Nothing is as good as enjoying the view of the exterior just from the comfort of your rooftop deck. Every homeowner is now looking for every means possible to have rooftop decks on their buildings. However, the only challenge with rooftop deck installation is that it is very complex. Unlike ground-level decks, rooftop decking requires that you put a lot into consideration. For instance, there are certain area restrictions that may restrict you from building a rooftop deck and others also restrict you to specific designs. Also, you must ensure that your roofing material is strong enough to support the weight of the deck. Once you have thought of all these, you can now proceed with the construction. You can follow the guideline below for a successful decking project.
Gathering The Materials
Begin by purchasing all the materials necessary for the project and the most important elements are the material, support beams and deck framing. With the support beams, you can easily build a rooftop deck on your pitched roof. For a flat roof, you can use sleepers to frame the deck while aluminum joists are the best choice for framing on sloped roofs. These are the most affordable framing materials and also the most preferred.
Coming to the right material for the project, some homeowners miss the point and go for affordable options instead of quality options. Choosing a material like composite or PVC guarantees you durability nd high quality performance. Therefore, whenever you are choosing a material for your rooftop deck, these should be your first options. Sherwood’s decking brands MoistureShield and TIVADek assure you the best quality that lasts for over 30 years.
Creating a Decking Plan
Having a rooftop deck installation plan is like having a guideline that will direct you on what to do throughout the process. A well-written plan will also guide the professionals and engineers on the type and design of deck that you envision.
Getting Necessary Clearance and Permit
Getting the necessary clearance and consent sees to it that you continue with your deck building project uninterrupted. If there are any adjustments that you may need to make, the authorities will let you know before you start your project.
Preparing Sill Plates and Support Beams
Coming to the installations, make sure you use the correct measurements for the support beams and sill plates. After cutting and drilling through the support beams, insert galvanized lag bolts and firmly secure them using a nut and a washer. Place the beams vertically over the sill plates and drill deep through them ensuring that the holes can allow passage of threaded rods. This will hold the sill plates over your roof.
Installing The Framing, Deck Boards and Joists
After properly securing the sill plates and installing the beams, you can proceed and install the deck. Attach the deck boards, joists and framing as usual. It is very advisable that you look for a professional to do the rooftop deck installation instead of working on it by yourself. This is to ensure that the work is done to perfection. Sherwood Lumber offers you the best decking material for your rooftop decking.
