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Posted by MarkL on May 15, 2007, 12:00 am
On May 14, 10:38 pm, botek12...@yahoo.com wrote:
> My husband and I are wondering if it is possible to install a wood
> deck over a regular concrete covered patio (north facing, so almost no
> sunlight hits it - just a little in the morning). There is one thin
> crack running most of the width of it (developed about 1 year ago, got
> ever so slightly wider (1/16") over the next couple months, but now
> stable), but that is the only flaw.
>
> We plan to screen in the patio, then "extend" it by installing a wood
> deck on the other side of the screening (for those times we'd like
> some sunshine:). We thought it would look great to place a wood deck
> over the covered patio, too, making it look like one large deck, half
> covered and screened.
>
> The patio is currently approx. 15' x 20'.
>
> If this is feasible, are there any special preparations we need to
> make to do this? Or can we just lay down some heavy-duty plastic
> sheeting to keep the moisture out of the wood, put down some plywood
> and attach the decking material to that?
>
> Any thoughts on this???
I wouldn't build any type of structure on a patio, unless it was
originally built as a floating slab with thickened and extended edges
to support the load of the structure and roof. That is how a free
standing garage is typically built. You also don't say if you imagine
connecting this screened structure to your house. Definitely don't do
that because the patio will float around as the ground freezes and
thaws and will crack where it connects to your house. I think the
cheapest and easiest way to accomplish your stated objective would be
to put support posts on concrete posthole footings around the outside
of the perimeter of the patio, and build the screened structure so
that it is completely independent of the patio, supported only by the
load bearing posts. You can still put wood flooring on the concrete
for effect if you choose to, and butt it right up to the walls but
don't connect them. Build your wood deck adjacent to the structure,
also not connected to the screened structure unless you're sure it is
designed to carry the load along one wall. I wouldn't put plastic
under the wood in this case. If you spill water or rain blows in, the
plastic will keep it in contact with the wood for a long time. The
concrete will at least absorb it and eventually dry. Use pressure
treated wood, maybe paint the bottom with something to seal it and
prevent rot. It might be easier to just put down 1x2 sleepers on the
patio and build the wood floor on the sleepers. You could attach the
flooring to the sleepers but not attach the sleepers to the patio so
the whole thing floats.
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