How To Build A Rooftop Deck On A Sloped Roof

Epdm is the best choice for most rooftop decks.

How to build a rooftop deck on a sloped roof.

The roof deck surface should sloped away from the house a minimum 1 8 inch per foot so the water will. One of the challenges in building a deck on a roof like this that s unlevel is the deck needs to be level. This is usually because low quality leak prone decking materials such as epdm rubber are used often in an effort to save money. Of roof decking costs 800 2 800 to install depending on the material you choose.

By john fenton n b canada i want to build a deck on a sloped roof. Instead a pair of beams rest on supports called sill plates to create a frame for the deck. Plan to space the 2x4 purlins parallel to the house and 3 ft. These decks are often referred to as floating as they are not secured in place as a stand alone structure.

On average 300 sq ft. Much of the work that s being done here is identical to what you would see on any deck built in a suburban backyard. Tie your existing deck posts into the roof by extending your corner posts with the 4 by 4 lumber. They are merely placed on top of another structure.

Since most roof decks are floating structures that sit on top of flat roofs it s crucial to weatherproof the roof below the deck to prevent water from seeping into the home. How to build a deck roof. If the span under your deck is 12 ft for example the purlin at the outer end of the deck should be 3. How do i flash between post and roof.

Photo by dave holbrook. To provide drainage the panels should slope toward the outside edge of the deck about 1 4 in. My plan is to open up the roof and sit a couple of 4x4 posts on top of the outside wall. Roof deck framing unlike for decks at ground level doesn t entail a ledger attached to the rim joist of a house.

Before installing a roof deck you must be certain the roof is stable and weatherproofed. Careful detailing of membrane roofs at corners doorways and penetrations is critical for long term performance. Make the front of the roof the height of the house roof you are presumably tying into with the rear sloping at a rate of six inches over two feet. Hardwood decking is then fastened to tapered pressure treated sleepers that rest on additional strips.

Some key details for a leakproof rooftop deck are. First you must make sure the roof is strong enough to support 55 lbs per square foot. In this article builder emanuel silva shares his method for building such a deck which begins with a leak proof low slope roof of epdm rubber. But the rooftop location does offer some unique challenges particularly in regard to the deck s foundation.

Building a deck above a porch roof allows for sheltered space below and views from above. A deck on a sloped roof requires a different approach to the framing underneath the joists. Building a deck over a flat roof is very similar to building a deck over a concrete patio.