How To Build A Deck Above A Slightly Sloped Roof

Then cut your 2x4 top rail pieces.

How to build a deck above a slightly sloped roof.

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. Build the frame of the roof on the ground. Building a deck on a sloped roof. Once you have your beams in place everything above them joists deck boards balusters and handrails is the same as for any other deck.

My plan is to open up the roof and sit a couple of 4x4 posts on top of the outside wall. 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. Hardwood decking is then fastened to tapered pressure treated sleepers that rest on additional strips of epdm added to protect the roof from abrasion. Before installing a roof deck you must be certain the roof is stable and weatherproofed.

Frame up a box the size of the outer dimensions of your deck using 2 by 4 inch lumber. Roof deck framing unlike for decks at ground level doesn t entail a ledger attached to the rim joist of a house. A deck on a sloped roof requires a different approach to the framing underneath the joists. The roof must be able to support 55 pounds per square foot at a minimum.

Then run joists connecting the front of your roof with the rear every two feet along the length of your roof. If the distances around your deck are too long for a single piece of 2x4 to span you will need to segment the rail and install a 2x2 picket for each seam to support the bearing. A standard railing height is between 36 and 42 inches so cut your balusters to the proper height.