A rooftop deck may seem like a great way to entertain guests or relax after a long day but most homes aren’t built for a deck. Unless you’re building a deck when your house is being built, chances are you can’t just add a deck to your roof on a whim. Let’s look at why you can’t just add a deck and what steps you can take to make sure.
Why Adding a Rooftop Deck Isn’t Easy
Load bearing capacity is the number reason why you can’t just add a deck to any roof. When a house is built, it’s built in a way that it can support weight. If it’s no built to support a deck, you can’t just put one on top of your roof and hope for the best. It’ll collapse on you and you risk destruction, injury and even death because of it.
Access is another key reason why adding a rooftop deck isn’t easy. If you can’t access your rooftop deck safely, how are you going to use it? Again, you can’t just add a ladder or open a window to get out there. Depending on where you live, your city may have ordinances in place that require a certain type of entry/exit for a deck. If you can’t build it, you can’t have it.
There’s stories every year about do-it-yourself “gurus” who add a rooftop deck you their home without consulting a professional. These stories usually end in tragedy. If you’re considering adding a rooftop deck, contact a roofer first. They can tell you for sure, based on your home’s design and other factors, whether or not you can add a rooftop deck to your home and enjoy it safely well into the future.
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