Heated Decks: A Look at the Options

heateddeckLooking to heat your deck? You aren’t alone. We receive many calls seeking the best snow melting solution for many types of decks. From clearing an entire surface to providing a path to a barbecue or hot tub, snow melting systems create year round access.

Let’s take a look at some of the best deck heating solutions and approaches.

Concrete, Stone and Paver Surfaces.

For concrete decks, snow melting cables can be embedded in the concrete just as they would in a sidewalk or driveway.

For stone or paver decks, the cable can be embedded in the mortar used in the installation of the stone or pavers. This provides effective heat with minimal buildup. Stone and paver surfaces benefit significantly from radiant heat as they are protected from shovels and snow melting chemicals.

Wood and Composite Decking

Open air wood and composite decks are tricky to heat. With no way to embed the cable in a heat sink, many systems would be ineffective at snow melting.

The best solution for these decks are portable heating mats. Our Radiant Trak mats come in a variety of sizes and designs and can be plugged in and used anywhere.

Roof Decks

When your deck is over a heated living space, you have the same options as above for snow melting, but there are other items to consider. If an open wood or composite deck has melted snow and ice running down and onto the roof beneath, you can end up with damaging ice build up.

We recommend installing a deicing system on the roof below to allow this melted snow and ice to continue to flow off of the roof. In addition to our under roof deicing systems we also offer an excellent self regulating cable which can be installed over the roofing material to provide a path for melted snow to run off the roof.

Pedestal Pavers

For roof decks and other areas using pedestal paver systems, we are pleased to offer the latest innovation in deicing and snow melting. The Pedestal Paver Snow Melting System allows our Hott-Wire MI cables to be installed directly beneath pedestal pavers for snow melting and improved drainage. This system is customized for each project and provides an excellent solution for year round use of pedestal paver deck areas.

Sun or snow we want you to be able to use and enjoy your deck. Have a unique challenge or situation? Call us! We have designed many customized solutions for deck deicing and snow melt. We would love to look at your project.

 

Roof Deicing for your Design-Build Project
How do Self-Regulating Cables Work?