Rooftop Deck Delight, Chicago
Retrofit Team
General Contractor: BoBo Construction
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.
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.
Steel Deck Framing System: Evolution from Fortress Building Products
Custom Steel Pergola: Fortress Building Products
sought-after home amenity for city dwellers.
The Retrofit
Chicago resident Marie Delgavio owns an industrial-style loft in the heart of the city’s West Loop neighborhood. What sets her residence apart from others on the block is its private rooftop, which is a “highly sought-after home amenity for city dwellers like me,” Delgavio says. While incredible even in its bare form, Delgavio saw her underutilized rooftop as an opportunity to design a functional and inviting outdoor living space where she could relax, entertain, cook and tend to her container garden.
Elevating the functionality and overall feel of the rooftop deck, Edison-style string lights run along the perimeter of the pergola, and a heater hangs directly over the outdoor kitchen and dining area for warmth on cooler nights. Because the uncovered steel rafters are hollow, there is a natural space to hide the electrical wires from the outdoor accessories. Delgavio finished setting the rooftop scene by arranging comfortable seating zones, and carefully tended garden containers provide pops of color and texture along the edge of the deck.
Delgavio’s rooftop deck renovation was completed in Spring 2022. Although large for a private outdoor space in the city, the deck feels intimate and comfortable, inviting friends and family to enjoy a drink with a view during Chicago’s fair-weather months. And when the space is not in use, Delgavio knows the steel building products will retain their strength and appearance even after long-term exposure to Chicago’s notoriously harsh winters.
PHOTOS: Fortress Building Products
