Covered decks and pergolas in Billings
Shade turns a deck you avoid at 4 p.m. into one you use all evening. Here's what to know before adding a roof or pergola.
Billings summers are dry and bright, and on a west-facing house an open deck can be too hot to sit on until the sun drops behind the hills. A pergola softens the light; a solid roof blocks it and keeps rain and snow off the boards too.
Pergola or solid roof?
- Pergola. An open frame of beams and rafters that throws partial shade. Lighter and simpler, but it won't keep rain off. Some use louvers or shade fabric.
- Solid roof. Tied into the house or standing on its own posts, with shingles or metal on top. Full shade and weather cover, but it's real roof construction that has to carry snow and resist wind.
What snow and wind loads apply?
The City of Billings design criteria set a minimum roof snow load of 30 pounds per square foot, with 33 psf used when figuring drifting and unbalanced snow, and a 110 mph design wind speed for houses. A deck roof tucked under a taller house roof can collect drifts. All that weight travels down the posts to the footings, so a covered deck usually needs larger posts and footings than an open one.
Can a roof go over my existing deck?
Sometimes, but most decks weren't built to hold one. A builder will check whether your footings and framing can take the new load or whether new posts and footings are needed. If you're building a new deck and think you'll want a roof someday, have the footings sized for it now.
Hail and roofing material
Hail is a regular summer event in Yellowstone County. When choosing a roof surface for a covered deck, ask how it handles impact, and whether it matches or complements the main roof.
Permits
In Billings, a deck roof is part of a deck project that already needs a building permit, and it adds structural review. Outside city limits, check with Yellowstone County Planning about zoning before you build.
Screening it in
Once there's a roof, some owners add screens to keep bugs out on summer evenings. That changes the design, so mention it early.
Pricing comes from the builder after they've walked the site, measured, and talked through materials and layout with you. We don't quote prices, and any figure you hear over the phone before a visit is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Does a pergola need a permit in Billings?
It depends on the size, whether it's attached, and whether it has a solid roof. Ask the City of Billings Building Division or your builder before you start.
Will a deck roof handle Billings snow?
It has to be designed for the city's snow load. Ask the builder what load the design uses and how the posts and footings are sized.
Related services
More background: Billings deck guide.
Hail-beaten boards, a shaky railing, or a deck you keep meaning to build?
Call now and an independent deck builder who works in Billings will help you figure out the next step.