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Waterproofing beneath paver pedestals is a coordinated roof- or plaza-deck assembly, not a pedestal-only detail. Adjustable supports can keep pavers level while the deck slopes to drains, but the membrane, protection layer, drainage path, edge flashing and paver layout must be designed together. At walls, parapets and curbs, preserve the required joint and a deliberate separation from flashing; under every pedestal, use the protection course or bearing pad approved for the membrane system. The exact build-up, adjustment range and load limits come from the project documents and the selected manufacturers’ instructions.
What problem do paver pedestals solve on a waterproofed deck?
A sloped deck is necessary for drainage, yet occupants expect a flat, walkable paver surface. Adjustable pedestals bridge those two requirements: each support is raised or lowered to compensate for the substrate elevation at its location, while the paver tops remain on a common plane. The result is a level wearing course over a deck that still falls toward drains.
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The adjustment is not a license to ignore the deck’s geometry. Survey the actual high and low points, locate drains and penetrations, and verify that the selected pedestal can reach every design elevation. The Building Enclosure detail reports that most paver manufacturers offer systems with more than 2 inches of height adjustment, but that is a general observation rather than a specification for every product. Confirm the model’s adjustment range, accessories and approved slope with its current technical data.
Minor corrections may require shims. Use only shims and locking components approved for the pedestal system; improvised packing can tilt a support, concentrate load or create a sharp edge against the waterproofing.
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What layers belong under pedestal-supported pavers?
Think of the assembly from the structure upward. A typical detail may include:
- Structural deck: The slab or sheathing provides the designed falls, strength and attachment points for perimeter work. It must be clean, sound and within the tolerances stated by the waterproofing specification.
- Waterproofing membrane: This is the continuous water-control layer, turned up and terminated at walls, parapets, curbs, drains and penetrations according to its manufacturer’s details.
- Drainage or protection layer: A protection mat, drainage board, protection fabric or other approved layer separates traffic and point loads from the membrane while allowing water to move to outlets. The layer is selected for the membrane and the assembly, not substituted casually.
- Insulation where specified: Some plaza assemblies place rigid insulation below the supports. The Versico plaza guide, for example, describes configurations using drainage board or EPS insulation depending on deck slope and the chosen build-up. Insulation must have the compressive properties and thickness required by the design.
- Adjustable pedestals and accessories: Supports, heads, bases, shims and restraints establish the paver plane and transfer dead and anticipated live loads through the approved protection system.
- Pavers: The removable wearing course is laid in the specified pattern with open joints, perimeter clearances and any required restraints.
Because these layers interact, changing one can invalidate another. A thicker paver changes finished elevation; a different insulation board changes compression and drainage; a new membrane may require a different bearing pad. Coordinate the complete assembly in the drawings and submittals before installation.
How do you protect a waterproofing membrane from pedestal feet?
Do not assume that a pedestal base can sit directly on any membrane. In the self-adhering sheet waterproofing construction guidance cited by SYNC, supports bear on the specified protection course or on a bearing pad published as compatible by the membrane manufacturer, rather than directly on the sheet. The Roofing Contractors Association of BC (RCABC) likewise describes non-abrasive supports or proprietary pads that provide separation and leveling. These are system instructions, not a universal permission to place any plastic base on any membrane.
Obtain the membrane manufacturer’s written requirements for:
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- the approved protection board, mat or fabric and its thickness;
- the approved bearing-pad material and dimensions;
- chemical compatibility with membrane, adhesive and insulation;
- maximum point load, allowable compression and required load distribution;
- cleaning, priming and inspection before covering the membrane.
Keep the protection layer continuous where the specification requires it. Remove grit, fasteners and sharp debris that could puncture the membrane or abrade a protection sheet. If a pad is needed under a base, use the specified product and install it flat; stacking random scraps or cutting a pad so that its edge becomes a knife point defeats the separation detail.
How should drainage and airflow work below the pavers?
Open-jointed pavers let rain reach the drainage layer, where it must travel to outlets without being blocked by supports, insulation edges or perimeter sealants. RCABC guidance calls for supports that do not impede air or water flow and that distribute the paver dead load and predicted live loads uniformly. Maintain the designed channels, outlet strainers and overflow routes; do not fill the under-paver void with mortar, foam or debris.
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Pedestal height creates a ventilated cavity, but airflow is not a substitute for positive drainage. Confirm that low points, scuppers and drains remain accessible for cleaning. Where a drainage board or fabric has a direction of installation, follow it so laps and channels remain open. Protect exposed membranes during construction and remove temporary coverings before the paver course is closed.
The RCABC technical guidance states a minimum paver spacing of 3 mm (1/8 inch) and a minimum vertical separation of 12.5 mm (1/2 inch) for the accessible wearing-course condition it describes. Treat those dimensions as guidance for that context; the project specification, paver manufacturer and local code may require different joint or clearance values.
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How do you detail pavers at a wall, parapet or curb?
At a vertical transition, the edge must keep water moving, protect flashing and allow the paver field to move without abrading the wall assembly. The Building Enclosure detail keeps the transverse spacer lugs intact at the termination so the joint space continues to the edge. Do not clip lugs merely to push a paver against a wall unless the approved detail specifically calls for it.
Versico’s plaza guide also advises leaving a reasonable gap between the first paver row and wall flashing to reduce the chance that paver movement will puncture the flashing. The actual width, edge restraint, counterflashing and sealant belong to the project detail. A generic gap cannot replace the flashing designer’s termination.
