Deck above garage, input please.

[BIMMERBOYZ]

Friends, acquaintances, internet people. I would appreciate your input, opinion, advice. I intend to start framing my Garage within the next few weeks, and need to make some final decisions, before the trusses are made.

I had originally planned to build an Apartment on top of the back half of my garage. But after realizing it would rarely be used, I have decided to build a deck. The front portion above the garage, will still be built to include my Wife's salon.

The space for the deck will be 24'x24' and the peak will be 30'-32'. The garage ceiling will be 13' so deck will be 14'.

So the question I have. Which type of deck.

Covered, Halfway covered, or Open?

 

[Z2V]

I vote half covered.

 

[jetnow1]

Flat roofs leak- if not today then soon. Yes there are exceptions but most will
leak and under a deck is a ***** to fix. Be sure the decking is designed to be
removable for repairs, get the best roofing under it you can get and be aware
that anything stored in the garage under it is potentially at risk.

My vote would be to cover it, use the space either for a larger salon for your wife or storage, then build a deck on the ground.

 

[Markfothebeast]

Is this going to be attached to the side of the home in the top photo? I think I looked in to a porch on our detached garage and I recall not doing it for insurance purposes.

I also agree with the above post. Avoid a flat roof nightmare.

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[moneypit_k5]

Flat roofs only leak if they are installed incorrectly. Period.

Add 1/4" of fall, and run sleepers for the decking. Do not nail anything thru the membrane.

 

[Voi]

For me it would depend on to what degree you want to increase or decrease solar exposure.

All of your example pictures have an open gable so I assume that's the look you're going for. Which way will this open gable face? Will there be windows on the exterior wall parallel to that open gable?

My inclination would be cover the entire thing unless you're trying to increase natural light though windows at certain times of the year.

 

[cabin fever]

Covered. No question.

 

[Markfothebeast]

Flat roofs only leak if they are installed incorrectly. Period.

Add 1/4" of fall, and run sleepers for the decking. Do not nail anything thru the membrane.

I worked for a company that did vinyl membrane that was "welded" aka melted together where it overlapped. But it seemed like we still had constant warranty calls.

But anyway, the covered porch I think would be the best. It also has a nice look to it.

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[BIMMERBOYZ]

In the top picture you can see the house and the foundation poured. That is where the garage will be built.

I met with the truss engineer today. There isn't an appealing (to the eye) way to have it covered, without making the garage tower over the house. House is 25' at the tallest point, garage would need to be 35'. I'd rather have it 30' and open deck. It's more frugal to have it open, and having an apartment in my mind would be a waste of space. The way the lot is set up, a deck allows me to have a good view of the valley. It will tie into a deck below, and the surface of the deck will likely be made out of a lightweight concrete, to prevent leaking.

 

[vettex2]

why not build the apartment and install large windows?
That will be worth more down the line

 

[James_Douglas]

I am about to find out...

My plan has a deck over 1/2 of the garage. Some of it covered and some not. We will be using PliDek on it. The ceiling-roof was engineered for slope. The engineer did the design to take into account that the framing crews do not always watch their quality. He tried to make it so that they could not screw up the slope.

One thing the company and other companies told me was to NOT skimp on the quality of the decking. In theory I could use a 5/8 sub floor. I told them I wanted to use 1-1/8" T&G plywood subfloor.

The less movement the better before the water proof material goes on.

James.

 

[BIMMERBOYZ]

Front of house







I'd be chopping off the top of the garage roof, (white structure) and making it a deck. That ties in with the deck off the back of the house. It would start at he back of the existing house.

 

[ishiboo]

A professionally-done commercial EPDM roof will basically never leak. Cheap flat roofs with poor pitching/etc. will much more often.

 

[BIMMERBOYZ]

The red outline would be what I am eliminating. If I have it covered the edge of the roof would only be 5' above the deck. I could raise the roof 5' to my cities limit of 35'
However that peak would be 10' above the existing house peak. In my mind would look awkward.

Another reason for the deck would be to enjoy the views. If you look at the photo of my house, you'll see the view from my retaining wall. The apartment in my mind wouldn't be used anymore than the deck, but would cost significantly more and wouldn't have the same "open" Views.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

FWIW, lightweight concrete is not waterproofing nor is it waterproof. Flat roofs over living areas ****. At some point in time, it's going to leak. My suggestion would be to build the deck off the back/front/sides, just NOT over the garage.

