waterproofing deck

[farmerpsv]

Hey all,
am building a house and am going to put a double deck front porch on. the second level will serve as the roof for the first level and will not have a roof/overhang, so i'm toying with different ideas on how to make the second level solid and water proof. thought of tile, wife isn't to keen on that idea so i'm wondering about some type of epoxy. any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated.
thanks,
paul

 

[DocHeb]

Do you want to have the second story porch be a walk-on deck?

That's what I did with my deck out back (we have a walkout), and made a rainproof area underneath. I used Torch-down bituminus roofing, 2x4 sleepers layed on the flat, and decking attached. Has lasted 12 years without problems so far.

There are more modern material now, such as EPDM rubber membrane. There is a great summary of a "Watertight Second-Story Porch" in the November 2004 issue of "Fine Homebuilding". Back issues are available from Taunton Press, and this was a recent enough issue that many larger libraries will still have it available.

While paint (even epoxy) may keep the area below drier, no paint will make a deck waterproof, and water will make it through the finish, into the decking wood, and through to the porch below.

 

[bczoom]

Paul,

My neighbor and I recently built a 2 story deck on his house. (deck is actually on 2nd floor of house and there's concrete on the ground for the lower level). Deck itself is about 1100 sq/ft.

We built a traditional deck for the top floor and put sheets of corregated steel roofing under the deck to keep the lower level dry. It also covers all the joists for an appealing look from the lower deck.

Would something like this work for your application?

I can get some pictures if that'll help.

Brian

 

[farmerpsv]

Chris,
i should have said urethane instead of epoxy, there's this rubberized product that is also textured called gacoflex, can be put on over plywood for a seamless finish, that's my thinking so far.
Brian,
did you fir out the surface before putting the decking down? if not, does the corregated metal support the deck ok? i had thought of putting metal or sheet roofing down then wood firring strips to attach the deck to, my concern would be the wood would rot in time because of the contact with water.
paul

 

[bczoom]

Paul

The deck was traditionally built. 5/4 deck boards on 2x12" joists.
Once the deck was completed, furring strips were put under the 2x12's to establish a pitch for drainage. The metal roofing was then attached to the furring strips. Kind of think of it as hanging drywall on a lower level ceiling.

 

[Dennisfly]

Any chance of a picture of the corregated metal roof? Did you fasten it to the furring with screws and rubber washers for sealing?

 

[bczoom]

I'll get some pictures.

Yes, fastened as you described.

 

[bczoom]

OK,
Here comes some pictures.
First one is a view of the deck from the side.
As pictured, everything from the chimney towards the back of the house (left) will be 2 story.
On the underside of the deck:
From the chimney to the rear of house will be a small workshop/storage room under the deck. Everything behind that (across the rear, 48' long) will be 2 story.

 

[bczoom]

Next picture
Looking at a roofing material from the lower level of the deck.

 

[bczoom]

Here's a picture from the side.
The tin is sloped towards the outside and the water is collected into the gutters