As the demand for urban sports infrastructure increases, the concept of rooftop football turfs is proving to be a brilliant idea for constructing modern sports venues. The design of the football turf should adhere to certain specifications to ensure safety, sustainability, and high performance. Every step from assessing the load-bearing capacity of the building to installing an effective drainage system has to be considered during the construction process.

In areas with abundant rainfall and high levels of moisture, it becomes important to install an appropriate waterproofing system and drainage to ensure the safety of both turf and the building underneath. In addition, elements like a shock absorption layer, fence installation, and safety railings are some of the important elements that have to be considered during construction to ensure the safety of the players. The investment involved in constructing the turf includes not only turf installation but other things as well. This blog post will discuss all the necessary information regarding rooftop football turf construction, such as structural requirements, cost of construction, waterproofing, drainage, and other important safety requirements.

Why Structural Assessment Comes First?

The first major difference in comparing a sports turf installed over natural soil to one being installed over a building (terrace) is that every rooftop has a maximum allowable load. This weight allowance is established by architects prior to the installation of a sports field when they design the foundation of the building. When a complete artificial football turf system is installed which includes base layer, drainage system, infill material, artificial grass and often shock pad systems, the total weight added to each square meter of the roof is significant. The football turf dimensions must be planned according to the conditions of the roof which it is built. When you add multiple players running on the turf during play, rainwater accumulating on the playing surface, spectators standing near the sideline and possibly other people on the sidelines watching, then the overall total weight increases significantly.

Therefore, we require a Structural Engineer to assess the structure of the roof/terrace prior to quoting on any project. The assessment is not only for documentation purposes; it will protect both the owner of the building and all users from injury. While there may be alternatives if the original weight of the turf system exceeds the allowable weight of the structure – such as a lower weight turf system, less infill under the grass blades or adding additional reinforcement to the existing slab – these solutions require knowledge prior to commencing construction.

Waterproofing & Drainage – The Real Foundation

Water always finds its way to the bottom. The difference is, when you are on the ground, the water will eventually drain off into the ground. When you have water on a roof, there isn’t anywhere for the water to run, therefore all of the water drains out of the roof via the drainage system or in many cases, directly into the building below.

The first thing that needs to be done prior to laying down any turf is to ensure the roofing surface has an adequate waterproofing membrane installed, which is thoroughly inspected for any signs of leaks. In addition to installing a waterproof membrane, we also install a drainage system at a level that directs rainwater as close to the existing drainage outlets as possible. This method prevents pooling of water on the roof surface which creates a slippery condition while preventing water from seeping into any seams in the turf.

Wind, UV Exposure & Edge Fixing

In addition to having to be anchored in place (to prevent movement and distortion due to wind), synthetic grass used on rooftops should also have UV-resistant fibers. This is because the turf exposed without UV protection will lose color and become brittle after two or three years of exposure to sunlight. A UV resistant synthetic turf will maintain both its original color and spring for many years. The same applies to the edges where the turf meets walls.

Safety Standards That Actually Matter

Safety of a rooftop turf isn’t only about the playing surface itself; It’s about all the elements surrounding it.

• The perimeter fence and netting must extend above the field high enough so as to prevent balls and individuals from escaping over the top of the field.

• A shock-absorbing underpad reduces the likelihood of injury in case a player falls onto the ground or has an opponent land upon them, this being particularly crucial due to the fact the rooftop turf will sit atop a layer of solid concrete as opposed to the natural earth.

• The non-slip texture of the rooftop field will assist players with maintaining their footing when the turf is wet.

• Certified FIFA-quality or comparable turf ensures the performance of the ball when rolling across and bouncing off, as well as its grip are equal to those of a standard playing field and not merely aesthetically pleasing.

We build each of our rooftop projects utilizing these guidelines as they provide a basic premise for what constitutes a safety worthy rooftop turf field.

What Does it Cost?

The cost for building rooftop football turf will generally be higher than an equivalent grass surface at grade level due to the additional waterproofing, structural support if necessary, and specialized drainage systems.

Your overall price will depend upon the size of your field, the type of synthetic turf or artificial grass with the specific type of infill that you select, the condition of your existing rooftop area, and the amount of structural work required prior to installing your new sports turf.

Build Strong for a Lasting Effect

A rooftop football turf can change an unused terrace space to an area where energetic sporting events are scheduled. But it only works well when the structural, drainage, and safety fundamentals are taken into account.

With 22+ years of experience building sports surfaces across India, Surekha Exports has handled numerous turf construction projects. If you’re considering a rooftop football turf, we’d be glad to visit, assess your space, and help you build it right.