Flat rooftops can offer great opportunities for conversion into attractive entertaining or relaxing areas, but contemplating a vast expanse of drab concrete or asphalt and envisaging how to attack such a problem, can be a rather daunting prospect.

Two important points need to be considered at the outset. Firstly, any objects on a roof top which are not securely fixed, need to be of sufficient weight or size that they will not move or blow away in strong winds.

Secondly, if there is a waterproof membrane on the roof, extreme care must be taken that the membrane is not punctured or damaged in any way. You will probably need to consult the building owner before placing any objects on the rooftop to ensure you are not faced with any potential liability issues.

The most important thing that then needs to be decided is what to install on the surface. If there’s a waterproof membrane, then your choices are rather limited as it’s obviously not possible to lay conventional porcelain tiles.
You could however lay interlocking plastic or rubber tiles although they would need to be of sufficient weight and securely joined so as not to blow away in strong winds.

One of the best options may be to cover the area with interlocking wood deck tiles. These tiles are generally manufactured using the same high durability lumber species as traditional decks but have wood slats screwed to an integral plastic base with inbuilt connecting tabs. The weight of the tiles and the gaps between the wood slats ensure the tile are generally unaffected by strong winds (except in areas prone to tornados or hurricanes). The tiles are typically available in 12″ x 12″ modules and are laid by just snapping the tiles together (see for example http://www.ezydeck.net). The gaps between the wood slats and the plastic mesh base also allows water to drain freely away so that pools of water do not lay on the rooftop.

The plastic bases of these tiles have multiple “feet” which distribute any load evenly over the surface below. A geotextile could be laid under the tiles as an extra precaution against membrane damage or if the building owner required extra assurance that the tiles would not damage the membrane.

Some manufacturers produce tiles in a variety of different designs, so it is possible to create borders, centerpieces, feature areas etc. to suit your individual preference. Or you could use different designs to divide the area in to several sections depending on how you plan to use the rooftop.

As well as the wood tiles, porcelain interlocking tiles are also now available which can provide additional opportunities for creativity in designing the total rooftop landscape. These tiles are designed to interlock with the wood tiles, so for example you could have a dining area paved in the ceramic tiles where tables and chairs are situated, surrounded by wood tiles.

If possible, try to divide the area into “rooms” by using a row of tubs with bushy plants, some trellis, modular fencing etc. With the addition of some large pots, attractive plants, and maybe a few favorite pieces of sculpture in strategic spots, that forsaken roof top can easily become an attractive and useful relaxing an entertaining area.

By: Malcolm Kay

About the Author:

The idea that form should follow function is a basic principle of good interior design. This guideline still applies when planning an outdoor space a bistro patio set.

When placing the set on a patio or terrace, take into consider how the sun moves across the space. Putting the furniture in glaring sunlight or complete shade renders it useless for certain times of the day. Instead incorporate elements that will mitigate the harsher effects of the environment. These elements can include trees, plants, walls, trellises, fences or outdoor art. Even a simple umbrella placed near the bistro set will provide shade and block strong wind.

Match the style of the table and chairs with the overall decor of the outdoor area. Wrought iron sets can evoke the continental cultures of places such as Paris or New Orleans, while cast aluminum will give a sense of contemporary or urban style. Wooden furniture elicits a sense of traditional mountain respites. Provide cushions if needed, to ensure that the set serves the purposes of relaxation or entertaining.

Maintenance is the most difficult aspect of choosing patio furniture. Outdoors furniture in northern climes always should be stored away from ice, wind and snow when winter comes. If it can’t be moved, then it must be covered with protective vinyl wrappings that can be secured to the furniture so they don’t blow off.

In more temperate climates, furniture can stay outdoors all year ’round if it’s properly maintained. Wrought iron needs to be washed periodically with warm water and soap, and should be waxed occasionally. Nicks in the paint should be sanded and touch up immediately to reduce the possibility of rust. Nonetheless, wrought iron is one of the most durable materials for garden furniture, along with the new poly resins that are made into wicker and certain kinds of wood, such as cypress and teak.

By: Michael Justice

About the Author:

Deciding to use pavers for your pool deck is one of the best choices you can make
for your home. Whether you are building a new pool or if you need to remodel your
existing, unsightly concrete, pavers are the answer!

Pavers can compliment a new pool like no other surface option. The primary decking alternatives to pavers when building a new pool are concrete, concrete with an acrylic paint and a texture on top often called “cool-deck” and tile. The problem with all three alternatives is that in each case a concrete deck has to be poured. Then, it’s the choice of the homeowner to refinish the surface with the acrylic or tile. As we all know, however, concrete cracks. Sometimes it takes a couple of years for those hairline joints to start popping up, but more often than not, they show up after a couple of months. The acrylic and tile toppings do a decent job of hiding the flaws, but inevitably, the cracks work their way to the surfaces of these alternatives as well.

Pavers, on the other hand do not *****. They do not require that a concrete deck is poured and they are very cost competitive with these alternatives. Most come with a twenty year warranty, while some come with twenty five year coverage. There is an unlimited amount of color and shape options, making pavers a much more aesthetic solution. Pavers are installed around a new pool on top of vehicular grade compacted base. They are very easy to maintain with regular cleaning and can even be pressure washed. If one paver does crack, it takes all of two minutes to pop the defective brick out and replace it with a new one. No more chiseling thin set under tile or having to use concrete ***** patch material!

If you didn’t get the opportunity to choose pavers for your pool when it was built and now have a deck with cracks and depressions, don’t worry. Thin, one inch, pavers can be installed over top of the deck. Once that it is done, nobody can tell that the deck was originally installed without pavers!

If you would like to get more information regarding your paving options Central Florida Pavers can help!

By: Garrett McGinnis

About the Author:

The idea of a French caf

Related Blogs