Guides · hard surfaces

Laying artificial grass on decking, concrete & rooftops.

Published 14 July 2026

No soil? No problem. Most of Singapore’s balconies, terraces and roof decks are hard surfaces, and each needs a slightly different build-up to drain and last. Here’s how it’s done.

Grass on a hard surface lives or dies by drainage and preparation. Get the layer under the turf right, and a concrete slab or timber deck becomes a lawn that sheds water and lasts for years.

Artificial grass laid over a rooftop concrete slab with drainage in Singapore

The golden rule: water must escape

On soil, water soaks away. On a hard surface it has nowhere to go unless you plan for it, so every hard-surface install starts with drainage: falls to existing outlets, and a layer that lets water pass freely to them.

On concrete

We check the slab’s fall to a drain, then lay a free-draining layer, often a drainage-cell or a permeable shockpad, before the turf. This lifts the grass off the slab so water runs beneath it and away, rather than pooling under the pile.

On timber decking

Grass lays neatly over sound decking. Gaps between boards already help water through; we ensure the boards are secure and level, add a suitable underlay where needed, and fix the turf at the edges so it stays taut without trapping moisture.

On a rooftop or roof terrace

Roof slabs demand the most care: never block the roof’s drainage, protect the waterproofing membrane, and keep everything within the roof’s load limits. A drainage-cell base is ideal here, it creates a reservoir-and-flow layer that clears monsoon rain fast while safeguarding the roof.

The turf you see is the easy part; on a hard surface the drainage layer beneath it is the whole job.

Fixing and finishing

Without soil to pin into, hard-surface turf is secured with adhesive at seams and edges (and edge trims or battens where suitable), so it stays flat, taut and safe underfoot, with no lifting corners.

Why it’s worth doing properly

A hard-surface lawn built without drainage smells, grows algae and lifts. Built right, the same balcony, deck or roof drains in seconds, stays fresh, and turns dead hardscape into everyday living space.

FAQ

Can artificial grass be laid on concrete?

Yes, over a free-draining layer such as a drainage cell or permeable shockpad, with the slab’s fall directing water to a drain. This keeps water from pooling under the turf.

Can I lay artificial grass over timber decking?

Yes, on sound, secure decking. Board gaps aid drainage; we level and secure the deck, add underlay where needed, and fix the turf at the edges.

How does artificial grass drain on a rooftop?

A drainage-cell base creates a flow layer that clears rain fast while protecting the roof’s waterproofing and never blocking its outlets, all within the roof’s load limits.

Do you need infill or pins on hard surfaces?

Instead of ground pins, hard-surface turf is secured with adhesive at seams and edges, plus edge trims where suitable, so it stays flat and taut.