“How Can I Make Shelter Under My Deck?”

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Question: What’s the best way to create rain-proof shelter under the floor of a second storey deck? I want to use the space for BBQing and entertaining.

Answer: Raised decks can offer excellent shelter, especially if the floor above is made so it can shed rain and melting snow. As long as your deck is high enough off the ground, it can be configured to shed rain and offer some useful shelter.

Factory finished metal roofing, installed on the underside of the 2nd floor deck joists, does a great job with this. To create the necessary outward slope on the metal you’ll need to cut tapered wooden strips to go on the underside of the floor joists, sloping outwards.

Fasten the roofing metal to the underside of these tapered strips using roofing screws, and the water will run down and out past the deck area. You can get roofing metal cut to any length you want. Building supply outlets can bring in whatever you specify, so you can get a nice fit underneath your deck with no need for cutting.

If your deck is tall enough (like your second storey deck), you’ll be able to stand underneath for grilling. But even when spaces are too low for standing, as with most first storey decks) there may still useable space under there for yard equipment, firewood, and whatever else you’d like to get out of the rain and sun.

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