Which decking material is most suitable for a roof terrace?

If you are a landscape architect designing a roof terrace, you will probably be faced with the problem of which decking material to specify for the best results. The decking material you choose must be durable, weatherproof, and meet regulatory requirements. At Raaft, we are specialists in providing durable modular terrace systems. So as leaders in our field, we are going to talk you through our recommendations for decking materials to choose when designing a commercial or residential roof terrace.

Composite Decking

Composite decking is a great light-weight solution for roof terraces, delivering robust performance, durability, and design freedom. This material comprises of a mix of wood and recycled plastic and is then covered in bonding agent and tint to get it to its final finish.

Composite decking offers an increased range of properties compared to other materials on the market, these include:

Easy to maintain: This decking does not require regular sanding or re-varnishing.
UV Resistant: Roof terraces are frequently exposed to sunlight so choosing a material for your decking that is resistant to fading or warping in the sun is essential.
Sustainable: This material is made from recycled plastics, making it a sustainable choice for your roof terrace design – especially if you are aiming to achieve a BREEAM award for the project.
Design freedom: This material can be made to multiple different finishes and colours that mimic the texture and appearance of natural timber decking, allowing for complete design freedom.

At Raaft, our Terrafina composite decking is created using extensive research and development combined with a high-quality engineering process to produce a long-lasting decking with elegant aesthetics.

Porcelain Decking

Porcelain decking is another great choice for roof terraces. This material offers all the functionalities needed for a durable and versatile roof terrace, whilst also allowing you to design a contemporary and personalised space.

Porcelain offers a range of high technical characteristics that are suitable for roof terraces. These include:

Weatherproof and slip proof: Due to the location of roof terraces, it is important to specify a material that will not become damaged or dangerous when exposed to adverse weather conditions. This material is a strong and durable option that will prevent the effects of wear and tear from weather and minimise the risk of slips or wind-uplift.
Class A fire rated: Porcelain is a Class A fire-rated material meaning when it is exposed to fire, it will not ignite, combust, release toxic fumes, or smoke, or cause the fire to spread. Since the Grenfell disaster, regulations regarding fire safety have become more important than ever. Choosing a material that will adhere to these regulations is paramount when designing a terrace for a commercial or residential building.
Durable and hard-wearing: Porcelain is scratch resistant and stain resistant, which is an essential for high-traffic areas such as communal roof terraces.
Design freedom: similar to composite decking, porcelain can be made to many different finishes, allowing for complete design freedom.

At Raaft, our Farrino Porcelain Decking is manufactured to the highest standard offering durability and mechanical strength, suitable for residential, commercial, or high-traffic areas.

Decking materials: key takeaways

Based on our experience in roof terrace design, porcelain and composite materials have shown to be the safest and most durable choice. These materials each have their own individual benefits which will allow you to design an elegant and contemporary terrace that will last the test of time and meet building standard regulations.

At Raaft, we offer sustainable roof terrace systems designed for life. Our range of recycled terrace products come in many different styles, colours and finishes to suit your needs so you can build what’s right for your space. See the endless possibilities available to you with the Raaft terrace system and talk to a technical expert with experience of industry best practice to begin your roof terrace journey.