Our new deck roof

Spending $9000 was worth almost three times the building investment
Facing north with views towards the ocean this large outdoor balcony - style area provided for scenic entertaining although it lacked protection from the elements. So plans were submitted and approved by council for a skillion roof over the 5 x 6m blackbull limbei deck.
Although the bill came to $9000 the revived area is now valued at almost three times the outlay.

THE CONSTRUCTION PLAN
The new roof was to be supported on three timber posts and the top plate of the house wall connected with 240 x 65mm laminated veneer lumber beams to cany the weight of the joists., battens and Colorbond metal roof.
Insulation was installed over the frame before the metal roofing was secured.
For the ceiling, exterior fibre cement sheeting was secured to the base of the joists and lights professionally installed.
Existing stainless steel wire balustrades were removed and repositioned between the new posts.

ATTACHING Р05Т5 AND BEAMS
The existing balustrade, three rows of roof tiles and sarking were removed so the ends of the rafters could be cut to make room for the posts and beams.
Square holes were cut in the decking so the posts could be positioned on the joists underneath, with housings cut into the base. More housings were cut at the top of the posts to hold the beams, with holes made for the handrails. They were then plumbed using a spirit levei and braced then secured under the deck.
Front beams were secured at the top with galvanised cuphcad bolts and side beams held with bugle head screws. Against the house, the beams were secured to the top plate with nails using a framing gun.

Weatherproofing

Lead flashing was installed over the roof tiles and up the sides of the beams. A timber offcut was tapped to make it fit the profile of the tiles then it was covered with FC eave sheeting and secured using clouts.

BUILDINGTHE FRAMEWORK
Building the framework took about a day and a half day to complete.
From the house, Hyjoist I - beams were positioned with 200mm crossfall to the front to create the pitch of the roof. A bulkhead was built over the French doors, supported by brickwork on cither side, secured to the joists and later clad with FC sheeting.
A stringline was set between the side beams for blocking to be cut and fitted, securing on alternating stringline with framing nails.
Intersecting straps of galvanised hoop iron were secured between opposite corners then tightened with strap tensioners and secured to the joists with clouts. Battens were then secured to the joists.

Fascia cladding

Blackbutt decking boards were cut to fit over the beams, with the joints mitred and a clear finish applied.
The guttering was secured with a fall to the spout then end caps and a downpipe were fitted.

INSTALLING THE ROOF
To install the first roofing sheet, insulation was rolled out over the frame and set square to the side beam.
A stringline was set along the battens for a straight line of screws then the roofing was secured. More insulation was roiled out and the next sheet overlapped and secured.
Barge capping was positioned along the edge of the deck roof and secured into the battens and beams.
The tile apron was positioned over the high end of the roof sheets with ridge shapes cut so the apron could fit into the pans, secured using screws into the battens. The house roof tiles were then replaced.

LININGTHE CEILING
To attach the exterior ceiling sheeting, brackets were secured to the joists to hold furring channels that provide a level surface to attach the sheets. Then the sheets were positioned and the edges trimmed to fit.
Scaffolding was set up so the heavy materials could be lifted into position and stud adhesive applied to the base of the furring channel to secure the sheets.
The setting process took a day and a half, with external jointing compound applied to the joints.
Basecoat compound was applied along control joints and finished with topping compound then screw heads then covered with two layers of basecoat and a finish coat. TIP The screws should finish just below the surface ol the sheet.

The ceiling system

Designed to block moisture, the 6mm thick fibre cement panels of the exterior ceiling system are secured to metal furring channels attached to joists.
The sheets have recessed edges for flush joints that are set with coats of acrylic compound.
Called the SoffitLine system, it uses control joints set with expansion bead to accommodate movement and prevent cracking.
The lining weighs almost 10 kites a square metre, so hiring a mechanical lifter to position the sheets is recommended.

Disaster strikes

Part of the house roof was removed on a Friday and tarped for protection while the owners left for the weekend. But after two days of torrential rain, the water pulled the tarp out from under the tiles, exposing the ceiling.
It became so saturated that the sheeting dropped, bowing about 200mm away from the joists. By Monday, before the ceiling could dry out of position, acroprops were installed to crank it flat against the joists.
It was left to dry for four weeks and secured with screws and adhesive then repainted.