Installing pavers over a deck?

[geoscaper]

I have a customer that recently purchased a new home. He doesn't like the way his wood deck looks like, but does like the look of brick pavers. He would like me to tear down the railings around the deck and build benchs out of rumble rock, and install pavers over the top of his wood deck. Anybody done a job like this? recomendations, ideas? I have installed pavers, but not over a suface such as this.

[GrazerZ]

did you ask him if he was serious when he asked? No I havent done a job like this, it is frought with problems. Can the deck hold the weight? how will you keep the pavers from moving? just explain that you can build a nice patio and do it right for him, but you don't think this is a good idea.

[Rex Mann]

This is a project to use Pedestal Pavers.

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:qA8wmAS242sJ:www.wausautile.com/documents/TPTSO.pdf+pedestal+pavers+seattle&hl=en

They are widely used in the Northwestern US, however they are becoming more popular on the East coast.

Peace,

Rex

PaversInstalled.Com (http://paversinstalled.com)

[geoscaper]

Rex:

Thanks for the link to the website, Have you completed a project like this?

[kris]

Link didnt work for me????

[Rex Mann]

Kris,

Try this link. It is a different site, but on the same topic on PP.

http://appianwaysystem.com/

Peace,

Rex

ArizonaPavers.Com (http://arizonapavers.com)

[kris]

Now that is interesting ...thanks

[Lanelle]

I understand the benefit of using pedestal systems on roof decks with the membrane and working to level out the pitch. I just can't imagine our county allowing someone to put concrete paver blocks on top of a wooden deck unless the deck is not elevated. And the rules for railings are very specific.
Is this wooden deck at ground level?

[geoscaper]

The deck is elevated about 3-5 feet. I'm not sure if i'm going to give aproposal or not. I'm going to get an engineer out to the site to look at the deck and see what he thinks. The homeowner seems to be set on brick pavers, but I want to make sure the underpins and timbers are strong enough to support them. Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

[D Felix]

Somehow I doubt that the wieght will be a huge factor. Chances are that if you can walk on the deck, you can lay the pavers. Holland pavers run ~28 pounds per square foot, which isn't a lot of extra wieght. Where the wieght WILL come into play is in a reduction of the amount of LIVE loading the deck is capable of carrying. This means that a deck that could support 50 people at a time, may only be able to carry 30. I'm not an engineer, but I can't see the deck not being able to support the additional wieght. Unless they hold parties on the deck quite frequently, I doubt that would be a problem for most residential applications as long as the deck was built right to begin with. BTW, I'm not saying that the deck in question is capable of holding 50 people, it was just an example....

What I would be more concerned about is increased aging of the deck materials. Unless the decking is synthetic, the pavers will trap more moisture against the decking, causing it to have a much, much shorter lifespan. Plus, how are you going to level the pavers when individual boards start to cup? How will you address the additional hieght on the deck, which will effectively/significantly reduce the step hieght into the house? How old is the deck? If it's 10 years old, they may only have another 10-15 years left on it. Adding pavers over the top will probaby reduce that by 1/2.... If it was me, I'd either leave it alone, or rip out the deck and do it right to begin with................

It sounds like a bad idea to me. It threw up red flags with your first post, but not so much because of the wieght issue, as much as the other issues that would be involved.


Dan

[LandMatters]

Are you bidding against other companies? I'd come up with a creative design that allows you to have multiple levels with a raised patio and also a patio that is not all squared off (like a deck). give the homeowner your estimate and explain why you won't build on the deck.

this job would be a huge mistake if you build on the deck

[Turf Medic]

With some of the recent deaths caused by overloaded decks, I wouldn't touch that project with a 10 foot pole. If the pavers weight is 28lbs per square foot and if the deck is even 10X12 you are putting 3300 lbs on it, plus benches built from rumble rock???? Even if the owners, say that they never entertain and it would only be 4 or 5 at a time on the deck, what happens if the next owners, like to entertain 20 people at a time. Looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen.