Rooftop Deck Construction: Before and After
We knew we wanted to enjoy the last bits of summer on our rooftop and have a setup planned come spring for garden season. So we did not waste any time getting to work on our rooftop deck after we bought our condo fall of 2021.
This photo was from the original posting of the listing, which got me very excited to schedule a tour of the condo. The original owners set up this space with plants along the parapet walls, patio furniture, and rubber tiles.
A rainy day of our move back in August 2021. Thankfully there is direct access from the alley to the staircase leading up to our roof. We quickly set up the space and unpacked our plants from our previous home and purchased patio furniture which arrived within a few weeks.
It was less than a month after moving that we got quotes from multiple contractors, finalized plans, and then signed on a contractor. Things were moving fast.
After finding inspiration of rooftop decks on Pinterest I had a general idea of what I wanted for our rooftop deck – two levels with a built-in flower and tree beds and another flower bed where the stairs met. I knew Trex composite boards were a smart choice for flooring because of easy removal for any rooftop repairs. I also knew I wanted a rock border as another element to contrast the wood. I had a rudimentary sketch of the layout and my friend turned that into a 3d rendering, which was helpful for the contractor to visualize.
Before & After
It only took a week or so for the construction workers to build our deck… only a week! In the end, we were able to include all of the requests I had from my drawing with some modifications along the way, like the placement of our rock border and no tree beds. My vision of the flower beds dividing the two levels where the stairs met came to life along with other elements from my vision board. I’m very happy with the final build and can’t wait to start planning my garden.
Progress Shots
I will say no one in our house loves the deck more than our dog, Hunter. Sometimes we’ll leave the main door to our unit propped open so he can come in and out as he pleases. Often times, I’ll catch him sleeping out here for hours.
Four weeks later we finally were able to stain, which we DIY’d to save money. I wanted a stain color that matched close to the flooring, and found the closest stain from Sherwin Williams.
We are so excited about how it turned out and began to prep our raised garden beds the following spring. We chose perennials and annuals for the beds; garden and vegetables for our raised planters. Our plan is to eventually build a permanent pergola.
We have been enjoying our garden oasis in the middle of the city and are proud of how it turned out. It's become our go-to spot for relaxing, and hosting, and the best spot to chill and nap, especially for our dog, Hunter.
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