The benefits of porcelain decking: Why it's a top choice for rooftop terraces

Rooftop terraces offer an opportunity to create valuable outdoor living space in urban environments. When designing these elevated oases, the choice of decking material is critical.

Porcelain decking is rapidly becoming a favourite for rooftop terraces, and for good reason. Its unique combination of durability, aesthetics, and safety make it an ideal choice. Let's explore the key benefits:

Porcelain decking’s unmatched durability and performance

Rooftop terraces are exposed to the elements, so durability is paramount. Porcelain decking stands up to the challenge, offering:

• Fire resistance: A crucial safety feature, especially in urban settings. Raaft® offers a non-combustible system that meets UK building regulations and fire safety reviews.
• Weather resistance: Porcelain is impervious to water, frost, and UV rays, ensuring it won't warp, crack, fade, or stain, maintaining its appearance for years to come.
• Slip resistance: Safety is key, and porcelain decking offers excellent slip resistance, providing a secure surface even in wet conditions.
• Longevity: Porcelain is incredibly hard-wearing and resistant to scratches, impacts, and wear, making it a long-lasting investment.

Porcelain decking’s aesthetic and design versatility

Porcelain decking doesn't just perform well; it looks fantastic. Raaft's Atria® porcelain tiles turn standard spaces into remarkable places. Benefits include:

• Variety of styles: Available in a wide range of colours, sizes, and styles, including options that mimic natural wood or stone, allowing you to create the perfect look for your rooftop terrace.
• Seamless integration: Designed to integrate seamlessly with Raaft®'s modular terrace system, creating a cohesive and visually appealing outdoor space.
• Modern and contemporary look: Porcelain decking offers a clean, sophisticated aesthetic that complements modern architectural styles.

The Raaft® system advantage

Raaft® offers a complete terrace system that makes installing porcelain decking simple and efficient:

• Modular system: Raaft®'s intuitive modular system can be easily constructed in three steps, ensuring a smooth installation process.
• Adjustable support: The system combines height-adjustable steel pedestals with aluminium support joists, which provide a stable and level base, even on uneven roof surfaces.
• Integrated planters: Raaft® planters can be easily integrated into the terrace design, adding greenery and creating a more inviting atmosphere.

Case study: Vega rooftop terrace, Miles Street, London

Project overview

• Development: Vega, a 37-storey student accommodation with 841 bedrooms, a six-story office block, and community leisure facilities
• Location: Vauxhall, London (Zone 1)
• Landscape architect: Optimised Environments
• Key challenge: Creating a fire-safe, multi-use rooftop area that complements the building's modern design and natural colour palette

Solution

Raaft's comprehensive terrace system was chosen to create a safe, durable, and aesthetically pleasing rooftop space:

1. Support Structure

• 50mm Aluminium Joists
• Fire-rated Adjustable Pedestals
• Floor Structure Panels for planter locations

2. Planters

• Straight Planter Walls powder-coated in RAL 7044 (Silk Grey)
• Class A fire-rated and low-maintenance

3. Surfacing

• Atria Roma porcelain tiles in three colours: Copper, Lead, and Natural
• Chosen for durability, low maintenance, and Class A fire rating

Key benefits

• Fire safety: All components meet Class A fire regulations, crucial for high-rise developments.
• Aesthetic harmony: The terrace design mirrors the building's natural earth tones.
• Durability: Porcelain tiles offer resistance to rot, mould, and moss, while remaining safe when wet.
• Simplified procurement: Sourcing all materials from Raaft ® ensured compatibility and streamlined communication.

Porcelain decking from Raaft®

For rooftop terraces, porcelain decking offers a winning combination of durability, aesthetics, and safety

To find out more about our porcelain decking or to discuss your ideas for a roof terrace, contact the experts at Raaft® today. We’re always happy to help and answer any questions you may have.