The best way to "deck" an asphalt-based, waterproofed roof membrane surface over the top of our kitchen (12'w x 24'l). A few years back, we added a brand new addition to our home and now have a second floor master bedroom with patio doors that open out and onto this kitchen roof surface. We're hoping you can guide and advise re selecting the best type of deck 'topping' for this membrane. Is it possible to cover the entire surface with indoor/outdoor carpeting without running into problems down the road? Obviously, we wouldn't glue the carpet down in case roofers ever needed access to the membrane. We just want to protect the membrane with something that we can walk on, as well as put our deck chairs and flower pots.
Answer:
Unfortunately, the wood decking is about as good as it gets because anything else will abuse the roofing material underneath it. Even with wood decking, you'll want to lay down sleepers at regular intervals perpendicular to the roof joists and monitor the ramifications - and there will be ramifications. Under the roofing material you don't have anything with the integrity to stand up to being walked on and that will start by delaminating the roofing material itself. From there it goes on to moisture build-up between roof deck and roofing material and where there is moisture and wood, the wood loses integrity at a rate that you just don't want to get involved with. Look at it as a case of winning some and others turning out just like this.
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