RAISED PEDESTAL PAVER AND TURF DECK SYSTEM
In 2012, an elevated roof-top turf deck system didn't seem to exist. So, I decided to experiment and see what I could some up with. Starting with an adjustable raised pedestal type system, similar to the existing paver systems, and then adapting it to integrate the synthetic turf seemed like the way to go. The overall design ended up working great - for about three years. Then, the custom deck panels we created for under the turf areas began to fail. While the system proved to be the right direction, it was time to find some better components. See below for our revised solution - a system that is still going strong five years later and showing no signs of wear and tear!
The original test installation used waterproof medium density fiberboard panels (Medex) as an underlayment to support the synthetic turf.
We had soaked a piece of Medex (waterproof medium density fiberboard) in a bucket of water for about a year. It did show some minor deterioration from being submerged, but still seemed to remain structurally intact. So, we decided to give it a try and fabricated up the panels. Well, after a little over three years, here's what happened. The conditions that were not factored into the test sample were heat, freezing, and constant loading. My theory is that those factors really played a much bigger roll in the failrure of the binding agents in the panels than the water did. Obviously, the combined conditions and factors took their toll.
Once the Medex panels were removed, we re-adjusted the pedestals to work with the new system spacing.
Our new component? Hog-panels! These panels are traditionally utilized for the flooring in hog farm buildings. It seemed like a good fit. Engineered to hold live loads, of course waterproof (really, theyr'e pretty much impervious to everything), and they hold up to heat and cold. The new system included "T-bar" rails and the "Hog-Slat" flooring panels.
Here's the completed hog-slat flooring installation prior to rolling the turf back out. The slatted panels are perfect for letting water drain down through the turf and then let the roofing below do the reast of the work.
The completed deck! The new system has been installed since 2015, and is still performing just as it did on day one, with oo sign of any deterioration or change in performance since it was installed.
Mock-up sample of the sytem. We actually put this together, not only to show the various components of the system, but also to mock up a test of a system for high wind areas. This doubled as a test for adhering the turf to the hog slats. No we just need a project to test it on!