Roof terrace in Batumi: a usable flat roof
A roof terrace turns a flat roof into a place for furniture, plants and sea views. We build it as an inverted roof: the membrane under the insulation, pavers or decking on adjustable pedestals on top, and free access to the outlets. An engineer checks the slab load in advance. A turnkey roof terrace on an existing slab starts from 480 ₾ per m².
from 480 ₾/m²on an existing slab: falls, membrane, insulation, layers and walking surface. The final price is confirmed once agreed.
- Timeline: a 40–80 m² roof terrace on an existing slab usually takes 3–5 weeks including the flood test
- Warranty: The roof build-up and terrace surface have a 2-year warranty
Who it’s for
You are building a flat-roofed house and want a terrace with a sea view
An existing house has a flat roof you would like to make a place to relax
You need a terrace over a garage or ground-floor living room with a door from a room
You plan a hot tub, outdoor kitchen or tree planters on the roof
An aparthotel or guest house where the roof will be a shared space for guests
What’s included
- slab check and load design with the engineer
- layer to falls and membrane
- XPS insulation above the membrane
- drainage and filter layer
- pavers or decking on adjustable pedestals
- outlets and emergency overflows accessible from above
- roof access, threshold and door junction
- support frames for equipment and railing bases
Roof terrace: what changes compared with an ordinary roof
A roof terrace is a flat roof people walk on, with furniture, planters and sometimes a hot tub or an outdoor kitchen. Above the same waterproofing there are now people, weight and sharp chair legs every day. So the build-up of such a roof is assembled differently from a service roof: the membrane is hidden under the insulation and a protective layer, and the floor slab is designed for the new load in advance.
In Batumi a roof terrace is often the only place in the house with a sea view, so it is planned at the design stage. If you are still choosing the architecture, see the flat roof houses page; zoning, furniture and lighting are worked out in terrace design.
Load on the slab
A terrace with pavers on pedestals, people and furniture loads the slab much more than a service roof. Planters with trees, a stone barbecue area and above all a hot tub full of water create point loads of several hundred kilograms per square metre. The engineer includes them in the slab and frame design, and the positions of heavy items are fixed in the drawings. On an existing house we check the slab first and draw the terrace second.
Inverted build-up
On a roof terrace we almost always use an inverted build-up. On the slab goes a layer to falls, then the waterproofing membrane, then extruded polystyrene insulation that does not mind water, then a drainage and filter layer and a walking surface. The membrane is protected from the sun, temperature swings and heels. How to choose and weld the membrane itself is covered on the membrane roofing page.
Surface: pavers on pedestals or on screed
Pavers or decking on adjustable pedestals are laid with open joints: water passes through the surface and runs along the membrane to the outlets. Pedestals let us set a level deck over the falls and lift any paver at any time to clean an outlet or check the membrane. Tiles glued onto screed look more monolithic, but then water runs over and collects under the tiles, and repairing the membrane means breaking up the whole surface. So we recommend pedestals.
Access, railings and equipment
The roof needs comfortable access: a stair enclosure with a door or a door from a top-floor room. The threshold is raised above the terrace surface, the membrane is taken up under the door frame, and a drainage channel goes in front of the door. Railings are fixed to the parapet or slab so the posts do not pierce the membrane without sealing collars. Outdoor AC units, water heaters and solar panels sit on support frames on separate pads, not screwed to the surface.
Greenery and shade
Part of the terrace can be planted: lawn, herbs, shrubs in containers or a full substrate layer over a root barrier. Such an area works as a small garden and noticeably cools the roof in summer; more on the green roof page. Pergolas and sunshades are fixed to weighted bases or to columns brought up from the slab before waterproofing.
How much a roof terrace costs
A turnkey roof terrace build-up on an existing slab costs from 480 ₾ per m²: falls, membrane, insulation, separation layers and a walking surface. Pavers or decking on pedestals as a separate line start from 215 ₾ per m², terrace waterproofing with junctions from 155 ₾, extensive planting from 235 ₾ per m², and a roof outlet from 335 ₾. Terrace design with a layout and renderings starts from 3 120 ₾. The final price is set from the design and the agreed estimate.
