Roof Deck Systems with Porcelain Pavers or Wood Tiles
Porcelain Pavers
Offering an exceptionally wide range of color and style options including pavers that faithfully replicate the look of natural wood, slate, travertine, limestone, sandstone, terracotta, concrete and terrazzo to harmonize with any rooftop environment, exterior porcelain pavers are also totally fireproof, stain resistant, fade resistant, mold and mildew resistant and low maintenance.
The lightweight roof deck pavers are typically supported only under each corner using pedestal supports, subject to paver size and application. At the lowest elevations, stackable rubber support pads are typically used up to an elevation of approx. 1 ½”.
Porcelain pavers are built to withstand the harshest of weather conditions, providing durability and protection tailored to the specific environmental challenges of their location.
In certain locations, wind uplift mitigation and break through protection may need to be implemented, depending on deck height, application and location. Archatrak offers several solutions for both wind uplift and break through protection when building a rooftop deck.
We also offer an electric snow melt system that can be installed under just a few roof pavers for a snow free walkway or an entire rooftop deck, on either new installations or retrofitted under existing elevated roof deck pavers.
Porcelain Planks
Resembling natural wood planks, porcelain wood grain plank style pavers offer a totally fireproof solution for rooftop decks, an increasingly important consideration in high density urban locations. Porcelain is also highly resistant to staining, fading, color change, growth of mold, moss and mildew. Plus there’s no twisting, warping, cracking, decay or splintering – a porcelain deck will look essentially the same year after year.
Porcelain planks are typically 8”, 12” or 16″ wide and up to 94″ long. Most planks feature a simulated wood look but some planks are also available in other styles including cement and stone.
On balconies and rooftops, porcelain plank installations mostly use a rail system where the planks are laid over an array of hollow aluminum beams mounted on pedestals, laid either in running bond or stack bond configuration.
Wind uplift mitigation and break through protection may need to be implemented, depending on deck height, application and location.
Structural Ipe Wood Deck Tiles
The ideal option for a classic wood look roof deck but avoiding the need for extensive support structures.
24” x 24” wood tiles are typically supported under each corner only with adjustable height pedestals. 24” x 48” tiles are also available.
Fire codes may restrict usage in some localities and long-term maintenance requirements need to be taken into account.
Archatrak structural wood tiles are available exclusively in Ipe wood due to its exceptional hardness, durability and wear resistance.
In some locations, wind uplift of roof top decks may need to be considered. Archatrak supplies a screw and washer hold down assembly which you can use to secure the corners of each wood deck tile to the pedestal head during installation of the Ipe wood tiles, offering a degree of wind uplift mitigation. Additional mitigation could be achieved by gluing the pedestal base to the substrate.
Interlocking Ipe Wood Deck Tiles
Typically laid directly over roof membranes on smaller areas as a Do-It-Yourself installation option, these 12” x 12” or 12“x 24” modular tiles offer a quick and easy rooftop deck flooring solution by simply snapping together, each tile automatically aligned and precisely spaced, thanks to the connecting tabs on the integral plastic base.
Be aware however that the finished deck will slope in the same direction as the existing rooftop since these interlocking wood deck tiles are not designed to be supported by pedestal support systems. Hence they cannot be used to cover pipework, ducts and cabling.
Fire codes may restrict their usage in some localities although Ipe is generally classified as a Class A material by the NFPA.
Ipe tiles will gradually fade to a silvery grey over time even if our recommended regime of regular care and maintenance using decking oil is maintained.
Platforms & Outdoor Stages
For some commercial applications in particular, there may be a need for a raised platform on some section of the deck for use as a stage or a display platform. While this can be achieved by constructing a platform with pedestal supported pavers and using our vertical face clips to create vertical face at the outside edge of the elevated platform, a much neater solution can be to use our StreetDeck modular deck system which is most commonly used as a roadside Parklet.
This system also uses pedestal supported porcelain (or Ipe wood) pavers to match the rooftop pavers on the main elevated deck, but offers the benefit of a secure steel containment which prevents any sideways movement of the pavers.
The platform can be extended without limit in increments of 24″ in both length and width. Fully integrated planters and railings can be supplied as required.
The platform can be extended without limit in increments of 24″ in both length and width. Fully integrated planters and railings can be supplied as required.