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was the secondary challenge. The street is wide enough for two stan - dard vehicles or one crane, so TDH had to coordinate with the clients and their neighbors to make sure it was only running when it would not inhibit the flow of traffic. Once the materials were on the roof, installation could begin. The pavers, water feature and outdoor kitchen were all installed using hand tools. To not interfere with the roof's existing drainage system, the pavers were set on plastic pedestals. The roof is slightly slanted, but the pavers are level, elevated anywhere from 3" to 5" above the surface of the roof. There is no joint aggregate: water goes directly between the pavers to the drainage system. The fountain feature was built out of concrete board with metal framing. Moroccan inspired tiles and glass beads complete the de- sired look. Weighing the Options Being on the roof of a five-story building, this project required that accommodations be made so as not to exceed the weight limits put in place by engineers. Instead of using concrete tiles underneath the water feature and the outdoor kitchen, TDH used a plastic vinyl plywood to support them. This reduced the weight virtually to just that of the structures. In the planting areas, in addition to the use of plywood instead of tiles, nonbiodegradable packing peanuts were placed underneath the topsoil. Packing peanuts decrease the weight in the planter, and their loose placement allows water to filter through. It was important to use nonbiodegradable peanuts, since biodegradable packing peanuts made of cornstarch will dissolve once wet. The size of the water feature was non-negotiable for the client, but its weight was a concern. To bring down the weight without compro- mising the size of the feature, the water level was reduced from 18" to 12". The change in water volume decreased the weight enough that the installation could proceed. The Final Product Entering the rooftop terrace from the home leads first to the out - door dining area with homeowner-provided patio furniture. A re- tractable awning supplies shade for this space. Across from the dining area, the fountain feature is surrounded by brightly colored seating so the homeowner and guests can enjoy the harbor view. The outdoor kitchen area includes a grill, storage cabinetry and drawers, and a built-in trash receptacle. The granite countertop has a 2' tall backsplash instead of the standard 6" backsplash. This allows it to screen two air conditioning units from view while creating ad - ditional storage. Fiberglass planters surround the perimeter of the terrace area, including two that are designated for the homeowner's vegetable garden. The plants, from TDH Nurseries, include endless summer hydrangeas, iris, two Japanese red maples and more. Plant materi- als were selected to create extended bloom and to contrast with the neutral building. The Japanese maples are the only plant chosen that may not be permanent: this is because their roots will eventually grow larger than the roof space can accommodate. Fortunately, TDH has a maintenance contract with this client, and they will trim back the root growth to make the trees last longer. The planters have an ir- rigation system on a timer with a rain sensor, and so far it has worked flawlessly, according to TDH. In the winter, the system is shut off to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. At any given point, there were three to four members of the TDH team working on the project. It took four months overall, including some delays due to weather and availability of the materials. 42 LC DBM Above: The outdoor kitchen area includes a homeowner-provided grill, storage space, a small refrigerator, and a built-in trash receptacle. The granite backsplash was made to be 2' tall instead of the standard 6". The added height allows it to double as a screen for two air conditioning units, and creates extra storage. The kitchen area was also placed on plywood instead of concrete pavers to decrease the weight. Left: One feature that was non-negotiable to the homeowner was the fountain. Built by TDH from concrete board with a metal framing, the structure measures 4'x4' on the interior and 5'x5' on the exterior. Being on a roof, some weight restrictions had to be put in place. To keep from exceeding the maximum allowed weight, the square structure is built on a base of vinyl plastic plywood instead of the 100-pound concrete pavers. Additionally, the water level was decreased from 18" to 12", reducing the volume of water and therefore the overall weight of the feature. DBM LC