INSIDE OUTSIDE rehab PHOTOS: Fortress Building Products
Rooftop Deck Delight, Chicago Retrofit Team General Contractor: BoBo Construction, bobo-construction.com
Materials
A 1,000-square-foot steel deck frame was built directly on top of the existing roof and features a custom steel pergola. The steel deck framing system received a Class A fire rating through Intertek, an independent product testing and certification company. Chicago’s Building Code Modernization Ordinance, which the city passed in 2019, dictated the deck design and construction process. The modernization of Chicago’s construction codes focused on several significant areas, including fire and life safety, building materials and the rehabilitation of existing buildings. Most pertinent to this rooftop deck renovation were the code revisions requiring fire-resistive building materials and methods. 24 RETROFIThome // Fall 2024
In addition to its fire-resistive properties, the steel framing system will not deteriorate after long-term exposure to moisture and warp as a result of extreme temperature changes. In application, the steel-frame profiles will remain straight and true over time. This makes for an enduring, dimensionally stable deck framing solution that keeps the surface material flat and smooth underfoot. In this instance, the project team installed a 1/4-inch underlayment material on top of the frame and then put down large contemporary stone pavers. The project team capitalized on the sleek look of the deck system by using the steel profiles to design a custom rooftop pergola. The modern steel pergola gives definition to the rooftop deck, transforming the space into an open-air living room tucked underneath the Chicago skyline. Like its deck framing counterpart, the steel pergola will avoid issues associated with moisture absorption.