How can I make my roof into a deck?

Question

We have a single-family house with a walk-out flat roof (there's actually a sliding glass door). It has no railing, the roof is currently tar-covered (with some kind of silver patches). I'm getting it ready to sell, and we're considering changing it into a deck. Someone suggested I just paint the roof white and attach a white wrought-iron railing. Is this a good idea? or is there a better way to do this without spending a lot of money?

Answer 1

I would recommend having a fiber glass deck installed. A professional would have to be hired and proper permits attained. A fiberglass deck would be the best solution and provide the best protection of future leaks. Railing systems can easily be installed over these types of decks.
If you want something less expensive I would just say put down an ice shield base over the existing roof and then lay a wood deck system over it. Eventually water problems will develop and the deck will have to be removed for the repair. I would hate to recommend this if the house is being sold and a problem is being left for someone else to deal with.

Answer 2

If you are selling, I would not do anything to it. You may run into Permit problems and other things that can be costly. Attaching the railing could also cause roof leaks. It would be costly to make this area a deck if it is done properly. The silver patches are probably where leaks have been in the past. "It's easy to open a can of worms, but it's hard to put them back in."

Answer 3

Be careful what you do. You will have to get permits before you do anything. No use getting into building code violations before you sell it. Check with a local contractor and see what they have to say about it. They can give you an estimate on the cost, and maybe some other options.