Denton,
There is a fence all around...

Posted by: zevel at March 27, 2008 4:40 PM in response to Roof Deck

All,
My only concern is building it legally according to DOB requirement,
and liability. The rest is negotiable.

Posted by: zevel at March 27, 2008 4:51 PM in response to Roof Deck

All,
My only concern is building it legally according to DOB requirement,
and liability. The rest is negotiable.

Posted by: zevel at March 27, 2008 4:51 PM in response to Roof Deck

Call your insurance company. I was pleasantly surprised to find we were covered if someone fell off our roof regardless if they were an invited guest or someone who had come over from a neighboring building.

Also, nobody has mentioned yet that you want the deck built in a way that it is not a threat to the roofing material. Some will say it has to be put up on Ibeams across the parapets. Some will say it's enough to create a "sleeper" system where it is supported on a substructure. Either way it's pricey. It's not enough for the tenant to just lay some boards across your roof. He'll be complaining to you when the roof starts to leak into his apartment.

Posted by: guest at March 27, 2008 5:10 PM in response to Roof Deck

A roofdeck is covered by NYC building code, and the code issues involved include non-combustible construction, percent of roof area covered, guardrails, etc. The deck would require filing with the Dept of Buildings to be legal.

I would also recommend reconsidering the material you're proposing. In terms of the system you mentioned -- the swiftdeck -- this installation would be risky since you would have to install each panel directly into the roof with mechanical fasteners to prevent uplift. That means you are going to punch a hole through your roof membrane every square foot of your deck. If there is any ponding at all on the roof it is likely to rust out and then leak at the fastener opening. Not a good long term solution.

Posted by: Smokychimp at March 28, 2008 12:23 PM in response to Roof Deck

You need absolutely need a permit from the DOB and you should require liability insurance that would indemnify you as the owner.

The deck needs to be signed off by an architect and/or engineer.

Posted by: guest at March 28, 2008 4:58 PM in response to Roof Deck

You absolutely need a permit from the DOB and you should require liability insurance that would indemnify you as the owner.

The deck needs to be signed off by an architect and/or engineer.

Posted by: guest at March 28, 2008 4:58 PM in response to Roof Deck

You absolutely need a permit from the DOB and you should require liability insurance that would indemnify you as the owner.

The deck needs to be signed off by an architect and/or engineer.

Posted by: guest at March 28, 2008 4:58 PM in response to Roof Deck

The roof deck tiles usually are not meant to be screwed down, and some web pages claim that they will not damage a roof. If you just put them on the roof surface do you need a permit?

For example on
http://www.ezydeck.net/FAQs.htm#Can%20rooftops

Q. Can the tiles be laid directly on rooftops covered with a rubber or bituminous membrane without damaging or puncturing the membrane?
A. The pressure on the tile base is normally distributed in such a way that no damage will occur. However if you wish to take additional precautions, then we suggest laying down a suitable geotextile mat before the tiles are laid.

Posted by: guest at March 28, 2008 8:01 PM in response to Roof Deck

The tiles are not meant to be screwed down, but they are also not meant to withstand the kind of uplift pressures that are common to the Eastern seabord. Even the promotional brochure in the link states that they should never be installed loose in a hurricane zone (i.e. NYC). The storm we had here the middle of last month would toss these things all over the place.

Posted by: Smokychimp at March 29, 2008 12:22 AM in response to Roof Deck