Adding roof on patio, want to dodge mistakes

[Richard]

We're adding a roofed section to our patio. Upshot, the area concerned is "L" shaped where the (bottom left corner) of the "L" will be the inside corner and the two parts of the "L" are the walls.

I've already hung 2x12's on each exterior wall and planted a 6x6 to hang them on.

My first concern... are the "NEW" treated lumber items, good for direct burial (my 6x6)? It's going into clay, so will probably be damp 99% of the time, if not more.

Please dont ask me about planting the 6x6 into concrete last sunday and MONDAY, She (who must be obeyed) asked if I'd get angry if we moved it (6 inches)... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I didn't, becuase it was my idea in the first place (to put it where she NOW wanted it) and I honestly felt it simply worked better. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Ok..that said, now we're trying to decide what to do for the roof. Originally, she was going to make/order some kind of canvas and put guide wires inside the 12x12 "box" so we could slide it back/forth as it is opened & closed.

I got to realize, she'd ultimately prefer it closed and wondered about putting a fixed roof on it.

so now we're in a quandry as to what to do on roofing.

Add some 12x12's, put down plywood & put shingles?
Add some 12x12's, put down T&G treated planks? (do they MAKE T&G planks for that?)
I saw on a google search, something about a plastic roof?

Use "regular" 3/4 plywood, treated plywood? (treated is my slant right now)

Given the layout of our gutters, I think I want to make this strong enough to walk on. If I dont, I'll never get access to clean this corner of gutter section. Since I'm using 12x12's, should they be 2', 4' on center? If I use planks, will that change the logic of spacing of 12x12's?

Oh..before someone asks, the area is only 12'x 13' as I recall. The reason I'm using 12x12's is because the house is 12" logs and they match the proportions better. I'm also never worried about building something stronger than it might 'need" to be. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[jfh230]

For direct burial the old pt wood needed to be .6 treated and usually special ordered. What most lumber yards and big boxes stocked was .4 which was only rated for ground contact, not burial. I don't know about the new stuff, easiest way to find out is talk with your building code official.

With the weight of what you are putting up there - lumber, decking, wind load, snow load (?) - I would be real careful of not having a concrete foundation supporting the posts. Unless you are hitting solid bedrock you are going to get movement on the roof structure and if it is attached to the house it could effect that too.

As for what type of roof covering that is going to depend on what you are looking to use the space under for. Do you care if it drips when it rains? Are you just trying to block the sun? Also what type of roof slope you will have will determine the type of materials. If it's only 1/12 then no sense putting shingles up there, they'll only leak. I definitly would not leave uncovered plywood up there, treated or not.

Spacing of rafters will be a function of the span capabilities of the decking material, local loading conditions and span of the rafter. I think you would be best served by going and talking with your local building code official and see what the local regualtions are before going any further.

Jack

 

[Richard]

Time to display my ignorance...

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( you would be best served by going and talking with your local building code official and see what the local regualtions are before going any further )</font>

I must admit, I had not even thought about them... do they come into this concern (potentially) because this is going to be 'attached' to the house? Does this mean permits?

the basic use of this will be covering the 12x13 area from sun & hopefully rain. currently, the setup will be plumb, but she wants to move/raise it (again) so it's above the window on 1 side, that will give it a drop of what ever we want up to about 1 foot in 13 feet.

Regarding concrete, it IS surrounded by concrete. I set post into ground, roughly 4 to 6 inch "gap" around it, and filled in with 1 bag of concrete.

Since she wants to raise it more, no matter what we do, I'll have to rip up the concrete again (2nd time to rip up concrete)

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[MarkV]

Richard, with a 1' drop in a 13' span you are limited on what roofing materials will work for you. Regular asphalt shingles generally require a drop of at least 4' in a 12' span or a 4/12 pitch. Rolled roofing can go on a flatter pitch but I don't know what the recommended limits are. Metal roofing would most likely be your best bet. It would not require plywood decking and can work on that kind of drop if it fits the aesthetics of your setting.

Areas differ but here, being attached to the house, we would require a permit for what you are doing. Be careful, it can also be considered an addition and get you on property tax.

MarkV

 

[BB_TX]

The patio is a concrete slab? If so and if it is solid and strong, I would use steel pipe with a flat plate with bolt holes welded to one end for the posts. Set those directly on top of the slab with anchor bolts to the slab. I built an attached carport using that method about 25 years ago. I don't live there anymore, but the carport is still there and the posts still look solid.
You could also get some of the special brackets that let you set wood post on top of concrete and anchor them to the slab. That way they would not stay wet.

 

[Mrwurm]

Last summer we put up a shadetree awning. It is made of canvas and slides in runners. It is very similiar to the canvas and guide design that you mentioned. The shadetree products can be ordered with aluminum or plastic support beams, or you can order it to mount directly to your wooden structure. We really like ours.

ShadeTree

 

[Mrwurm]

I've attached a pic of my awning. There are five sections of canvas that can be easily slid back toward the house to reveal the deck to the full sun (if desired)

 

[Richard]

Jerry, yours is VERY close to our "vision". Cut yours in half, and instead of two posts away from house, the house (mine) is "L" shaped, and I only need ONE post to tie to. Otherwise, you're about dead on to what we are currently envisioning.

Oh...and this is NOT a concrete patio... I graded the ground, put down couple inches of that fine "rock" (like coarse sand) and then we put flagstone on top of that, using more of that "sand" to grout between the flagstone.

I'm going to call the county (or whomever) and find out about permits.

Thanks

Richard

Oh... if I rememgber, I'll take a couple pics of this, AND then start a new thread on the HUGE rocks I recently had dropped off in our area for further blockage of TVA's "roads". (as a continued quest in my fight against the idiot who shot/killed Daisey & Wiggles, our 2 dogs).

Lots going on my way, anyone with loaders is welcome and we can have a rock rolling party and the BEST part? it's all on TVA land, and ALL legal!! They've given me written permission to do this, as it helps them stop more treaspassing on their land. Helps me, cause I can "fight back" to the moron who killed my dogs and make me feel better.

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Mrwurm]

Richard, is there a thread about the dogs? I think I missed it.

 

[Richard]

Well Jerry, if I can do this right, THIS is the story about Daisy & Wiggles getting killed (murdered). Unless they've been deleted, there are some graphic pics in there too, so be warned.

As it may be... that dark cloud brought a silver lining to us, in that we then got Otis... then HE came down with parvo and almost died... THAT story is HERE again... if I did this right

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And today, Otis is feisty, fine & dandy and just loves to be a dog with a lot of room to lay around (he doesn't run like Daisy did)