A Fourth-Floor Roof Terrace, Reimagined for Summer
From inherited, rotten planters to a full season of colour
A neglected space, given new purpose
Our client had recently bought a property with a fourth-floor roof terrace, inheriting a run of rotten timber planters and long-dead plants. The brief was simple in principle: since the space would mainly be used through the warmer months, we were asked to prioritise as much summer perennial colour as possible — a garden they could genuinely enjoy each year, rather than one dressed for all seasons at the expense of any of them.
Getting materials to the fourth floor
Access was the defining constraint on this project. With no straightforward route to a fourth-floor terrace, removing the old planters and dead planting — and then bringing in everything new — needed careful logistics before a single plant could go in.
- A scaffold tower with a pulley system was erected to lower old materials down and lift all new materials up to the terrace.
- Every rotten planter and its old compost had to be cleared before any rebuilding could begin.
- Weight load on the building had to be considered throughout, shaping our choice of materials.
Before & after
Before
After
During
DuringWhat we did
Clear & rebuildNew bespoke raised planters were built, lined, and clad in composite decking boards to replace the rotten timber originals.
Lightweight drainageLightweight LECA drainage material was used throughout to manage weight load on the building, paired with a fresh compost mix in every planter.
Two purpose-built decking areasNew composite decking areas were laid out — one for dining, one for the barbecue — giving the terrace clear zones for entertaining.
Height & structureMulti-stem trees were introduced to bring height and year-round structure to the planting scheme.
IrrigationA drip irrigation system was supplied and installed to water all new planting areas and pots automatically.
The finished terrace
Sean and Paul delivered an outstanding roof terrace installation from design through to completion. Sean's design guidance was considered and collaborative, checking in throughout to keep the project on track and within budget, and both worked with a genuine "can do" attitude — including through one of the summer's heatwaves. Having compared several companies, the client found Boma's pricing the most reasonable by far.— Client, Central London roof terrace project
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