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 Mobile ViewEXTERIORS of buildings AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE BUILDING SETTLEMENT CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS Cracks, Checking or Splitting Beams & Log Homes CRAWL SPACES DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION Deck Construction Best Practices Deck Beams & Girders Deck Piers & Posts Deck & Porch Connections: Ledger Boards Deck Framing Tables, Spans Deck Flashing at Building DECK FLOOR & STEP CUPPING Deck Board Gaps, Spacing Guide Deck & Porch Steps or Stairs Deck & Porch Railings Deck & Porch Products, Manufacturers FRAMING CONNECTORS & JOIST HANGERS FRAMING FASTENERS, NAILS, SCREWS, & HIDDEN Finishes, Coatings, Stains for Decks Porch Construction & Porch Screening Preservative-Treated Framing Lumber Rooftop Deck Construction Rot-Resistant Deck Lumber & Flooring Synthetic Deck Lumber: Composite, Plastic, Vinyl DECK COLLAPSE Case Study DECK FINISHES COATINGS PRESERVATIVES DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study DECKS, ROOFTOP CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS STAINING on ROOFS DEFINITIONS of Mobile Home, Doublewide, Modular, Panelized DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc DEHUMIDIFICATION PROBLEMS DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DISASTER BUILDING INSPECTION & REPAIR SAFEY EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings ENGINEERED WOOD Flooring ENGINEERED WOOD Products FIRE DAMAGE vs MOLD DAMAGE FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FOUNDATION BULGE or LEAN MEASUREMENTS FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRAMING DAMAGE, INSPECTION, REPAIR FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES FRAMING CONNECTORS & JOIST HANGERS FRAMING FASTENERS, NAILS, SCREWS, & HIDDEN FRAMING & SUBFLOOR for TILE FRAMING MATERIALS, Age, Types FRAMING METAL STUD PERFORMANCE FRAMING METHODS, Age, Types FRAMING SIZE & Spacing, Age, Types FRAMING TABLES, SPANS for DECKS FRENCH DRAINS FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB FRT PLYWOOD I-JOISTS, Wood Roof Floor LOG HOME GUIDE MODULAR HOME CONSTRUCTION MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS Nanomaterials Hazards NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE PORCH CONSTRUCTION & SCREENING PRE-CUT & KIT HOMES Preservative-Treated Framing Lumber RAILINGS, DECK & PORCH RAILINGS, STAIRWAY RETAINING WALL DESIGNS, TYPES, DAMAGE RETAINING WALL GUARD RAILINGS ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES ROT, TIMBER FRAME SEARS KIT HOUSES SHEATHING, Gypsum board SHEATHING Homasote & Other Board SHEATHING, OSB SHEATHING, Plywood SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS STONE CLEANING METHODS STRESS SKIN INSULATED PANELS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION STUCCO PAINT FAILURES SURFACE GRADING, SITE DRAINAGE TERMITES, ROT THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL MASS in buildings TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION TRIM, INTERIOR INSTALLATION TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF TRUSSES, Floor & Roof VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in buildings VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES WALL FINISHES INTERIOR WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING WINDOWS & DOORS WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves More Information |
Rooftop decks & walk-on roofs: This article discusses rooftop deck construction details to avoid building leaks or rooftop deck safety hazards. We include walk-on roof surfaces, roofing membrane to use below a rooftop deck, and construction of rooftop deck railings and posts. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.Also see WALK-ON ROOF SURFACES. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, Daniel Friedman, Steve Bliss, Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Details for Building Rooftop DecksThis article series discuss best porch & deck construction practices, including choice of framing materials, decking or flooring choices & installation, how to select and use deck and porch structural and flooring fasteners, actual deck & porch framing construction details & connections, deck joist & beam span tables, how to build leak-proof rooftop decks, construction of covered & screened porches, deck & porch railing construction & materials, choices of finishes and stains for decks & porches, and past & current deck lumber preservative treatments with related health & environmental concerns. This article series includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Also see our review of that book. Decks over living spaces can be detailed various ways, but all should have the following elements:
