Roof terrace in Bochum, Germany

Patio decks
SMART NATURELINE in graphite grey

Type of construction
Renovation of the roof terrace of a penthouse flat

Client
private

Building materials trade
DEG-Dach-Fassade-Holz eG, Münster

Processor
Roofing company Wilhelm Grauthoff GmbH, Bochum

When the rest of Germany thinks of Bochum, they think of the city “deep in the west, where the sun gets dusty”, as the popular German singer Herbert Grönemeyer so strikingly puts it in his famous song about the city. But there is so more to Bochum, including its largest district, Stiepel. This sought-after residential area in Bochum is characterised by plenty of nature and wonderful hillside locations with magnificent views over fields and the Ruhr Valley. With just 900 inhabitants per square metre, Stiepel is the least-populated district in Bochum and a real idyll at the foothills of the Bergisches Land region. Around 80 per cent of the existing buildings are detached and semi-detached houses.

A dream terrace with panoramic views and art

Mr. and Ms. Glatzel also live here. When their children left home, they swapped the family home for the penthouse flat in a quietly located four-party house built in 2008.

The highlight of the new domicile is the 100-square-metre roof terrace that almost completely surrounds the house. The couple particularly enjoys using the two roofed sides. “This is where we spend most of our time,” explains Elisabeth Glatzel, “and enjoy the fantastic view – especially now, with the new WPC decking.” The property developer originally had bangkirai wood laid on the terrace, but despite regular and extensive maintenance, the decking was constantly dirty and not very presentable. “In the end, the flooring annoyed us for ten years,” states Elisabeth Glatzel.

But that came to an end. In 2021, the Glatzels decided to have the decking boards replaced. In order to find the right flooring that was easy to maintain, remained beautiful in the long run and also matched the stylish ambience, Thomas Glatzel first consulted the internet. His research led him to the material WPC (wood plastic composite). In his search for an expert opinion, he approached the senior manager of the Wilhelm Grauthoff roofing company, who has been the epitome of top-notch, reliable roofing in the Bochum area for almost 70 years. Mr. Grauthoff already knew the material from first-hand experience and recommended NATURinFORM decking boards to him. Jörg Rosenbach, master roofer and successor to the family-run Wilhelm Grauthoff GmbH since 2000, gives a very specific reason for this recommendation: “I had huge problems with another manufacturer on my own 80-square-metre terrace. Now, after three years, I’m going to remove it again and replace it with NATURinFORM products.”

After a brief on-site inspection at Grauthoff, the Glatzels opted for SMART NATURELINE in graphite grey. The multicoloured shade of the decking boards goes perfectly with the grey-painted wooden windows. The same goes for the glass balustrade and the stainless steel railings, which, like the entire white and grey interior, match the modern look of the house. The colours blend harmoniously without being distracting. Only the pine trees stand out in colour.

Various works of art placed around the roof terrace provide an exclusive accent. “We wanted to bring some movement to the terrace with the artwork,” explains Elisabeth Glatzel. “Whether small bronze-coloured angels sitting on long rods or a large angel’s wing, they are moved or turned by the wind.”

Easy-care WPC decking boards were a must

The SMART NATURELINE WPC decking boards used here are very easy to maintain and therefore particularly durable. The slight curvature of the decking boards allows water to drain automatically, which is why they can also be used where no additional slope can be installed. The embossed surface of the decking boards supports the drainage effect and, together with the curvature, prevents the accumulation of water caused by weather or cleaning. This prevents puddles from forming in the first place: a great advantage in the case of this roof terrace because although the building faces the south, there is no roofing over the entire longitudinal side of the building. Additionally, SMART is slip-resistant and barefoot-friendly. Despite its low weight and height of just 19 mm, it offers all the advantages of conventional solid decking boards, including high stability.

Due to the high wood content, NATURinFORM’s WPC decking boards undergo a natural optical maturing process, resulting in the desired natural matt shade. However, once this “colour maturation process” is complete, the shade remains constant. Untreated natural wood, on the other hand, continues to fade in colour. This can look messy in the long term and also means a high level of maintenance due to subsequent oiling or painting.

The building owners, whose mandatory requirement for the new flooring was a high level of ease of maintenance, could not have been more satisfied. “It is just perfect!” they explain. “The dirt on the edge, which was previously difficult to remove, is now a thing of the past. We no longer have to hire a specialist company to clean the terrace so that it looks tidy. Now we can easily clean it ourselves. And even after two years of use, the decking boards still look beautiful. “

Decking boards and substructure from a single system

In addition to the WPC decking, also the substructure from the specially customised accessory system played a decisive role. The existing bitumen sheets were undamaged and could still be used as a water-repellent base. Height-adjustable deck feet were positioned on cork pads, which raised and levelled the decking at the same time. They form the interface between the base and the decking structure and are therefore essential components for a stable terrace. The ALU system profile was mounted on the feet, to which the boards were invisibly screwed. Due to the heavy works of art, large potted plants and furniture that were placed on the terrace, the substructure was specially reinforced at these points with profile connectors and cross bracing.

Sustainability and recyclability

NATURinFORM decking boards are not varnished or oiled, they are already coloured at the factory. Depending on the product line, customers can choose from up to 31 colours. Another advantage is the high proportion of wood. With WPC from NATURinFORM, the ratio of wood to polymer is approx. 70 to 30 per cent.

NATURinFORM WPC is also 100 % recyclable. With their own recycling system, the “Re-Form Recyclingbox”, the company helps to keep the valuable raw materials in the material cycle for more than 600 years. Any leftover pieces or dismantled material can be collected in the “Re-Form Recycling Box”, which is delivered to the construction site free of charge. At the end of construction or when the box is full, the leftover material is collected for recycling at the production plant in Redwitz a. d. Rodach in northern Bavaria.

NATURinFORM manufactures its decking boards strictly according to ecological principles: They only process PEFC-certified wood fibres from sustainable forestry that are sourced from the wood processing industry. The organic component of the composite material is an environmentally friendly polymer. Unlike conventional wood, NATURinFORM decking boards do not require the use of environmentally harmful chemicals for maintenance. Clear water is sufficient for cleaning. No microplastics are washed out.

NATURinFORM offers products for DGNB-certified construction. All NATURinFORM decking boards and façade profiles are covered by Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) drawn up in accordance with international standards. All products are subjected to continuous quality controls and load tests to ensure consistent immaculate and first-class wood-based material quality.

Download: Press release
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