What Is a Walk Deck? Make More of Your Roof
What is a walk deck?
Your roof can do more than keep the weather out. A properly designed walk deck gives you usable space above part of your home while protecting what's underneath. It's a roof you can walk on and enjoy the view from, with the structure and waterproofing planned for both uses.
That's what makes a rooftop walk deck different from an ordinary patio. It needs to handle people using the surface while keeping water out of the building underneath. Our 928 Roofing team plans the deck, stairs and waterproofing together so both jobs are part of the work from the start.
More usable outdoor space above your home
A roof designed as a walk deck makes an elevated part of your home usable. In Sedona, that can mean opening up a red rock view while keeping the space below protected. The roof's shape, access and construction help determine what's possible.
Access is part of the roofing plan. Doorways and stairs need to connect safely to the deck, and the waterproofing needs to protect the transitions where those areas meet.
Why waterproofing matters when the deck is also a roof
When there's a room, garage or another part of the building below, the deck's waterproofing is protecting that space. Rain needs a clear path to the drains or roof edges. The places where the deck meets walls, doors, railings and other openings also need to keep water out.
We look at the slope for drainage, the condition beneath the surface and those connections before choosing the finish. A fresh color won't repair damaged wood or fix a leak at a doorway. The repairs and waterproofing have to be planned along with the walking surface.
That's why we approach these projects as roofing work as well as deck work. The finished space should let you enjoy being outside while the system beneath it does its job for your home.
Where Pli Dek fits
Pli Dek is one of the waterproofing systems we work with for surfaces designed for foot traffic, including rooftop decks. The system needs to suit the construction underneath it and the conditions it will face.
We start with the roof or deck itself, then discuss suitable waterproofing and finish options. Color and texture help make the space feel like part of your home. Preparation, drainage and waterproofing help protect what's below it.
Can your roof become a walk deck?
The place to start is with the roof's structure and layout. It needs to be designed for the intended use, provide safe access and edge protection, and drain properly. A roof that looks flat isn't automatically ready for regular foot traffic.
We'll discuss what's already there and what the project would require, including any engineering or design work needed before construction. For an existing walk deck, we can handle repairs, stair work and waterproofing. Our current Sedona project includes all three on a leaking deck that was left unfinished.
Make more of your roof with our local team
Want to enjoy the view from a walk deck, or restore one that needs repairs? Contact our 928 Roofing team. We live here in Northern Arizona and care about helping our neighbors make the most of their homes. Tell us how you'd like to use the space. We'll explain the structure, access and waterproofing it needs, then help you understand the work from the first conversation through the finished project.