Should I Put A Roof Over My Deck
A roof over a deck is a great option for people who want to use their deck rain or shine. Or, for those who live in very sunny and hot areas, it makes outdoor living more bearable by providing permanent shade.
While a roof over a deck may not be ideal for all geographies or homes, having a covered space on the exterior of your house is practical for a variety of reasons:
Pros
- Potentially requires digging new footings for roof
Flashing A Patio Roof Ledger
Unless it will be protected from rain by the houses eaves or a solid roof, a roof ledger that is fastened directly to a house with wood siding should be capped with galvanized metal Z-flashing that tucks up under siding to prevent water from seeping in behind it.
Where integral flashing isnt possible, such as on a stucco wall, use Z-flashing and caulk the top edge. This is a job you must do before fastening the overheads roof rafters in place.
You can buy L- or Z-shaped flashing or bend it yourself. To bend sheet-metal flashing, make a form by clamping two 2 by 4s together on each side of the metal, and then hammer the metal to create a sharp edge at each fold.
Fit the flashing in place, caulk the top edge, and nail it with galvanized nails long enough to penetrate at least 1 inch into the structural members. Then caulk the nail heads.
If the house is sided with shingles or lap siding, simply slip the metals top edge up under the bottom edge of the shingles or siding as far as possible.
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Can I Build A Deck On My Rooftop
Can your roof structure support the additional weight? A building code official may be able to help you here. Or not. At a minimum, they will likely know what the loading requirements are in your area. You may also need a master builder or structural engineer to determine the loading capacity of your roof. They can determine whether your existing roof can support the extra weight of a deck. Never build a rooftop deck without checking this first.
There is plenty more design inspiration and information where this came from. Grab your FREE download of the Rooftop Deck Design Ideas Project Portfolio and start designing your dream rooftop deck.
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Stylish Beige Patio Roof
This patio roof complements the exterior very well. The soft beige color provides a relaxed ambiance to the patio so that it can be a great place to call it a day.
The pergola style allows natural light pass through which makes the patio shaded partially. You will not miss the warm of the sun when sitting in the patio.
Factor Your Budget Into Your Decision
The budget you have will determine the material you go for and the design. It, of course, is keeping in mind that the deck is already suspended from the ground.
If you have a lean budget, you might consider working on it by yourself to cut on labor charges, saving money for more material if need be.
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Round Up The Materials For An Under Deck Drainage System
Rune bought corrugated fiberglass panels at a home center to use for his under-deck roof. The panels he used are 26 in. wide and 12 ft. long. He attached the panels with special roofing screws that have hex heads and neoprene washers for sealing. Youll find these screws where steel or fiberglass roofing is sold. You could also use galvanized steel or plastic roofing panels and install them the same way. Rune screwed treated 2×4 purlins to spacer blocks to support the panels and provide the necessary slope .
Gutters arent required, especially if the water drains onto your lawn. But if the water falls onto the patio, gutters can prevent splashing. Rune chose PVC gutters because theyre inexpensive and easy to cut and install. If you decide to install gutters, youll need lengths of the gutter, gutter straps, end caps, a downspout outlet, downspouts and special glue to join the sections.
Prepare Your Home For Framing Of New Roof
Once you have your plan in place, its time to prepare your home for framing. First, you want to ensure your existing deck is level, clean, and debris-free. The roof should also connect seamlessly with the existing walls, so leave enough room for framing.
First, measure the height of the deck. Then mark out where you want to install your roof trusses using string and a marker. You should then install blocking between the existing walls for support.
Prepping also involves installing a nailer around the edge of your deck. This will provide a place to attach the roof trusses and other metal components.
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How To Build A Roof Over A Deck
Whether you recently built a deck, or wish to upgrade the existing one, adding a roof over the deck can be a great addition to your home. A roof over your deck protects from weather elements, like rain and snow, while adding an aesthetic touch to make your outdoor space more inviting.
The best part is that you dont have to break the bank to install a roof over your deck. And if you do it right, a patio roof can significantly boost your property value so that you will reap most, if not all, of your investment back.
In order to build a roof over a deck, you will need to connect the new roof framing to the existing building. The most effective way to do this is to use post and beam construction and have the rafters connecting the beam to the building.
