How to Brace a Deck Roof

Check into your local building codes before you begin to build the roof. Some areas require you to have a qualified engineer to approve your plans before they will give you a building permit.

Determine the location to attach the roof to the house. Take into account the necessary slope you will need to ensure your roof can handle snow and provides proper runoff.

Find the trusses located in the attic when you’re dealing with a sloped roof or the interior wall studs to support the ledger board. Mark the locations with chalk.

Remove the siding from the exterior of the home. Measure the distance from the floor of the deck to the predetermined height. Use chalk to mark a line there for the bottom of the ledger board.

Slide 2 inches of the metal flashing up underneath the siding above the place you will install the ledger board.

Drill pilot holes in the ledger board where each stud is located on the house. Drill two holes for each stud.

Insert a lag bolt at one end of the ledger board and secure it in place with a ratchet wrench. Secure a bolt on the other end. Alternate each end until you install the bolts in each stud or truss.

Bend the metal flashing over the top of the ledger board. This metal flashing protects the home and deck from water damage. Caulk around the edges to further waterproof the area.

Measure the spot for your 6-by-6-inch roof support posts according to the determined slope. Cut out the area in the deck to insert the posts.

Dig an 18-inch deep hole directly below the cutouts. Insert the concrete forms.

Fill the holes with concrete. Insert the metal post anchors into the wet concrete. Let the concrete cure for 48 hours.

Set the roof support posts in the metal post anchors and secure them with the 10-inch bolts, nuts and washers.