A roof terrace in USA is the perfect way to increase the residential area of your home at the expense of a previously unused space. Depending on your preferences, such a terrace may become a small elevated flower garden, a romantic place for evening means, or a viewing platform.
5 Specific Features Of Roof Terraces.
- A stationary roof or canopy above such a terrace is not a requirement; you may set up a temporary tent whenever necessary or use the terrace only when the weather is nice and sunny.
- Walls or a parapet around the perimeter of the roof terrace are a must, if you value the safety of your family members and guests.
- If the walls of the structure are blank, your design project should involve a transparent or semi-transparent roof to ensure a sufficient amount of sunlight.
- The level of moisture and humidity is naturally higher on a roof terrace; therefore, any exploited wood materials should undergo an appropriate treatment.
- Make sure the design project envisaged a well-planned water drain system.
Flooring Materials For A Roof Terrace.
The choice of materials suitable for a roof-based terrace is vast; however, it barely coincides with anything you would exploit in a regular residential space. The options preferred by American Designers in 2020 include:
- wood;
- ceramic tiles;
- gravel;
- pebbles;
- rubber materials;
- natural stone;
- composite materials;
- green lawn.
Wood in the form of decking (terrace) board is the most popular flooring idea. Practical and convenient, it possesses excellent decorative properties. Larch decking board is valued due to its resistance to high moisture and humidity, durability and resistance to rotting. A flooring material made from exotic wood species has an impeccable appearance, but costs a bomb.
Decking board from coniferous species – spruce, pine, etc. – is a budget-friendly option, but it can’t be compared with larch in terms of resistance to weather and other adverse factors and conditions. However, with special treatment, this option becomes absolutely suitable for a roof terrace floor in 2020. A noteworthy advantage of a wood flooring is its light weight, due to which experts recommend this variant for those home-owners who doubt the load capacity of their house’s roof.
Ceramic tiles and natural stone offer certain advantages, but these are heavy-weight flooring options that are expensive to have laid. If your roof terrace is open, opt for matted tiles with rough surface, so that it does not become slippery after a rain. A natural stone requires an expert estimation of the load to be performed.
Gravel, pebbles and rubber materials represent a trio of unusual choices. Gravel and pebbles might impart your roof terrace with a spectacular appearance, but they require regular care. A rubber flooring is a rare option used in areas designed for exercising or yoga. If you plan the roof terrace to be a leisure and chillout spot in USA, opt for natural materials.
Composite flooring materials have been a decent competition to natural wood. Composite terrace board produces the same decorative effect as natural wood, imitating its color and texture. However, the presence of polymeric compounds in its composition provides a great boost to the properties such as durability and moisture resistance, while also making the flooring easier to mount.
A lawn on the roof terrace is an amazing sight. It will make this part of your home a small nature corner that delights the eye and gives you the ease of mind. Combined with pot and ornamental plants, this idea results in a beautiful terrace decoration solution in 2020.
Roof Terrace: The Walls And The Parapet.
Wooden materials are the coziest and most beautiful variant for finishing the walls of a roof terrace. Wood panels, building cladding (siding), beams – these variants will match any design concept and impart the terrace with a natural vibe. If your roof terrace in the USA is mostly a DIY project, remember that an inevitable step is treating the wooden materials with a special wood preservative agent and wood stain, adding a layer of varnish on the top. This will protect the terrace finishing from pests, rotting, shrinkage and deterioration, preserving its highly decorative appearance.
Natural stone and bricks are distinguished by impressive durability in addition to aesthetic appeal. If you’ve opted for this variant, you won’t need to renovate your terrace every spring or autumn season, because such a finishing is made to last forever. You can paint the bricks to make them a convenient color, which is a highly unconventional idea. Natural stone makes a perfect match with virtually any decorations and harmonizes with ornamental flowers or a lawn patch.
A sturdy, reliable parapet is a must on any roof terrace that has no walls. Your options are countless: from a parapet composed from wrought elements to a plain wooden fence made from wide horizontal planks. In the projects of USA and UK designers, the parapets are usually created with the use of wooden beams, bricks or concrete blocks. A mixed-type structure is also possible, with a brick or concrete bottom part and a wooden top. If you decide that your roof terrace needs railings, you’re free to choose a sophisticated or concise design; a wooden railing may feature carved elements. A great idea is to decorate the railings with climbing plants: wild vines, rambling roses, etc.