is a structurally sound perforated concrete plate.
Another important part of the concrete structure’s strength is in the thickness of the slab. Grasscrete formwork is designed for a 5 ½ inch thick concrete pan.
As a Bomanite contractor, Oswald has used Grasscrete on many other applications and notes that it is especially useful in situations where the client wants a vegetated surface but municipal codes require access for emergency vehicles. “When a city fire truck has to drive, or worse, park on it you really want a strong solid surface below them,” laughs Oswald, who speculates his firm must have installed more than two million square feet of Grasscrete over the years. He adds that overflow and industrial parking lots where surface drainage can be beneficial, as well as roadway shoulders and embankments are all opportunities for engineers to consider this application.
In addition to Bomanite’s Grasscrete product, Oswald installs a wide range of architectural cast-in-place concrete systems for clients across Louisiana’s’ Gulf Coast in a combination of indoor and outdoor environments. From large civic plazas and polished floors for commercial projects to decorative walks, patios, and pool decks for residential clients, Bomanite of New Orleans covers almost everything owners could want in specialty flatwork. Oswald credits Bomanite’ s carefully developed proprietary systems and advanced technical resources as a critical component of what set his work apart from other local contractors.
“Bomanite is a great company that really provides a great deal of technical support whenever we need it,” says Oswald. “The ability to troubleshoot a project with Bomanite and our fellow vendors around the country is always there for us if needed.” Oswald and his 12-man crew apply the Bomanite process with their own hands-on craftsmanship to ensure these highly durable products are installed to last a life time.
