Best Materials for Your Rooftop Decking

A rooftop deck is indeed an excellent addition to any building. Even if you are not into hosting evening barbecues or dinners, you still get to enjoy the outdoors from the deck. 

A rooftop deck gives you a great view and room to enjoy the fresh air. What's more? It is a calm space far above the crowd. So we get why you want to build one. On a flat roof, you can build an extra living space that adds value and fun to your home. But now that you want one for yourself, you should know the best materials you can use. For all that and more, read on!

Materials for Your Rooftop Deck

Rubber Tiles

Rubber is one of the most durable materials, and rubber roof decking tiles are no different. When used as roof decking, it will be safe, strong, and resistant to water. 

It will also be easy to walk on and have good footing. Because the tiles are big, you can cover a big area in a short time. Unlike some other puzzle-style systems, this one ends with straight lines between each tile. Also, the edges that fit together are below the surface. 

The result is something that looks clean and feels smooth. You can enjoy its great value and quality for a long time.

Stone or Concrete

Concrete pavers or stone pavers can handle harsh weather on a rooftop patio deck just like they can on a patio in the yard. The big difference is that the roof has to hold a lot of weight. Now, can the frame of your roof handle the weight? Again, hiring a deck builder in Orange County will be helpful. 

If the pavers are too heavy, you may need to change how your roof frame is built or do a lot of work to fix it. If your budget for the whole roof deck project can't cover the extra cost of rebuilding the roof, it may be too expensive. In that case, you might want to consider a deck material with less weight.

Wood and Timber

Timber decking is a traditional type of decking that you can put on your home's ground or roof. You can build a wood deck out of treated wood, cedar, redwood, or IPE. Compared to composite boards, lumber decking is cheaper but less valuable.

When it comes to looks, timber decking is not the same as composite decking. When wood gets exposed to ultraviolet light, its color changes. 

To keep wood looking nice, you will need to paint or stain it. This is why wood isn't the best material for a rooftop deck. After years of use, a wood deck can warp, break, or splinter. It also doesn't stand up to the weather. 

When humidity is high, wood decking will soak up water and moisture and swell. Also, a wooden deck will need to get sealed yearly to keep water out. Then there are the termites to be wary of; they can damage wood decking. Keeping wood decking in good shape is hard and will cost a lot of money. But it is an aesthetically-pleasing and affordable material to use.

Porcelain Tile Pavers

A rooftop patio can look very elegant with porcelain tiles. They are much lighter than stone pavers, and you get to put them on aluminum framing that is also light. There are many styles and sizes of porcelain pavers to choose from. Porcelain pavers may be expensive to buy at first, but they are durable and require little upkeep.

Plastic and PVC

PVC decking is 100% plastic, which makes it waterproof. They are the most expensive kind of decking you can use on the ground or on a roof. 

Plastic decking doesn't rot either, just like composite decking. It won't warp, crack, or splinter like wood does. PVC decking is similar to composite decking in many ways, but composite decking will last longer.

PVC is a good material for decking that you can use on rooftops. Like composite decking, using plastic is less stressful and easier to maintain. The surface of your plastic decking doesn't need to get painted, stained, sealed, or sanded. 

It's important to note that PVC decking doesn't have the same natural beauty and appeal as some good composite decking. Another downside is this; PVC decking will swell and frequently buckle in the heat. Plastic decking will compress in cold weather, leaving significant gaps at board ends and miters.

Faux Grass

Artificial grass turf rolls are an excellent option for roof decking. If you like the look and feel of a beautiful green space but don't want the maintenance cost of keeping a green space healthy and thriving, then go for this. Faux grass looks like a natural lawn, but it lasts longer. It is easy to clean and easy to maintain.

Steel Decks

Steel decks come from rolling cold-rolled sheets into the shape of a deck. This process makes steel with a wider range of surface finishes and less room for error. You can get these panels with narrow, immediate, or wide ribs. Wide ribs are the most common. The thickness and depth of these panels vary, and you can paint or galvanize these.

If your budget allows it, you might want to switch from pressure-treated decking to steel. One benefit of a steel deck frame is that you won't have to replace the frame before the decking boards. The material's strength and durability also give you peace of mind, which is especially important on a rooftop deck. And that leads us to the next section of this article, which is about considering your safety when planning to build a rooftop deck. 

What to Do Before Building a Rooftop Deck

First comes safety, then fun. Before you consider adding a rooftop deck, you should have a deck builder in Orange County look at your flat roof. This is not some project you can wake up and do. You want them to be there. They have to be on your roof! You can't put a deck on a roof that isn't stable.

They will tell you some things and help you answer these questions:

1. Can your roof handle having a deck, furniture, and people on it?
2. Is the structure of your roof sound?
3. What is the flat roof you already have made of?
4. Is there enough slope and good drainage?
5. Can you build rooftop decks where you live? 

However, if you're skeptical about inviting a pro over to your house, check here for all you need to consider before reaching out to one. 

Conclusion

Ultimately, the material you build your rooftop deck with should depend on your unique preferences and budget. Pick one that fits your taste and won't cost too much.