Single-Ply Membranes for Rooftop Decks
Continuing as detailed in Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction: A variety of roofing membranes have been used successfully under rooftop decks, but EPDM remains the most widely used on residential roofs. EPDM owes its popularity to its longevity and durability. It is dimensionally stable and strong over a wide temperature range (it will not expand and contract or tug at flashings), is highly UV-resistant, and can stretch without tearing. In most residential jobs, EPDM is fully adhered to the roofing deck with a contact-type adhesive rolled onto both surfaces. Seams can be avoided on small jobs, since rolls come as wide as 50 feet. If necessary, however, seams are relatively easy to seal, using a special double-sided seam tape and lap caulk at the exposed joint. To seal around corners and penetrations, use flexible uncured EPDM, which will conform to irregular shapes and seals well to the main roofing membrane (see EPDM, page 96). EPDM roofing membranes typically come in .045- and .060-inch thicknesses and carry at least a 10-year warranty in residential work. If properly installed, however, the .060 material should last for decades. EPDM’s chief weakness is its vulnerability to petroleum products, such as oils, grease, and solvents. If used under a deck, warn the homeowners not to splash oil or grease from cooking or solvent-based wood finishes on the decking. EPDM is often installed over a base layer of fiberboard or rigid insulation, but most EPDM membranes can bond directly to a sanded wood underlayment such as a 1/4-inch AC plywood. If bonding directly to plywood or oriented-strand board (OSB), check with the roofing manufacturer regarding treatment of joints in the sheathing and the need for a primer. To allow for some movement at sheathing joints, some manufacturers recommend holding the adhesive back one inch from the joints. Also see WALK-ON ROOF SURFACES. Terminations and Flashings for Rooftop DecksWhere the roofing membrane meets the house, run it 10 to 12 inches up the wall under the sheathing wrap. At outside edges, leave a 3- to 6-inch flap, depending on the edge treatment. A large metal drip-edge usually caps the roof along the fascia boards. Deck Flooring Construction for Rooftop DecksThe decking sits on 2x sleepers, usually laid flat. If you want the decking surface to be level, the sleepers will need to be tapered to compensate for the slope in the roof deck. For a large deck where flat sleepers are too thin to taper, you can use 2x4s or 2x6s set on edge. To protect the roofing membrane, set the sleepers on strips of EPDM or rooftop walkway matting (available from commercial roofing suppliers). Attach the decking with screws so it can be removed later for inspection or repairs.
Post and Railing Construction for Rooftop DecksAs with other decks, guardrails must be a minimum of 36 inches high, infill balusters less than 4 inches apart, and the whole assembly strong enough to resist a 200-pound horizontal load (or 20 pounds per linear foot, depending on the local code). Use the longest pieces available for railings. If the deck is small enough, use a single continuous top railing on each side. Then tie the side railings to the house with steel angle brackets to create a rigid railing assembly. From a waterproofing standpoint, it is desirable to keep the posts outside of the roofing membrane. This can be achieved by bolting the posts to the rim joists or subfascia in the roof framing (see Figure 4-17 below). [Click any image to see a larger, detailed version.]
