Have a Roofer install a torch down modified, lay 2x4 pt stringers in the direction of the flow on 16'' centers,screw the decking to the stringers>>>> not thru the stringers into the roofUse ipe 1x6 face fastened decking. John

Thanks, John, but would the stringers themselves not be screwed/nailed to the roof?

That is exactly the mistake some Folks make, do not fastaen the stringers into the roof. Doing that will provide a slow leak causing a lot of damage you dont know about until the whole thing has to be replaced right down to all the sheetrock inside. J

I own a commercial roof consulting business, so thought I would add my two cents here. John is exactly right. Modified bitumen is a durable membrane roofing product, which is well suited for application under a wood deck. The stringers should be loose laid on the membrane survace. NEVER fasten anything through the membrane! I would also recommend that a strip of modified bitumen membrane be loose laid beneath each stringer to serve as a protection layer. Make it about 2" wider than the stringer to prevent the edges of the wood from cutting into the roof membrane.

I'm doing the above described system on a deck that is a little smaller. I'm having the wood deck made in three pieces. They will just lay on the deck. If the surface underneath needs to be cleaned or repaired, the decking can be lifted off. The only situation where this would not work, is if you are in tornado or hurricane country.

After the deck is down I bolt the handrail posts to the rim joist after daping out the post 1 1/2'' x how ever wide the rim is. This way the posts land on the decking. The only other way is to install the posts in the frame and roof around them, this is just asking for a leak the chances of all the flashing/modidied holding perfectly are slim plus the width differance from the botom to the top if the posts are going to be wrapped. With all the black modified melted into the flashing it dosent look all that good so a person would want the posts wraped.

To do this system a real good Roofer needs to be employed who will run a starter course just like using compo,slow down,pay attention to detail, deal with the fire danger,install all needed flashing, use a quality base sheet, and not tell you using mastic is just as good as torching the material down.

In all the upstairs projects I have out we have had one faliure,it had to be at my house of course. While we were puting down the decking some how me or one of my guys droped a screw and steped on it pushing it into the roof. It took a year before the water damage showed up in the sofit plywood. Repair encluding deck removal,temp brace a couple of posts,soffit repair, a quick flash with the torch was done. Attention to detail is important for the Carpenters as well as the Roofer. J

I live in S. Mississippi. How do I keep the deck from blowing loose in a hurricane?

Man I live in Oklahoma we are completly aware of bad wind storms like tornados, they come around every year about this time the last big one took out half the south side of town.

The weight of the project,its low profile,and the posts landing on the deck all play a part in keeping my deck in place. Belive me Butler Manor has been thru some wind storms in the few years that have gone by after its remodle.

If anything building in sections will increse the chance of wind lift. J