In many areas, a home’s footprint takes up as much of the property as physically possible, leaving very little space for outdoor living and enjoyment. Rather than ignoring outdoor spaces entirely due to a lack of usable ground space, consider looking upwards to create a deck.
Uplevel your Deck
Before you begin building a deck on a rooftop, make sure you can safely access the hoped-for terrace and that the chosen area is structurally sound.
You may think your roof can withstand anything, but it’s definitely worth an appointment with a qualified engineer or contractor to verify you won’t have a cave-in of any sort.
Structural integrity becomes even more important if you’re considering appliances, thick stone, hot tubs, or other water features which can have a particularly heavy load.
Another important consideration is wind. The higher you are, the more likely you are to face potentially demanding conditions from time to time.
That means you want pieces that are either securely attached to your deck or ones which are heavy enough that they won’t fly over the edge and down to your yard or street.
Built-ins are a great idea. As are pergolas, which can be affixed to your house and decorated with sailcloth or draperies to provide sun and weather protection.
If there are lots of neighbours nearby and no natural barriers, such as tall trees between properties, think about ways to create privacy. Container gardens are a great option if you can make the time to water the plantings.
The more you’re able to make your deck feel like an extension of your home, the more likely you are to use it.
Create multiple zones or areas and add in accessories to make it both comfortable and relaxing.