Stages and timelines
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Design and loads
1–3 weeks
Terrace zoning, slab design for furniture, planters and a hot tub.
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Falls and membrane
4–7 days
Layer to falls, membrane turned up parapets and at the door.
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Flood test
2 days
Roof flooded for 24 hours, ceilings checked, layers photographed.
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Insulation and drainage
2–4 days
XPS boards, drainage and filter layer, pedestal setting out.
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Surface
1–2 weeks
Pedestals, pavers or decking, railings and equipment bases.
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Handover
1 day
Outlet check, signed report, file with photos of the layers.
Local specifics in Batumi
Wind on a roof by the sea is stronger than in the yard, and anything light on the terrace gets moved or blown away. In the first blocks from the shore we lock light pavers on pedestals or use heavy 20 mm slabs, fix umbrellas and pergolas to weighted bases and keep planters away from the edge.
The summer sun makes an open terrace unusable during the day if there is no shade. Light pavers heat up less than dark ones and do not burn bare feet, so we suggest light tones for the surface. Under planted areas and timber decking the roof heats up much less, and the rooms below the terrace feel it.
Materials and brands
PVC or TPO membrane, extruded polystyrene insulation of the required strength, geotextile and dimpled drainage membranes. Surface: 20 mm outdoor porcelain pavers, WPC or thermowood decking on joists and pedestals. Adjustable polypropylene pedestals with rubber pads. Railings in glass with clamps or powder-coated metal, stainless steel fixings.
What makes up the cost
Timeline: a 40–80 m² roof terrace on an existing slab usually takes 3–5 weeks including the flood test
- checking and strengthening the slab on an existing house
What raises the cost
- hot tub, outdoor kitchen or tree planters
- decking or natural stone instead of pavers
- roof access through a new stair enclosure
- glass railings around the perimeter
What lowers the cost
- simple rectangular deck with no structures
- pavers on pedestals without planted areas
We prepare the exact estimate from measurements and photos. It’s free and comes with no obligation.
Get an estimateGuarantees
The roof build-up and terrace surface have a 2-year warranty. The membrane, pavers and pedestals carry the manufacturer's warranty. Photos of the layers and the flood test record are part of the property file.
Questions and answers
How much does a roof terrace cost in Batumi?
A turnkey roof terrace build-up on an existing slab costs from 480 ₾ per m²: falls, membrane, insulation, separation layers and surface. Pavers or decking on pedestals as a separate line start from 215 ₾ per m², planting from 235 ₾. Railings, furniture, lighting and shades are priced separately. The final price is set from the design and the agreed estimate.
Can a hot tub be put on the roof?
Yes, if the slab is designed for its weight. A hot tub with water and people creates a point load of several hundred kilograms per square metre. The engineer checks the slab and, if needed, the tub is placed over a column or beam. It gets its own base and drain, and the membrane under it is never cut.
Which is better for a roof terrace, pavers on pedestals or glued tiles?
Pedestals. Water passes through the joints and runs along the membrane, the deck is easy to set level, and a paver can be lifted to clean an outlet. Tiles glued onto screed hold water on top, and any membrane repair underneath means breaking up the surface.
Do I need a permit for a roof terrace?
That depends on whether the building's volume and appearance change, and it is decided from the design and the zone rules. A terrace without structures on an existing flat roof is usually simpler than a stair enclosure, a canopy or a pergola. What your case requires we clarify with the architect and our partner lawyer before work starts.
How do I protect a roof terrace in winter?
In Batumi snow on the roof is rare; the main winter concern is water and leaves. Before the rainy season we clean the outlets and overflows, put away furniture and light items that a storm could blow off, and move planters away from the edge. Once a season we lift a couple of pavers near the outlets and check that the drainage layer is not clogged.
Further reading
Send us the roof plan and photos: we will sketch the terrace and price it in 24 hours
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Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00, Sat 11:00–16:00