 

[Colin Len]

Covered. No question.

Agreed. May depend a lot on your personal preference and climate but personally I find myself getting a lot more usage of outdoor spaces that are covered. There's that whole huge back yard that isn't covered if you want pure sun.

As you mentioned with the roof height issue it's a bit tricky with that roof design. Perhaps you can keep the ridge where it is and raise the eaves up, keeping the pitch the same would mean it would only be a partly covered deck, which I think could be fine and maybe even a nice compromise. You could also make it more like an outdoor room by having the roof eaves come down and you mention and having side walls on the area and have it only open out the back. Or even have the eave heights different on each side, one lower and walled off and the other higher up - then you'd have 2 of the 4 sides of the "room" open and the others walled off.

 

[Ray916MN]

Depends. No idea where you're located.

Uncovered deck on top of a structure in an area which receives allot of snowfall gets expensive. For all we know you could be in an area where 6' of snow cover is common. 6' of snow on top of a structure requires some extra strength.

Exposure. West or south facing uncovered deck in southern or high desert climes is not very usable unless the land or vegetation can provide a sun/wind break. North or east facing covered deck is dark and gloomy in northern climes.

What makes sense in Arizona, may not make sense in Maine.

 

[Voi]

Another option would be to match or slightly offset the ridge and then only come down slightly with the roof on the side with the view.

But even this might not be ideal if your view is to the west and you like to sit up there on summer evenings.

Only picture example I could find was of a timber frame structure. In your case the deck would extend out further from the ridge. It would be a partially covered deck.

 

[rburke65]

You might wantto update your profile with a location. There goes another 45 seconds of my life I'll never get back.........

 

[CTyankee]

We've done over a dozen decks over living spaces. Whatever topping, prep is numero one...No bouncy/flexing deck base...reinforced/replaced joists if needed(LVLs prefered) .....screwed not nailed.

Our "Old school" system...2 layers torch down polyglass on slightly pitched, base covered deck surface.

http://www.polyglass.com/public/US/products/Torch_brochure_2011_web.pdf

2 coats aluminum roof coating

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-4-75-gal-Silver-Dollar-Aluminum-Roof-Coating-6215-GA/100317814

Tapered sleepers, made as removable/serviceable panels . Use to use PT 2x material, now use 2x Azek(pricey, but lays and STAYS flat) Composite decking to finish.

Since we have lots of regular customers, I get to keep tabs on past work. Have 2 decks going on 20+ years with no issues or deterioration. And that's in a harsh beach environment. I'd figure they'll go at least another 20+ with no problems.

Downside....finding someone who knows how to do them....and burning your house down if your not careful...really.

 

[BIMMERBOYZ]

Located in Herriman Utah. The most one snow storm has produced is about 18".

 

[Ray916MN]

Located in Herriman Utah. The most one snow storm has produced is about 18".

Which way will the deck face and is there any kind of wind or sun brake in front of the deck?

 

[BIMMERBOYZ]

Deck will face West.

 

[IA Monsterbuck]

Just a thought but keep the framing but make the back part of the garage a 4 season room. You can do the back wall almost all glass and you'll get use out of it year round. We have one and love it. Spend most weekends sitting there by the windows enjoying the view.

 

[bczygan]

Please put your location in your profile. That will help determine.

I'm in the north, so I would have full coverage roof and infill glass and screen panels available to enclose it, and heat to make it 4 seasons.

Bill

 

[Ray916MN]

Deck will face West.

Definitely going to need a "roof" over a westward facing deck in Utah. An open slatted flat shade structure will probably work better than a roof, allowing more air movement. Without a roof or shade structure, the deck is going to tend to get very hot and be too bright to usable anytime of the day other than at night and in the morning.

 

[sizzler90]

Covered

 

[BIMMERBOYZ]

Covered will block the North view of the valley. I could have a table with shade, and I plan to have a small 10' x 15' sun room off the back of the salon, With windows.

 

[bczygan]

Another consideration is placement of any BBQ or smoker.

 

[BIMMERBOYZ]

More pictures. May help.

 

[BIMMERBOYZ]

Update time. Just need advice on what to waterproof the deck with.