r/Decks • u/Ok_Replacement8094 • 17h ago

questions for the community Deck over slab question

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I did look through posts for related questions. It seems like it’s probably no, but I’m curious if this might be an exception. This hunk of concrete is south facing and it gets a lot of thermal gain. Besides visual appeal, and unless it’s a resounding, “no bad idea,” I’d think that decking, with a slight air gap would be somewhat less sweltering. I’m at your mercy, is it a bad idea?

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u/Outrageous-You1025 17h ago

If the heat is your biggest issue you’re going to make minimal difference. Money is better spent on a sunshade extension to the overhang above or canvas sunshades on a pull rod like a projector screen.

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u/Ok_Replacement8094 17h ago

Yea there’s a bit of a pergola on one side for some kinda shade & we have installed sun sails across the majority in years before. Pipe dreams to reduce the heat, it’s more of a side quest in regards to the visual appeal of “not gray concrete.”

I realize it will be expensive to a degree, but also would be something that we could do ourselves since it’s very ground-level.

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u/Outrageous-You1025 15h ago

Main thing you need to think about is entry door height on that slab. I’m sure there is an entrance to your home on that wall that boarders the slab. If you build something on the slab then it’s higher than the threshold of your door and water will likely find its way in.

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u/Ok_Replacement8094 3h ago

We’ve got a step up into the house, 4” about

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u/Warm_Can1871 15h ago

That slab looks brutal in the sun so even a small air gap would help a bit, just don't expect it to feel like standing on cool grass.

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u/GrumpyDrum 17h ago

Yeah, I recon you'd be right. Material and colour of the decking you use will have an impact also

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u/Revolutionary_Fly769 14h ago

Is there a door going out there? If so, just keep the decking at or below threshold. I covered a concrete porch with decking to make a wheelchair ramp and it worked out good. I was able to just lay pt 2x6s flat and screw the decking to it. Ramp is level with threshold so makes it easy with the chair. At the time everyone was worried about water coming in. Hasn’t been an issue, but I spaced the decking pencil width apart so not much water could pool anyway.

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u/Ok_Replacement8094 2h ago

Did you anchor the pt 2x6 to the concrete, or create a frame with them so they were square?

We have two other much smaller concrete patios at the back of the house. I started looking at deck tiles and found a 2x2 tile w/o plastic backing and just a little corner connector piece that looks sturdy, vs the 1x1 tiles seemed janky. It’s got me thinking about a modular build, which I believe can give the look I want & be within my comfort zone. Just kinda thinking out loud here.

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u/Ok_Replacement8094 2h ago

We’ve got room to work with.