Other, more involved methods require you to remove a section of the existing roof, add in new trusses, and other framing options for the new roof that will go over the deck.
Read on to learn more about how to build a roof over a deck.
Attaching A Deck Roof Changes The Required Permits
The most straightforward deck roof construction beside your house is to attach it to the house. But this is a no, no regarding deck roofs. Attaching a deck roof to the house changes the required permit into an addition. A house addition is a much larger permit application and fee. The construction permit must include a development permit as you have now changed the look of the neighbourhood.
It is attached to a house.
This additional permit is partly to blame because of the ease of transforming a covered deck into a sunroom. Or I have even seen covered decks be enclosed with walls and becoming an extra room on the house. Which is what the city is trying to prevent, unpermitted decks becoming poorly constructed house additions. Decks with roofs need additional structural construction but still do not meet the requirements for a house addition. In the past to many have been given an inch and taken a foot. Now we all have to pay the price.
Now that you know some of what is required for a deck roof. If it is feeling like too much. Here are some deck shade alternatives.
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Do I Need Lateral Bracing To Install A Deck
A deck ledger board is installed to resist shear forces preventing it from collapsing. It would help if you also braced a deck not to pull away from the house. Lateral bracing is not a code enforced in many areas, but it is still essential.
The 2012 IRC gives a solution where the joists. This code requires two hold-down braces per deck.
The hold-down brace connects to the floor joist and the deck joist preventing the deck from pulling away from the house.
One example of a hold-down brace is the Simpson Strong-Tie DTTZMAX or USP DTB-TZ, and they are both rated at 1500 pounds.
Should I Cover My Deck In The Winter
Its important to cover your deck in the winter to protect it from harsh winter weather. You can choose between a permanent roof and a temporary tarp, but you may want to build a roof to invest in the long-term. If youre wondering how to put a roof over an existing deck, get in touch with your local roofing experts. They can either give you advice or complete the job for you.
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How To Build Roof Over Deck
A deck can transform your house, add extra living space outside, and boost the overall value of your home. The downside is that a deck isnt a permanent living space it is weather-dependent. Recently Ive seen some neighbors try to solve this problem with a roof. Ive considered it myself, but I wasnt sure exactly how to build a roof over a deck.
To build a roof over a deck, you need to connect the new roof framing to the existing home. The easiest way is to use posts and beam construction with rafters connecting the beam to the home. Other ways involve removing a portion of the existing roof, adding trusses, and other framing options.
In this article well cover all your options when it comes to adding a roof to your deck. While a deck roof entirely depends on how your current deck sits with your house, well also give a general overview of DIY deck room construction.
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How Do You Flash A Deck
One of the most critical but often missed steps by most DIYers is the flashing of the ledger board. First, you would like to install a waterproof back flashing on the home at least 12 inches under the siding above the ledger board.
Next, install the ledger board to the houses rim joist over the back flashing. A Z flashing cap is installed on top of the ledger board and under the siding and trim.
The last step is to seal it with an exterior calk or silicone sealer on any overlap that is not 4 inches or more and any inside corners.
You can purchase the Z flashing cap or bend to fit if you have an aluminum brake. Turning your own is preferable if you have a roll of coil stock on hand.
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On How To Attach Roof Over Deck From House
The roof is an integral part of the house, giving you better protection from sunlight, rain, and even snow. Building a roof can be done as a DIY projectmeaning you plan and build it yourself. That said, you can as well get some help from professionals.
But indeed, you need to pay some money for the service as well. If you wonder how to attach roof over deck from the house, you can find the step-by-step in this article below.
How Much Does It Cost To Build A Roof Over A Deck
The cost to cover a deck will depend on a number of factors. These factors include the type of material, the size of the roof, and how complicated it will be to build. Currently, the cost to add a roof over your patio will start at $2,000 and increase from there. Contact a local roofing company to get started and schedule an estimate for your project.
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Things So Consider When Adding A Roof Over A Deck
A roof over a deck should be part of the original design and construction, but still, we must consider these elements when building the deck. The soil bearing capacity. Required footing size, along with the location of the post in relations to the deck footing and beams. Some of these things can be calculated and designed with your local building code, but often a covered deck will involve an engineer to verify load and support. Consult your regional permitting offices before proceeding, but here are some areas that will need to be analyzed.
