Expert: Nazim Nice - 4/3/2011

Question
I am wanting to cover a 16 x 16 deck with a roof that will be supported by I-beams but am concerned about how to place them for maximum load bearing.  This roof will only have a pitch of about 2 inches.  Thank you for your input

Answer
Hi Bruce,

I would suggest you contact a structural engineer and work with him or her. There are a lot of issues to consider. Here are a few. While the roof may be supported by I-beams, those beams need to be supported by posts, and then an appropriate foundation. Spanning between the I-beams will likely be joists (perhaps wood?). You'll need a good detail to figure out how to join the wood to the steel. Or maybe you could use a steel decking to span between I-beams that are more closely spaced. It depends on the aesthetic you are after (steel is usually more of an industrial/commercial aesthetic). You could likely build the entire structure out of wood and it may be easier for you, and easier to attach beams to joists and other structural members.  A low slope roof should usually be sloped at 1/4" per foot, so a pitch of 2" would be okay if there is a ridge in the center and each side slopes down 2" across 8'. You can get roof membranes made of materials like PVC that are permitted in low slope or no slope situations if you want to only slope it 2" over the 16' length.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
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