Building a Low-Cost CLEAR Deck Roof

I built a cost-effective roof for my back porch with a modern, minimalist design and it transformed my backyard. It's like a covered pergola except it provides more than just shade. I used transparent, polycarbonate corrugated roofing panels from Tuftex. They allow about 85% of the sunlight through, offer ultraviolet protection, shelter from the weather, especially snow, and are water proof. (This video was not sponsored by any of the suppliers mentioned.) Home renovation.

Here's a link to the polycarbonate roofing material:

Here's a link to the gutter build project I added to this roof after I realized the drainage sucked:

[stever.]

I liked many things about this video:
1. You did the work yourself.
2. You selected a great product.
3. You paid your friend for helping you.
4. You were meticulous.
5. Your wife helped you.
6. You beautified your home.
Awesome!

[jessegee]

Well done. We’ve decided to go with single thicker panels, after the double layer went green/brown inside. I think the double panels are more for insulation on a greenhouse, don’t need that on an open air structure. We have built a side panel too, to keep the prevailing weather and side gusts out, because it only stayed dry underneath when the rain was gently falling straight down on a calm day.

[jonphanspromotions]

First off, your video is very fun to watch. I can see the humor in you. I like how you make everything in detail for us to follow and entertained at the same time. By far, one of the best video about patio. Looks your living an American dream. You got a nice house, beautiful wife and a love patio. Well done brother.

[hendrikvandermerwe]

I would like to get an update on the roofing. I installed a poly-carb gazebo just over a year ago and after the first light (and I mean light) hailstorm we had in Texas, it was full of small holes! Then after the second and third bit of hail, it looks horrible. Our roof looks like someone shot at it from a distance with a 12bore shotgun - tons of little holes, smaller than the size of a pea! Only the top layer's shot, not leaking yet, but I did conclude that buying a polycarbonate (honeycomb like you have on) was the dumbest thing I did. Hope your's is holding up well. Yours looks great - good job.

[ritareilly]

I like the idea of the clear roof because you can grow plants on your patio, especially certain garden vegetables. The cottage type roof is attractive (I can’t recall what type you said it was).
Thank you for making this video!!! It was very helpful!❤

[eschamion]

Looks great. As items settle the fasteners on top will have a wear pattern and water may leak in from the top. You can prevent this by "capping" the screws with a clear sealant. That's the method we use on the aircraft. You can get a large washer, place it around the fastener and inject sealant on the fastener head and around its base. Once injected you can remove the washer and proceed. Kudos on your wood filter job 👏 👌

[mosart]

Glad I found this! We just built a deck. We planned for a roofed section so the 4 x 6 posts are already in place. We have a ranch with a hipped roof so we are going above it, but not tied into the house... so no permit needed. We want to use the clear or translucent stuff like you did, so this will really help.

[lulzychan]

Dang I feel like finding this video was like finding gold. You did a great job not only on the build itself, but with the scripting, editing, and the bits of humor you threw in too. I watch so many other DIY videos that bore me to death and I have to skip around endlessly to get to a good part. Your whole video is entertaining. Definitely subscribing!

[mirandamasawiestewa]

I told my husband see it only took him an hour to finish 😂. It looks so easy when you watch a video. Then the work starts, its like, he didn't show this hard part of it. Lol we're getting there. Hopefully ours comes out as pretty as yours.

[gibsalisbury]

Wait till you get a bit of hail. Our green house uses 3/8 inch polycarbonate and the first hail we got holes.

[danielcalderon]

I like that you included the prices VERY convenient and the link to where you got the materials. Looking forward to your privacy screen video!

[zoisbasis]

Hey man, you did a fine job building this rooftop. Content excellent with details, almost perfect. Well done sir, I am looking myself for something like this for my home. 👏👏👏

[agapeful]

Impressive. Inspired. By watching this video I gained a lot more diy knowledge. Thanks for sharing.

[sondramcguire]

I love your tone! I can’t put my finger on it but it sounds like something I’d hear on tv 😂

[cbrSpeedster]

Great design and looks nice. I built mine with a metal roof because I wanted the shade... thanks for the video....

[brandonff]

Thanks for sharing Blake! I recently poured a 16x32 concrete patio with 14 x 16 footings to accept the posts for my patio roof. This was exactly what I was looking for.

[lindalealphamale]

Well made video. Good channel. I will advise viewers that I did a similar project a few years ago. Ripped it out two years later. Collected pollen, sap, leaves, twigs, bird shit… it was always dirty even a few days after cleaning it. You look up and see nothing but grime and it demoralizes you.

[rrsveyv]

Enjoyed watching you build that terrific roof. You did a good job. I do think the back of your house would look better with a bigger deck area, though that small window might be a problem. Here in Western Australia we tend to have large decks as the warm, dry climate means we're outside alot. So I liked your choice of roofing product, keeping the UV rays out is a must. I will be watching moreof your videos.

[jdogdotme]

This is a really entertaining video!! I find myself bored with a lot of home renovation videos that are recommended to me but it’s nice to know there are still people on social media willing to show this type of work and joke about it like you can. Keep going w this!

[alanbaird]

A trick is to add silicon to the bolt as you fix the roof panels, it prevents leaks.