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Structural considerations
If your garage has brick walls, they shouldn't require additional work for this project. However, many city garages have frame construction and may need stronger walls. For example, if your wall studs are 24 inches from center to center (OC), then you need to add an additional stud to get to 12 inches OC. Garages built at 16 inches OC should be good to go.
Deconstruction process
Remove the existing roof. Next, using material from the roof, rip 2-by-4 or 2-by-6-foot diagonal shapes from the material to create pieces to nail onto the wall-top plates. Nailing these pieces on top of each other will give your new flat roof adequate drainage with as little slope as 1/8-inch per foot. Be sure to drain away from your house, toward the street or alleyway.
Materials needed
A great product for constructing the roof is TrimJoist. This is an open-web truss that is made like an I-joist for 1 foot at each end, allowing it to be field-trimmed. I-joists are readily available and work well too. Check with your local lumber dealer to make sure you are using the proper size and spacing.
The choices of materials for your deck are abundant. Treated lumber, composites and tropical hardwoods are all fine choices.
Construction process
Before you begin to build, sheathe the roof with either 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove strand board. Next, you're ready for the roofing material. If you are doing this step yourself, 15-pound felt covered with 90-pound roll roofing will get the job done. If you are using a roofing professional, a modified bitumen or rubberized roof is the way to go.
To install a level deck on your sloping roof, use a cushioning material such as an asphalt expansion joint. This will ensure that your deck lumber will not sink into and damage your roofing. Another key to a strong, safe deck is the use of proper anchors and fasteners. Also, use post anchors such as those from Simpson Strong-Tie to make sure your railings are rigid and safe.
With some seating, a grill and your favorite people, you can spend many warm-weather evenings and weekends enjoying a bit of suburb in the city.
Safety First |
| To ensure the safety of your deck, hire an experienced, trustworthy professional to work on as much of this project as possible. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (www.narichicago.org) is a great resource for finding local, qualified professionals. |
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Rick Baumgarten is the president of Lee Lumber and Building Material Corporation. He is a past chairman of the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. Lee Lumber is an independent supplier of home-improvement materials. www.leelumber.com
