It's quite a puzzle to figure out which materials are best for your rooftop deck — the advantages of one product over another, price comparisons, colors, textures, ease of installation, durability, and such. Shopping the market takes time and diligence and it can be hard to find reliable answers — or to even know if you're asking the right questions.

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Materials for a rooftop deck can be separated into two types. First is the visible surface paver material, the selection of which involves consideration of aesthetic design, functional performance, and cost. There are a handful of material options and many design options to choose from. Calculating paver or deck tile counts is relatively easy.

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Beneath the walking surface is the assembly of pedestal components and accessories that elevate and support the deck. These materials are purely structural and the entire assembly consists of hundreds or thousands of pieces that are tailored and custom-fit for each deck. The assembly must be calculated to match the particular conditions of each rooftop and accuracy is critical to a successful, uninterrupted installation. 

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Some pedestal manufacturers assist with such calculations, but commonly are unable to achieve sufficient accuracy. This results in work stoppages (as additional materials are purchased and shipped) or substandard workarounds to keep the project moving ahead. Excessive quantities of leftover pedestal components are common and wasteful.