Fix Up Your Decks Roof

Flatter areas along railings or beside a door with pots that can hold tall striking plantings such as this tropical canna ringed with fuchsia coleus and lantana.

Fix up your decks roof.

Cut the spacer blocks and screw them to the bottom of the joists at the marks. Have no fear though. Then slip the umbrella pole through the straps until the bottom of the pole rests on the deck. Check the handrails and balusters then replace any damaged sections.

To help get it in the right spot mount several sets of galvanized plumbing pipe straps on the deck posts or railing in key places. Take a walk around your deck and feel for soft spots under your feet. Apply in the solution with a scrub brush. Take a look at the deck.

For those who desire a bit more shade and privacy while soaking up the rays however a deck roof may be in order. One of the keys to having gre. As beautiful as they are functional the modern deck roofs are an extension of and not a deterrent from the luxurious deck. Now you can put shade right where you need it.

Fix any damage to the underlayment which is the layer underneath the roof shingles or tiles. Dress up your deck with knockout containers. Draw a line around the column about 2 inches above the rotted area and install a temporary brace under the deck porch or roof. Then attach the remaining 2x4 purlins by screwing them to the spacers.

Repeat this procedure so that all the columns look exactly the same and have the same dimensions. Eavesthe eaves are edges of the roof that overhang the exterior wall. Clear all furniture and debris so you can have a clear view of every square foot. Use deck screws to reattach the good end then cut a piece of like decking to fill the gap and screw it to the joists.

Interior water damage can mean a roof leak so if you see any call a professional. If the existing decking is gray weather the new decking with a solution made from 1 cup of baking soda and 1 gallon of warm water. Use straps with a slightly wider diameter than that of the umbrella pole. Those measurements minus the thickness of the purlins will give you the widths of the spacer blocks.

Cracks bubbles and blisters in the sealant are also common. Measure down from the deck joists to the string at the other purlin locations. Remove any damaged deck boards and cut off the rotted portion all the way back to the centerline of the nearest joist. Rinse and let dry.

The deck roof of today isn t the drab concoction so many of us remember.