Alternative decking material for balconies?

[xaqman]

Hello!

I am having a house built, and have been told by the building inspector that my balconies, which were to have had typical deck floors, will have to have some kind of solid surface floor to keep rainwater from reaching the tops of the two large glue-lams that hold the balconies up.

There is a picture of what the completed house will look like at this link:

http://www.homeplans.com/main.asp?sec=homeplans&action=plandetail&hspos=hsnet&hsgv=1&sessionid={1E26C456-37A4-4ABE-892F-B9F3C587909E}&view=main&planid=11982

There is an identical balcony off the back of the house.

I put this post in this forum, because I remember seeing some brochures for some kind of flooring/patio material that may have been concrete based. Is that vague enough? The question I have is, "What are the possibilities?" Thanks for any thoughts.

By the way, the plans called for the glue-lams to be painted and have a metal flashing on the top for the full length, which I thought would be fine, but...we don't disagree with the inspector, now do we...!!

Also, house at its present point is at this link:

http://users.easystreet.com/zacher/House%20Jan%2004.jpg

The pic is large so be patient. Also, house is in Oregon (mucho rain).

Thanks again!

[Rich]

Huh.. I'd fight the inspector on it myself because I think he's full of crap. Metal flashing with a modified drip edge would be more protected than just about any fascia board I've ever seen.
Anyway.. there are several different products that could be used.
http://www.lockdry.com/
http://www.ariddek.com/
http://www.timbertech.com/
to name a few.
House is looking good - other than it looks like it's been in the weather for a while. Understandable in that climate though.

[xaqman]

I think the builder already went to two inspectors at the county to try to find some leeway on this issue, with no luck. We were planning to use a Trex-type product, but the gaps in the decking (allowing water through onto the tops of the glue-lams, flashed or not) was not acceptable to the county because the exposed glue-lams are technically supposed to be pressure treated anyway. The glue-lams aren't PT because they run right through the middle of the house, and are an exposed, decorative element inside.

That aluminum looks ok, I guess, but I sure think it will look ugly as sin from down below, which will be easily visible. What about flagstones in concrete in some kind of 'pan'? I know the glue-lams and associated posts can carry the load, but is that even practical? I swear I have seen stone patios 'up in the air' before, and I think that would satisfy the county. The bummer is that the balconies were designed with traditional decking, in part, to allow a little light to pass through, which we won't have now, no matter what we do.

Thanks a bunch for the links, though, since I had no idea where to go!

Zach

[Rich]

You mentioned pan.. didn't even think of that. If you can get a ledge or some sorts you can use corrugated metal deck and pour a little 3" concrete pad there. Then put whatever you like over it.
The metal deck is more like delta rib roofing but much stronger. It can cantilever a ways also.