Installation – Pedestal Supported Porcelain Pavers
With any pedestal supported deck installation, the following requirements must be met.
Decks must not exceed the load capacity of the pedestals.
The substrate should slope slightly to give positive drainage
Roof decks must comply with all local building codes including fire regulations and wind uplift.
Any area not bounded by a parapet or wall must be ‘boxed-in’ so the pavers cannot move.
Any gaps around the perimeter must not exceed 1/8”. We recommend using spring clips for perimeter walls which prevent both the outer row of pavers from shifting after installation and maintain a 1/8″-1/4″ gap between the parapet wall and paver edge.
For deck heights greater than 4”, especially in high traffic commercial applications such as bars and restaurants, steel protection plates or self-adhesive protection sheets should be installed on the underside of the pavers to avoid possible injury should any paver break due to hard objects being accidentally dropped from a significant height.
The first step in constructing a pedestal-supported deck is to estimate both the number of pavers and pedestals required. To simplify this task, we have developed an online Pedestal Estimator which can quickly calculate both the number of pavers and pedestals of each size to cover a defined area. You can get immediate access to our Pedestal Estimator here. Or if you prefer, just send us the details of your project including all measurements, heights around the perimeter, slopes, drainage points, etc. and we can provide the estimate for you with a print-out showing the recommended laying configuration.
The basic procedure for constructing an elevated deck using adjustable height pedestals is shown in the video of our porcelain paver pedestal system above.
In one of the initial steps, the video shows the base of pedestals installed around the perimeter being cut. Note that this is typically only required where the pedestal heads need to be as close to the wall as possible e.g.
when the pedestals are supporting a narrow section of cut paver (less than approx. 12″ wide)
where a cant strip is installed at the foot of the perimeter wall which restricts the pedestals being placed directly against the wall.