Thinking about a rooftop deck over our flat garage, has anyone used Tile Tech?

I’ve done a few of these pedestal installs and they're ussually the best way to go for a flat roof, but don't just take the previous owner's word for it on the load capacity. Concrete is incredibly heavy, and adding a few thousand pounds of pavers plus furniture and people is alot of stress. Spend the money on a **structural engineer** to verify the slab thickness and reinforcement before you order materials. It’s a small price for peace of mind.

The Tile Tech system or similar adjustable pedestals solve the biggest headache with roof decks: drainage. Since the pavers sit on those riser legs, water just runs through the open joints and follows the natural pitch of your roof to the drains. You don't get the standing water or rot issues you'd see with a traditional wood frame sitting directly on the slab. Just make sure your concrete is properly waterproofed first. If it's bare concrete right now, you should probably apply a high-quality liquid membrane or a TPO layer so you aren't dealing with seepage into the garage later.

As for shifting, these things are surprisingly stable once the perimeter is locked in. If you have a parapet wall or some kind of edge restraint, the pavers won't budge. They're heavy enough that gravity does most of the work. Use a laser level to get your heights perfect on the pedestals, or it'll feel weird underfoot. The best part is that if you ever do get a leak, you just pop up a few tiles with a suction lifter, fix the spot, and drop them back in. You can't do that with a timber deck without a chainsaw and a lot of swearing.

Weight-wise, 2cm porcelain pavers are usually lighter than thick concrete pavers or natural stone, so they're often the go-to for roof applications. They also don't absorb heat as much as dark concrete, wich is a big plus when the summer sun hits that garage. Just keep an eye on your heights near the door threshold so you don't end up with a trip hazard or a spot where rain can splash back into the house.

That's a relief about the stability, but I'm curious about the gap underneath. Does alot of debris or gunk build up under the tiles over time? I'm worried about leaves or dirt getting trapped and clogging the drains since I can't exactly get a broom under there without pulling up the whole floor. Also, you mentioned porcelain stays cooler. Is it actualy comfortable to walk on barefoot in July? My garage roof is basially a giant solar oven right now, so heat is my biggest concern if we're going to be hanging out there with the kids.

If you have big trees nearby, you’ll defintely get some silt and small leaves under the pavers. usally, a high-pressure garden hose flushes most of it toward the drains without needing to lift anything. As for the heat, porcelain is a lifesaver. It doesn't hold thermal mass like thick concrete, so it stays much more comfortable underfoot even in the peak of July. One thing to watch for is wind uplift if your garage is in an exposed spot. Since the pavers aren't mortared down, a nasty storm can create lift. Look into locking perimeter clips if you get high winds in your area to keep everythign seated.

Yeah, watch the wind for sure. If you're in a gusty area, light porcelain can acutally lift during a storm. You might need wind-lock clips or just go with a heavier concrete paver. Another thing people forget is the railing height. If you raise that floor 4 or 5 inches with pedestals, your existing wall or railing might not be up to code anymore. It's a total pain to have to rebuild a railing becuase you lost height to the pavers. Measure twice before you commit to the pedestal height so you aren't stuck with a safety issue.