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fiberglass it!


Posted by jb on September 22nd, 2003 11:09 AM
In reply to Rooftop Deck by bd on September 22nd, 2003 08:18 AM [Go to top of thread]

These can be nice. Traditionally they used canvas and tar/gravel. Then they moved to rubber membrane on top of homosote pad. Then you put floating deck on top. Next time I do one of these I'm going to skip the expensive rubber job, that can easily fail too, and I'm going to fiberglass it. Remember you have to either put a floor drain or better yet just let it go over the edge, under the rail. Get wide bolts of fiberglass cloth from a boat supply shop and ask them for how much resin you need for the square footage you will have. Roll out the 3' wide glass cloth onto the deck. Make sure it either comes up onto the building 4-6 inches, or do this with another piece later. Then use a paint roller on a broom handle to roll the resin (2 part polyester) onto the cloth - soaking it through so the plywood underneath gets damp from it too. I would put two layers of cloth, staggering seams. You can put second coat of cloth right over wet first coat and then reapply resin. I would buy special tint to tint the resin black or brown (if used under a deck - if not dark colors will burn bare feet in sun). Maybe they have a UV blocker or just paint. Treat with nonskid boat deck paint or cover with a floating deck. This fiberglass deck is easy and fast and probably cheaper than having others do rubber. It will last longer than the house too, where I'm always worried about rubber getting holed. Learn about how to handle the fiberglassing materials and protective clothing, etc. Be safe.

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