Wondering how the damage to your rooftop deck got out of hand so quickly and what it will take to fix it? Are you shocked by the expensive repair costs and want to understand why a repair can cost almost as much as installing a new rooftop deck?
If you’re asking these questions, you’re not alone, especially here in the Seattle area, where constant rain and poor installations have led to more than a few leaking rooftop decks.
What looks like a minor leak or soft spot is often a sign of deeper issues like rot, mold, or improper waterproofing, and those problems don’t come cheap.
At RoofSmart, we’ve installed and repaired over 30 rooftop decks that were built without proper waterproofing or insulation. We’ve seen firsthand how one missed detail — like an unsealed doorframe or a poorly sloped roof — can lead to tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
I’m joined by Chris Koenig, a member of RoofSmart’s sales team, in this article to give an overview of what you can expect to pay when getting your rooftop deck repaired.
In this article, we’ll break down the real cost of rooftop deck repairs — from small surface patches to structural rebuilds — and help you understand the biggest factors that drive up the price.
That way, you can prepare financially, avoid surprise costs, and know what questions to ask before any work begins.
How much does it typically cost to repair a rooftop deck?
There is a big difference in the cost of a rooftop deck repair depending on what type of repair you need. For a minor patch job on the surface of your roof deck, you might pay around $1,000.
However, most rooftop deck issues happen below the surface and require a lot more labor to fix. In these cases, it is not uncommon for a repair on a Seattle area rooftop deck to cost $30,000 to $50,000.
In some cases, the repair might be lower than this (closer to the $15,000 to $20,000 range), but it all depends on the type of repair you need and how much work needs to be done.
A big part of the cost of installing a rooftop deck in the Seattle area is the prep work that happens to prevent leaks or other issues. So, if that doesn’t happen, you’ll end up paying for it when your rooftop deck inevitably needs a repair.
And keep in mind that Seattle’s high cost of living means labor costs in this area are higher than in other places. This means that estimates for rooftop deck repair costs in Seattle are usually higher than national averages.
What are the different types of repairs a rooftop deck might need?
Chris emphasizes that rooftop decks in the Greater Seattle area have the potential to leak (if they weren’t waterproofed properly) due to the excessive rainfall.
Water can pool up or splash around and make its way into an unsealed entry point, creating a leak that will quickly turn into thousands of dollars in damage.
According to Chris, here are the main repairs we have seen that are caused by leaks:
- Rotting Doorframe:
A repair we often see in the Seattle area is a rotting doorframe underneath the door that leads to your rooftop. Many roofers seem to skip the waterproofing in this area, leading to extensive rot in the door frame. Fixing this requires pulling out the door, siding, and trim to see if the frame is rotting and if it needs to be rebuilt. They’ll also check to see if the leak has spread to the siding or floor surrounding the door. They’ll replace the rotting or moldy wood and then wrap the membrane over the doorframe to protect it from standing water. - Leaky, Rotting Railing:
If your railing is leaking, your roofer will want to know if it’s wood, metal, or some other material. Metal can rust if it’s not properly coated and wooden railings can rot. In addition, leaky railing that goes into the rooftop deck might mean that the rooftop deck is also rotting. Depending on how much of the railing and deck is damaged, this can get expensive to repair because carpentry can add several thousand dollars to the overall cost. - Rotting Siding:
Sometimes, leaks in your rooftop deck can spill over and cause damage to the outer walls of your home. If you don’t catch a leak in the railing early enough, it will usually leak down to the siding of your roof and potentially cause rot and mold in the entire outer wall.
These are all the more expensive issues that cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair. However, if you have a walkable membrane on your roof, it can potentially be damaged if you drop something or scrape it.
Fixing a small piece of the membrane is a much easier and cheaper process than the other issues you might run into with a rooftop deck, usually costing around $1,000.
Holes can be patched by placing a little piece of walkable membrane around them. If you want the patch to be better hidden, you can have your roofer install an entire strip of membrane and then tuck it under the existing membrane. This looks better, but it costs more.
As long as the membrane is in good shape, you can do this type of repair. However, if your rooftop deck is old and the material is brittle, it might make the repair difficult or impossible. You might need to replace the whole rooftop deck instead.
What are the factors that impact rooftop deck repairs?
When it comes to rooftop deck repairs, there are some key factors that you should consider to help you estimate the cost of the repair.
- How big is your rooftop deck? If your rooftop deck is really small (or if it’s more of a balcony off of a bedroom), then that might decrease your costs significantly.
- Is your property easy to access? When working on a rooftop deck, there is already the added task of setting up scaffolding, but this becomes more difficult if your home is on a hill or if there are trees (or other plants) surrounding your home. If your rooftop is difficult to access, that will add time and labor costs to the project.
- How much damage is there? Unfortunately, a lot of times with rooftop decks, leaks run rampant, and the damage can spread all over without you even realizing it until many years later. So, the more damage your roofer uncovers while repairing your rooftop deck, the more it’s going to cost to fix it.
- Does your home have custom design work? We have worked on some homes in the Seattle area with custom detailing. If you want your roofer to be careful about preserving custom details on your home, that will require more labor and expertise because there are many different variables to consider. It’s important to make sure that the new rooftop deck matches the aesthetic of your home, but also that every piece is properly sealed and fits together.
How can I find a qualified contractor to repair my rooftop deck?
By now, you know rooftop deck repairs can range from a quick $1,000 patch job to a $50,000 structural overhaul — and that kind of cost difference usually comes down to how well the deck was installed in the first place.
We’ve seen it all at RoofSmart: rotting doorframes, hidden leaks, mold behind siding — and in almost every case, the damage could have been avoided with better workmanship and waterproofing from day one.
If you’re staring down a rooftop deck repair, you’re probably asking: “How do I make sure this never happens again?”. The answer starts with hiring the right contractor.
That’s why we put together our Qualified Roofer Checklist — a simple, powerful (and free!) tool that helps you vet contractors before they ever touch your roof.
