The rooftop is the new frontier for decking projects, especially in urban areas where the population density, competition for suitable land areas and the cost of these land areas are all high. One can argue that balconies can just as easily serve the same purpose, and may be more cost effective as well. But rooftops bring timber decking to an entirely new level.
The View From the (Roof)Top
It’s all about the view. While a timber deck built at ground level, or even one that’s elevated, offers loads of advantages and benefits, the one excellent thing that rooftops provide is the view. And seeing the surrounding area from this elevated vantage point amps up the experience significantly. Nothing picks you up when you’re down as effectively as, well, being on top.
Rooftop Deck Returns
Not only does a rooftop deck provide you with a more spectacular view of your surroundings. It also represents a higher ROI than would a conventional deck. An article in CNBC.com reports that roof decks double the value added by conventional decks to the overall value of a property. This boost in ROI is enough reason for you to consider building a timber deck on your rooftop.
Considerations For Rooftop Decks
For the most part building a rooftop deck is no different from building a deck at ground level. If you intend to build on a flat roof, such as on the rooftop of a low- or medium-rise building then the project may be as straightforward as constructing a deck on top of a concrete surface. Even when the roof is gabled, there are techniques to build a deck atop a sloped area.
But building on a rooftop certainly does differ from building on a yard and you need to seriously consider these differences. For one, you need to ensure that the roof can withstand the weight of the deck. It’s also wise to ensure that you are not affecting water runoff on your roof. You will definitely need to carefully plan the build and seek Council approval for your project.
Other considerations include the positioning of surrounding trees. The surrounding tree canopy can give you natural privacy protection at no extra cost, but may also impede your view. You will also need to think about access to and from your deck and may have to build additional stairs.