If this is not practical or if it is unacceptable from a design standpoint, then the EPDM will need to be sealed around each post. This is best left to a professional roofer. Typically, the roofer will fashion a metal or membrane flashing collar around the base of each post and seal this to the roofing membrane, as with the boots used for plumbing vents. -- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction. Deck & Porch Resources, Products, Manufacturers: Where to BuySee Deck & Porch Products, Manufacturers for our complete/updated listings of manufacturers of porch & deck products, materials, coatings, fasteners, lumber, tools. Deck & Porch Wood Treatment CompaniesArch Wood Protection www.wolmanizedwood.com Copper-azole and borate-treated wood products with optional water repellent Osmose www.osmose.com ACQ- and borate-treated wood products with water repellent Chemical Specialties www.treatedwood.com ACQ-treated wood products with optional water repellent Suppliers of Composite Structural Lumber for Decks & PorchesU.S. Plastic Lumber, Boca Raton, FL www.usplasticlumber.com Trimax and Durawood structural plastic lumber Composite Decking System SuppliersCertainteed Corp. www.certainteed.com Boardwalk solid composite decking with hidden fasteners and optional railing system Composite Building Products International www.xtendex.com Xtendex hollow composite decking system with optional railing Correct Building Products www.correctdeck.com Solid composite decking with hidden fasteners and optional railing system Fiber Composites www.fibercomposites.com Fiberon solid composite decking and optional railing system Kadant Composites www.geodeck.com Geodeck hollow composite decking and railing system Kroy Building Products www.kroybp.com Timberlast solid composite decking with optional hidden fastening system Louisiana-Pacific Corp www.weatherbest.lpcorp.com. WeatherBest solid composite decking, railings, and accessories Nexwood Industries Limited www.nexwood.com Hollow composite decking and railing systems Tendura www.tendura.com TenduraPlank solid tongue-and-groove composite flooring for porches; natural finish or primed for painting Thermal Industries www.thermalindustries.com Dream Composite solid tongue-and-groove composite decking system with optional vinyl railings TimberTech Limited www.timbertech.com Floorizon hollow composite decking system, solid composite decking planks, and optional railing system Trex Company www.trex.com Solid composite decking Weyerhaeuser Building Products www.choicedek.com ChoiceDeck solid composite lumber and optional railings Plastic Decking SystemsKroy Building Products www.kroybp.com Classic Manor embossed vinyl decking with clip system L.B. Plastics www.lbplastics.com Sheerline interlocking vinyl decking system and deck cladding systems Renew Plastics www.renewplastics.com Solid recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic decking with embossed wood-grain texture Royal Crown Limited www.royalcrownltd.com Brock Deck and Deck Lok interlocking vinyl decking systems Thermal Industries www.thermalindustries.com Dream Deck interlocking vinyl decking and railing system U.S. Plastic Lumber Corp www.carefreexteriors.com Carefree Xteriors recycled plastic HDPE decking with embossed wood grain and optional railings Metal Decking SystemsFSI Home Products Division www.lockdry.com. LockDry aluminum decking and railing system Prefabricated Deck & Porch Railing SystemsAvcon Structural Railing Systems www.avconrail.com Thermoplastic and aluminum railings CertainTeed www.certainteed.com EverNew PVC railing system Global Dec-K-Ing Systems www.globaldecking.com DEC-K-ING aluminum railing system DecKorators Inc. www.deckrail.com Decorative aluminum balusters and connectors for wooden railing systems. Also, tempered-glass balusters Duradek www.duradek.com Durarail powder-coated aluminum railing system and walk-on vinyl decking membrane. FSI Home Products Division www.railingworks.com Aluminum railing systems Fypon www.fypon.com Polyurethane railing systems in classic architectural styles HB&G www.hbgcolumns.net PermaPorch cellular-polyvinyl chloride (PVC) railings and posts reinforced with wood or aluminum; cellular-PVC or aluminum balusters Kroy Building Products www.kroybp.com Classic Manor PVC-railing system L.B. Plastics www.lbplastics.com Sheerline PVC-railing systems and PVC- post cladding Royal Crown Limited www.royalcrownltd.com PVC railing system with steel reinforcing Shakespeare Composites Structures www.armor-rail.com Armor-Rail structural fiberglass (FRP) railing system with turned balusters Thermal Industries www.thermalindustries.com Dream Rail PVC-railing system with optional tempered glass balusters U.S. Plastic Lumber Corp. www.carefreexteriors.com Recycled HDPE railing system -- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction. see Codes for Stairs for details about stair building codes and specifications. Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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