When the terrace takes on verdure
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A lawn on one’s terrace can provide that much-needed green breathing space in a crowded city. But the roof has to be laid out properly.
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GREEN HAVEN: An inviting, green open space on a terrace.
You are wide off the mark thinking scarcity of space alone drives scores of people in cities to have a green cover on the terraces of their houses.
Pragmatic and pressing requirements guide people to go in for roof gardens and lawns. The success of ideas such as Haritha Nagari, promoted by the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council, Keralam, are recent examples of how the urban population tries to
reach for a slice of nature.
A terrace lawn is a green space for the family, gradually becoming a meeting spot and the scene of unwinding after the day’s work.
A.R.S. Vadhiar, who has led people in Kochi with his terrace gardens, says a lot of thought has to go into preparing the terrace for lawns or gardens.
Terraces are best suited for these because the grass and the plants will receive direct sunlight. But before raising the garden, consider some important requirements.
Waterproofing
Waterproofing the roof is the first necessity. Jeeboy Thampi of Planters suggests the use of a cellular drainage layer. The imported PVC material is widely used to prevent water seepage into the roofs.
The most popular variety of grass for a terrace lawn is Bermuda 419. It needs less maintenance than other varieties and benefits from direct sunlight. Since terrace lawns are meant mostly for parties and walking, the grass variety, at Rs.15 a sq.ft, is well suited. Automatic watering equipment such as sprinklers is beneficial in the long run. The extra 20 per cent cost is more than made up in water savings and better care of the lawn.
Professional agencies can be approached for waterproofing solutions. If the roof is yet to be cast, follow the building design instructions, mix concrete in the right ratio and allow the concrete to spread and set evenly. Once the concrete dries, a mixture of sand and cement on a 1:1 ratio may be spread to plug any small gaps on the roof. Cure for 15 days with flooding of the roof. Once this is done, clean the terrace and lay a 3-cm layer of cement, sand and baby metal mixture (1:1.5:3) and allow this to cure for seven days using wet jute sacks or by flooding. After the work is completed, water should not collect on the roof.
Bricks may be laid to prepare a field on the terrace. They have to be laid either on top of the walls or on the beams. A plastic sheet may be used inside the brick border and provision should be made to ensure drainage of excess water.
If the roof has already been cast, clean it up to get rid of dirt and algae and lay a fresh layer of concrete with 3-mm steel bars (20 cm apart) and cement, sand and baby metal on the 1:1.5:3 ratio. A lighter layer of cement and sand mixture (1:3) should be properly spread on the top. The top has either to be flooded or kept moist for seven days for curing.
Once the terrace is ready, care has to be taken to make the mixtures that will go into the garden bed. Laterite stone powder, river sand, coir pith, cow dung and compost can be used to prepare the beds. The beds can be of 2 or 3 metres each with a width of 45 cm and a height of 50 cm.
K.A. MARTIN
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