I am looking to build a hurricane resistant home with a flat concrete roof. I would like the roof to be able to serve as a patio and outdoor living area as well as support a rooftop garden. I have talked to numerous architects and builders. No one in this area of Florida seems to have any expertise or confidence in this concept. I have some tentative designs that include a trellis structure for solar panels and an arbor. If anyone can help in this regard, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks and Happy Memorial Day weekend

Because of the potential weight issues of the term "rooftop garden" talk to a structural engineer who works with reinforced concrete design. Probably a commercial based engineer!

Dino,

I have done several concrete roofs and floors. I feel that your concept is not a new one and can be achieved without a lot of fuss. Jim is right you will need an engineer that is used to working with concrete and who understands and trusts its capabilities. I am currently preparing to build two homes with concrete roofs and just finished one. The current home used a composite rebar and sheet metal girder system with a metal pan decking. One of the future homes is using a bar joist system and the other is using a cast-in-place ICF pan deck system. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

The best answer I think for you is go out and interview as many engineers and engineering firms as possible. You need to find a good fit for your project. Just because an engineer does residential, commercial, civil, bridges, or whatever does not make them the best for your job. By finding the best fit you will save time, money, and heart ache. I have an engineer who I use almost exclusively when it comes to anything with concrete that has any complexity what so ever. He's not cheap but he delivers a sound concept and usually simple solutions to difficult concrete issues. Plus a big bonus is that I can call him almost 24/7 and remedy any field issues that may arise... this is invaluable.

Build a team. A designer who will design what you want not what they think you need. An engineer who is versed in type and design of the building you are constructing, and last but not least get a quality ICF construction professional in your corner to guide you through the process and help the designer and engineer. Take what sales people say with a grain of salt. Don't get sold on a system before thoroughly investigating their claims with examples of end products, lists of builders that have had success and failure with the product, and endusers. If they don't provide the info, I say, "Don't walk away...run."

ICF Contractor

We do custom design and build in Florida. Your project is not that difficult unless you have spans over 28 feet.
Where do you want to build? Do you have a lot? Do you have a floor plan?
Drop me a line at [email protected]
Regards,
Joe

This should be quite simple unless you have very long spans.

 We use the engineering firm Truman P. Young & Associates  (513-861-5655)
They only engineer concrete structures you will want to talk to Mike Schulti.

Eldon Howe

dino
if you email me i'd be happy to connect you with our network of independent structural engineers who can design your project. we are doing several berm homes as we speak, and have done coastal icf construction on pilings for the past 12 years.
peter
[email protected]
[email protected]

Thanks for the help. I met with a structural engineer today. After going down multiple dead ends with a few architects and more recently being defrauded by a pseudo-architect/builder (FL west coast), it looks like I may be on the right track. Once again, thanks. This is a very helpful forum.

Hi Dino88:

Congratulations!

What beautiful plans for your dream home ... energy efficient construction, flat concrete roof which will do multiple duty as a patio and terrace garden, and will sport a trellis for solar panels, ...

Marvellous ... please do tell us more details as they develop and keep us posted with the progress on your dream home project.