Install Connectors For Post Base
You shouldnt just rely on the existing posts for support, as they may not be able to handle the weight of a roof. Instead, you can install post bases to support your roof.
Before attaching them to your decks posts, you must secure the post base into concrete. This step ensures that they are firmly in place and ready to take on the weight of your roof.
You may dig up your decks posts to access the concrete before installing the post base. Or, you may leverage existing concrete for the post bases.
Whichever the option, the goal is to create a stable base for your roof. So, take your time to inspect the post base and ensure it is properly secured. And if necessary, use strapping for additional support.
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Install Ledger Board To Support The Rafters
Now that you have your rafters in place, its time to install the ledger board. This will serve as a support beam for all of the weight on your roof, so make sure they are nice and sturdy.
Youll want to cut one end of them at a 45-degree angle, so when you drill through them into the post connectors, they will stay in place. Now, youll be able to put the rest of your rafters on top of these ledgers and secure them with screws or nails into place.
Two Videos Cover How To Build Patio Roof Attached To House
The quick take:
Design the new patio roof to fit in visually as well as functionally. Work from the view, back instead of from the house, out.
- Calculate the sightline clearance height, about 6 feet, 2 inches, in this case.
- Determine the beam size: 8 inches in this case.
- Choose a roof pitch and roof structure
Then integrate the new roof with the old by stripping the old roofing and flashing the new layover roof into the existing roofing underlayment.
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Here Are Some Other Things To Consider When Thinking About Adding A Roof Over An Existing Deck Or A New Outdoor Structure:
- You can have both. A partly roofed, partly open structure can provide the best of both worlds. Alternatively, you might like to consider growing a climbing plant over a pergola, which will provide some protection from rain and sun.
- If you like the sun but are not such a fan of the rain, polycarbonate roofing may be a great choice. These roofing sheets come in a variety of shades and ridge profiles. They provide protection from UV rays but, with less shading, let in lots of sunlight.
- Also consider the style of your house. A pergola, patio or verandah that perfectly matches the style of your house will always be a great investment for you and any future owners of your home.
Outside Concepts can help you with all aspects of a new pergola, patio or verandah. Well help with all the important decisions and take care of the paperwork, including council plans. Whats more, with our free onsite design and quote service, youll usually know the cost of the project straight away.
So what are you waiting for? Phone 1800 601 674 to organise an Outside Concepts specialist to visit you.
Find out about Outside Concepts 10-year structural warranty. Call us on 1800 601 674.
Can I Attach A Ledger Board To A Concrete Wall
You can attach a ledger board to a concrete wall. Pre-drill the hole pattern in the ledger board, and have two people hold the ledger board in place and mark all the holes on the concrete.
Using your hammer drill with a masonry bit, drill the holes you just marked. You will have to drill deep enough to install the expansion anchors.
Clear out the holes you just drilled and set the expansion anchors in the holes you just drilled. Install a bolt in each end to keep it secure while drilling in the remaining spots.
Tighten the bolts gradually, the wood flush against the concrete. Do not over tighten as this may cause the expansion anchor to become dislodged.
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Screw The Panels To The Purlins
Family Handyman
Starting at one end, attach the first fiberglass panel to the purlin with the roofing screws. Place the screws in every other valley. Snug the screws enough to compress the washer slightly. Overlap the next panel onto the one you just installed and attach it the same way, this will make waterproof deck systems. When you get to the end, the last panel may be too long. You can just overlap it a bit more or cut it to fit. Its simple to cut panels to length or width with a circular saw and a carbide blade.
Attaching A Patio Roof To A Brick Wall
The overall structure of your home is another factor to consider when attaching a patio roof to an existing home. Below are some common ways to attach a patio roof to your home, depending on your homes exterior walls.
Typically, if the brick wall is supported by an internal, conventionally framed wall, the patio roof is attached by removing some of the bricks and fastening the roof to the walls interior framing.
Dealing with masonry walls is a bit more complex, as youll need to find a way to anchor the outer rafters securely to the bricks. In this case, we recommend seeking professional advice before proceeding with the installation.
When it comes to design, a VERGOLA® box frame patio roof is sturdy in construction and offers a premium look for any brick house.
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