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What Product Should Be Used Between Wood Deck Sleepers & a PVC Roof?

Installing a wood deck over a polyvinyl-chloride or PVC roof can prove to be a fairly challenging task. Wood sleepers are usually required to provide some separation between the PVC roof and the wood decking material. These sleepers are generally 2-by-4-inch boards laid on their short sides so they are perpendicular to the surface they are sitting on. When installing a wood deck over a PVC roof, these 2-by-4 sleepers will provide a sufficient gap between the surfaces.
  1. Waterproofing

    • The product to install between PVC roofing material and wood deck sleepers is one that will provide your roof with significant strength and protection from the elements. Even though you will be installing a wood deck over the roof, the spaces between the decking will allow water to get through to the roof below. Rubber roofing or ethylene propylene diene monomer, commonly known as EPDM, is often used on non-asphalt roofs to provide a layer of protection from the elements.

    Installation

    • The installation of EPDM roofing material is a fairly basic and simple process that even the novice do-it-yourself aficionado can complete. The process is simplified on a flat roof surface, since you will not necessarily have to worry about footing issues and the possibility of accidentally tearing the material off once you've installed it. EPDM material comes in sheets that you can lay out on the roof. These sheets generally have an adhesive backing or require that you use a roller to apply adhesive to the roof beforehand.

    Sleeper Installation

    • Installation of sleepers over the sealant requires careful consideration and planning. For instance, it is important to carefully set the sleepers in place in such a way that they will not interfere with the roof's water flow. If the sleepers cause the water to gather in one place, this could eventually damage the roof. The sleepers should not put undue stress on the roofing materials either. Perhaps the most difficult part of the installation process is securing the sleepers in place. They must be secure enough to hold the decking in place but must also be properly sealed to ensure that no leakage occurs.

    Options

    • Although it is possible to install other materials besides EPDM under roof decking, EPDM is a widely popular product because of its known durability, according to Inspectapedia. EPDM also tends to be able to withstand a variety of climates and can withstand much of the contraction and stretching that occurs between hot and cold temperatures. Though other options may exist, EPDM is generally considered to be the standard material used between wood sleepers and PVC roofing.