Why Use Artificial Grass on Roof Terraces?
A roof terrace should give people a reason to step outside. Somewhere to enjoy lunch away from a screen or spend an evening with neighbours, with enough comfort to make staying a little longer appealing.
Artificial grass can help create that more relaxed setting. Combined with paving and real planting, it introduces a softer surface and a garden-like appearance, without the regular lawn care associated with natural turf.
Create outdoor spaces people want to use
Outdoor space matters to the people using a building. Gensler’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey, covering more than 16,400 office workers across 16 countries, found that 43% included outdoor areas and access to nature among their top five hopes for their future workplace. A further 40% selected quiet, reflective spaces.
For workplace designers, those findings make a strong case for terraces that accommodate a quiet break as comfortably as a conversation with colleagues.
Artificial grass can help give seating areas a more informal feel, while paved routes connect them to the building. In residential developments, a similar approach can create somewhere residents feel comfortable spending time outside their own apartment.
For hospitality spaces, the opportunity is to make a rooftop feel like somewhere guests would choose to settle in.
Combine softer surfaces with real greenery
The strongest terrace designs consider the whole experience, including the view from a seat and the planting around it.
Research published in Scientific Reports, drawing on responses from 19,806 adults in England, found that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature was associated with better self-reported health and wellbeing. The study concerned natural environments, so those findings shouldn’t be presented as benefits of artificial grass itself.
For terrace design, the useful takeaway is to give real planting a meaningful role. Artificial grass can provide a practical surface within a scheme that also includes planted borders and opportunities to enjoy nature outdoors.
Make room for different activities
A terrace may need to accommodate people eating lunch alongside others looking for somewhere quiet to read.
Changes in surface can help distinguish these areas without enclosing them. Artificial grass can define an informal seating space, while porcelain paving provides a different character around dining tables and main routes.
SkyFrame can accommodate different finishes across the same modular frame, with artificial grass installed over a suitable supporting surface. Coordinating the finishes from the outset helps designers resolve transitions and create a terrace that feels connected.
For users, the benefit is choice: somewhere sociable when they want company, with quieter corners when they don’t.
Reduce routine lawn care
Building managers need outdoor spaces they can realistically maintain.
Artificial grass removes the need for mowing and feeding a lawn, as well as routine watering to sustain grass growth. Maintenance teams can focus instead on cleaning and brushing the surface, clearing debris and checking drainage routes.
A planned care routine still matters, particularly in busy communal areas. Choosing a product suited to the expected use helps keep the finished space looking presentable.
Comfort also needs consideration. Artificial grass can become hot in direct sunlight, making shaded seating an important part of an exposed rooftop’s design.
Support the space from the start
The details beneath a terrace help determine how well it works over time.
SkyFrame’s raised structure allows drainage beneath the finished surface, while its non-penetrative approach avoids fixings through the waterproof membrane. Coordinating drainage and access for maintenance early helps building teams look after the space once it’s occupied.
The proposed artificial grass installation also needs suitable support, wind restraint and appropriate fire performance. Resolving these requirements during design helps keep the finished terrace aligned with both the intended appearance and everyday use.
Considering artificial grass alongside paving or decking? Send SkyFrame your roof plan and proposed finishes. We’ll help bring the different areas together within one coordinated terrace system.
