Tahoe City Roof Deck Conversion & Refinish

The investigation phase lifted deck boards at three targeted areas: the southeast corner over the garage at one drain, the junction near the front door at the second drain, and a mid-deck control spot. Both deck drains were flow-tested, the under-board waterproofing membrane was inspected and photo-documented at each lift, and deck slope was checked on all three sections to confirm fall away from the structure.

For the construction phase, the entry, garage frontage, and landscaping below the work area were protected, and the waterproofing membrane and drainage path were protected throughout. Roughly 308 square feet of mahogany decking was removed from the garage section, about 28 feet by 11 feet, with membrane protection as the governing priority on every board. The salvaged mahogany was stacked on site and stayed with the owner rather than going to the dump.

Pressure treated blocking was installed to and between the existing sleepers at the return before the walkway, and a breaker board was set at the transition between the new section and the mahogany that was staying. TimberTech Advanced PVC decking in Vintage Collection Mahogany was then installed over the existing pressure treated sleepers and face fastened with TimberTech's color matched plug system. Fastener length was verified against sleeper height before installation, so that no fastener could reach the roofing membrane below.

Removable framed vent panels were built and installed between the posts, above the hidden gutter at the end of the sleepers, running roughly 28 linear feet. The panels give continuous airflow under the deck boards and over the garage, and they come off with corrosion resistant fasteners when the gutter needs cleaning or inspection. Because the home sits in a Very High Fire Severity Zone, the vent openings use an ember rated, Cal Fire listed product rather than plain screen mesh.

The remaining mahogany decking and stairs were pressure washed and cleaned, fasteners were countersunk as needed, debris was cleared from the board gaps, and the boards were sanded with belt and orbital sanders to take out the cupping and discoloration. A hardwood stain and sealer were applied to the sanded decking and stairs. The hot tub stayed in place for the duration of that work.