When designing your new rooftop deck or patio, it can be easy to get caught up in the paving tiles and landscape design, forgetting about the structural components that make any outdoor deck possible.

This is understandable, as the porcelain deck pavers you choose will be all the customer or tenant sees when visiting your property. However, failing to choose the right support system can leave you with design and functionality flaws that will cost you in the long run.

Before installing your new rooftop turf or Cool Roof pavers, make sure that you assess these three key features of an effective adjustable pedestal system to guarantee that your roof deck will stand the test of time.

1. Strong & load bearing

Virtually all hybrid adjustable pedestals on the market will claim to be strong, but you should do your due diligence to make sure that’s true. Strong pedestals are necessary for easy installation of concrete or porcelain outdoor tiles, and they’ll ensure that those deck pavers can hold up to the weight of furniture, foot traffic and other loads.

Ask the manufacturer of your roof pedestals for the results of their compression or load tests. All reputable manufacturers or suppliers will extensively test their products with a series of compression tests to ensure that they’re strong and load-bearing. At Tile Tech, we post all specs and test results on our website to ensure transparency.

2. Spacer tabs

Even and consistent spacing is crucial for any tile installation, indoor or outdoor. With porcelain outdoor tiles, you want to choose an adjustable pedestal system that includes spacer tabs for uniform separation.

Tile Tech’s adjustable pedestal system includes a ¼” spacer option and a 1/16” spacer option, so you can achieve the look you have in mind. Spacer tabs aren’t just for aesthetic appeal; they also offer practical benefits like improved drainage and easier under-tile access for maintenance.

3. Slope correction

Another crucial function of an effective adjustable pedestal system is slope correction. It’s very rare to have a perfectly level base to work with when installing porcelain deck tiles. Even if you’re creating a roof deck, your roof is likely to have minor slopes and dips, resulting in an uneven roof deck without slope correction in place.

Whether you’re creating a rooftop deck or building a patio over hilly terrain, your adjustable pedestals should include slope correctors that can easily achieve a level terrace as well as a slight incline. Tile Tech’s roof pedestals are adjustable in height from 2.25” to 24” and have a self-leveling cap to automatically adjust slope up to 4 percent. Additional low-height caps with built-in slope compensation are also available for height ranges of 0.5” to 2.25” for ultimate flexibility.

Tile Tech has remained a leading manufacturer and distributor of adjustable pedestals for more than 20 years because we offer some of the strongest, most functional and easiest-to-use adjustable pedestals on the market. If you’d like to find out more about Tile Tech or our paving systems, including our hybrid adjustable pedestals, give us a call today at (888) 380-5575 or fill out our online contact form. We’re happy to provide a free project quote, catalog or product sample at your request.