| I find planters as an excellent opportunity to give | | | | brushable,elastomeric,waterproofing products |
| colour and a pleasant dimension to the townscape. | | | | most ususally based on polyurethane resins. This |
| Planters can be made from many materials, | | | | is a simple, versatile and efficacious as well |
| concrete included. Planters made from porous | | | | solution. |
| materials definitely need waterproofing. | | | | Termination of waterproofing on vertical walls |
| In waterproofing terms and procedures we had | | | | should be 10-15 cm above soil surface. An |
| better consider planters as basements because | | | | additional, protective waterproofing stripe might |
| there is constant contact with moist soil. | | | | be needed near soil surface if main waterproofing |
| Now, you will not find hydrostatic pressure in a | | | | layer shouldn’t stay exposed. |
| planter – except for rare occasions – but | | | | Before proceeding to planting, always execute a |
| you will certainly find capillary absorption and salt | | | | flood test. |
| transportation to the external surfaces. | | | | DRAINAGE CONSIDERATIONS |
| Effloresence won’t bring the disaster but | | | | Do cater for the easy drainage of excessive |
| aesthetically speaking the depreciation of the | | | | water. Big water quantities in the root zone will |
| planter could be significant. | | | | cause problems. |
| WATERPROOFING OPTIONS | | | | Traditionally we used gravel to form a drainage |
| Waterproofing materials suitable for planters | | | | layer. Then one geotextile on the top and |
| should combine the following characteristics: | | | | everything OK! |
| 1) flexibility: planters are continuously exposed to | | | | There are better ways nowadays! We have |
| temperature variations. | | | | many light and flexible geocomposite products in |
| 2) withstand temporary hydrostatic pressure. | | | | our drainage weaponry. |
| 3) possess antiroot properties. Acids excreted | | | | Personally I prefer and use a dimpled (studded) |
| from plant root systems are very powerful. | | | | HDPE membrane with 20mm dimples (studs) and |
| Waterproofing products to be excluded: | | | | slots for the water to pass freely. On top of this |
| * conventional SBS and APP membranes | | | | I place spubonded geotextile of min weight 200gr |
| * asphalt emulsions and rubberized emulsions | | | | m2. |
| * cementitious waterproofing products. | | | | It is of utmost importance to select a geotextile |
| What we should use:a) SBS membranes type | | | | filter with no clogging properties! |
| “garden”. These products are used for | | | | Take care: geotextile should terminate a little |
| big planters. They are the same products we use | | | | above soil. |
| for conventional roof gardens with extensive | | | | Don’t ever forget to let 1 or 2 drain outlets! |
| vegetation.b) SBS, self-adhesive membranes with | | | | We should see planters as small roof gardens. |
| antiroot properties . This is a very effective | | | | They give us an opportunity to bring nature – |
| solution and could be a do-it-yourself one with | | | | or the least it’s illusion – in the city |
| proper care. Always use | | | | environment. Victims as we are of a galloping |
| the appropriate,preparatory asphaltic primer | | | | urbanization, we should resist in every possible |
| c) For small planters we could choose | | | | way! |