Deck terrace with pedestrain traffic

This beautiful intensive green garden is designed for recreation and entertainment. If the structure and the carrying capacity of the building allows, the vegetation layer can have any kind of herbs, grasses, annuals or perennials, bushes, shrubs, even 5-8 m high trees. Some rules, like anchoring, proper fixing and protection against strong winds must be respected, and we can have an amazing green terrace. This type of garden needs special care, maintenance, irrigation and adequate fertilization. The substrate has special features and 30-150 cm thickness, which excludes the potential pedestrian traffic problems.

With the help of floating floor systems made of wood or other adjustable pieces, paths and terraces can be set. They are perfectly horizontal, tables, chairs and benches can be installed on them, so the entire place becomes functional.

In case of extensive green roofs the situation is not so obvious. These ecological roofs don’t need special care or regular maintenance, a few visits are enough for the stability of vegetation, waterproofing and other components. However one of the main advantages of a green roof is the proximity of nature, right on the top of the building. Spending our free time in the nature is definitely an attraction that can be provided by this environment-friendly roof too.

On these deck-type terraces access roads are designated, relaxing areas landscaped, so we can fully benefit from the joy offered by a green roof.

There exist several methods to install such floors on the ecological roofs, depending on the preferred material, the green roof system chosen – thickness of the substrate, drainage course – , the fixing system and some other specific conditions of the project. The weight of the deck terrace is also important in order to choose the best fixing solutions for supports and the bearing structure.

Because of the great variety of materials and technologies available, installation methods are changing from one solution to another, but steps are mainly the same:
Waterproofing must be ensured and protection against condensation resulting from temperature differences between the roof and the space below it.
A protection-closing layer follows, which is made of a membrane against root penetration (if the waterproofing doesn’t have FLL certification against root penetration).

Another protection layer comes, a geomembrane of polyester or other mechanically consolidated polyester and recycled polypropylene fibres, with an absorption rate between 3 and 6 l/m², depending on the product.
Then a drainage and water retention layer comes, actually drainage boards having the similar role to gravels, but with greater properties (gravel doesn’t have water retention capacity). They look like egg casings or some three-dimensional networks with holes for water retention, they are 20-30 mm high, retain water and direct excess water toward gutters. Depending on the model used, they can store 7-11,5 l of water per m², and their own weight is about 1,8-2 kg/m².
A 1-2 mm thick polyethylene cover forms the filtration layer and prevents clogging, filling the drainage course with fine particles from the substrate or the vegetation layer.
Supports for the terrace structure: it is recommended to use flexible supports with adjustable heights between 80-300 mm, depending on the thickness of the vegetation substrate.

These are made of polypropylene, having an insignificant weight and a great carrying capacity. Static measurements can indicate the proper distance between legs, but usually it’s about 70 cm. Supports are not mounted on the bearing structures, only in special situations, when the head of support must be fixed and not the bottom. With the help of these supports uneven surfaces can be adjusted, and the angle of floor can be setup to reach 1-2° inclination.
The substrate for vegetation: being the space where roots are settled, is decisive for their survival and development. In case of extensive green roofs, it has 60-200 mm thickness, depending on weather changes and the vegetation type. Usually it’s composed of recycled and natural materials, like split face natural tiles, perlites, pumices, volcanic clays, peat and biodegradable fibres, all in granules of 1-40 mm. The main features of this layer are: water retention capacity, permeability and structural stability.

Supports are already placed, so the deck type floor is installed on them and next the fixing system can be hidden (with metal or PVC clasps) or left to view (with stainless steel screws). Decks can be made of wood, composite materials or laminated wood, but they must be durable, easy to maintain and resistant to slipping.

These platforms installed on the top of buildings, in an environment with vegetation, can really offer comfort for the time spent in these oases.

Our team of experts can offer consultancy for the landscape of deck terraces with pedestrain traffic, whic is can be the perfect place for recreation and entertainment. These deck terraces have a floating floor made of wood or other composite materials. They are perfectly horizontal, so chairs, benches and tables can be mounted on them, offering a functional area too.

We are at your disposal with turnkey projects and long-term maintenance. We use reliable building materials, plants especially developed for rooftop gardens and high quality vegetation rolls. Every landscape work offers the best cost/effectiveness/safety balance and every project is adapted to our customers’ aims.

We are able to landscape deck type green terraces with pedestrian traffic, intensive or extensive green roofs on the top of industrial halls, inside or outside vertical gardens for office buildings, and intensive green gardens with special relaxing zones, landscape green roofs with pedestrian traffic for shopping malls and many other ecological constructions.

To increase the ecological value of the building, photovoltaic panels can be also installed.
We are happy to help you with green projects, system solutions, estimates, and consultancy in the field.