Coordinate these items in an enlarged edge drawing:
- membrane turn-up height and termination bar or adhesive;
- base flashing, counterflashing and coping geometry;
- paver joint continuation and spacer-lug treatment;
- pedestal setback, edge clips or perimeter restraint;
- drainage path at the wall and any weep or scupper opening;
- movement joint location and the clearance needed to remove pavers.
At curbs and penetrations, maintain the same principles: no sharp contact, no blocked drainage and no unverified load on the flashing. If a paver must be cut, support the resulting piece as shown in the approved layout rather than leaving a small unstable fragment at the perimeter.
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What is a reliable installation sequence?
Before work starts, the installer needs the approved waterproofing and pedestal drawings, current product instructions, a verified deck survey, compatible protection materials, layout dimensions, drain locations and a plan for protecting completed work. Resolve discrepancies in writing; do not solve an elevation conflict by forcing a pedestal beyond its published range.
- Inspect the substrate. Check slope, high and low points, cracks, depressions, penetrations and edge elevations. Confirm that falls lead to functioning drains and that the deck is ready for the membrane trade.
- Install and inspect the waterproofing. Complete membrane laps, corners, upstands, drains and penetrations. Perform the inspections or tests required by the specification before covering the work.
- Place the specified protection and drainage layers. Install mats, boards, fabrics or insulation in the approved orientation, with laps and terminations that do not dam water. Keep contaminants out of drains.
- Set out the paver grid. Mark paver intersections, perimeter clearances, movement joints and access panels. The Versico guide places pedestals at paver intersection points and uses shims where necessary for stability and level.
- Install approved pads and pedestals. Position each base on the specified bearing surface. Keep bases flat, aligned and within the manufacturer’s spacing and load limits.
- Establish the reference elevation. Start at a control line or drain-related benchmark. Adjust supports so the paver tops form the required plane while the bases follow the changing substrate height.
- Check the field continuously. Use a straightedge or approved laser setup to verify level, joint width, rocking and transitions. Lock or secure adjustment components as directed; add only approved shims.
- Lay pavers and complete edges. Preserve spacer lugs and the specified wall gap. Install edge restraints, clips and cut pieces exactly as detailed, without drilling or fastening through the membrane unless the waterproofing design permits it.
- Keep access points identifiable. Record removable panels, drain locations and pedestal heights so future inspections can reach the membrane without dismantling an entire field.
Which technical criteria should be compared before selecting a system?
No single pedestal or membrane assembly is universally best. Compare the complete system against the project’s loads, elevations, pavers and warranty conditions.
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|---|---|
| Height adjustment | What is the published minimum and maximum height, and can it cover surveyed elevations without unstable extensions? |
| Paver compatibility | Are the head, lug pattern and base sized for the paver thickness, dimensions, pattern and cut pieces? |
| Load performance | What dead and predicted live loads are allowed, and how are point loads distributed through pads, insulation and the deck? |
| Membrane protection | Which protection course or bearing pad is approved, and has chemical and physical compatibility been documented? |
| Drainage and airflow | Will bases, pads, insulation edges and perimeter restraints leave the designed water and air paths open? |
| Edges and movement | How are walls, parapets, curbs, drains, movement joints and wind or seismic restraints detailed? |
| Maintenance access | Can pavers be removed safely, and are drains, expansion joints and membrane inspection zones reachable? |
| Compliance | Do the proposed products match the drawings, specifications, local requirements and membrane warranty? |
The ARCAT pedestal-paver specification is one example of the kind of installation information to review, but its provisions apply to the specified system. Use it as a submittal reference, not as a substitute for the project’s design.
What common failures occur, and how can they be prevented?
| Failure mode | Likely cause | Prevention or correction |
|---|---|---|
| Uneven paver plane | Pedestals were set to a nominal height instead of surveyed elevations. | Re-establish control lines, adjust each support within its range and use approved shims for minor corrections. |
| Membrane abrasion or puncture | Bases sat directly on an incompatible sheet, or grit remained below a pad. | Stop work, inspect the membrane and install the specified protection or bearing pad before resetting supports. |
| Standing water | Drainage channels were blocked by debris, insulation edges or sealant. | Open the flow path, clean outlets and verify the drainage layer and perimeter details. |
| Cracked or rocking pavers | Uneven support, excessive cut pieces or loads beyond the system’s rating. | Check spacing, head seating, paver condition and load data; replace damaged pieces and correct support geometry. |
| Flashing damage | Pavers were tight to the wall or edge movement was restrained incorrectly. | Restore the designed clearance, retain the joint space and repair flashing under the waterproofing designer’s direction. |
| Lost maintenance access | No removable-panel plan or record of pedestal layout was created. | Mark access zones, photograph concealed work and maintain an as-built pedestal and drain map. |
How is the finished assembly inspected and maintained?
After installation, walk the surface for rocking, lippage, inconsistent joints and blocked perimeter gaps. Confirm that drain covers can be reached and that no paver, clip or restraint bears on flashing. Check representative pedestal locations for secure adjustment and intact pads where the specification calls for verification.
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Maintenance should include removing leaves and sediment from joints and drains, checking movement joints and perimeter clearances, and lifting designated pavers to inspect the drainage and membrane zones. Replace a damaged paver with the same approved thickness and support arrangement; do not bridge a missing support with loose debris. Any leak investigation should begin with the waterproofing designer’s diagnostic plan, because water can travel laterally within protection and drainage layers.
How should the detail be documented for approval?
Submit a coordinated plan and enlarged sections showing substrate elevations, membrane terminations, protection layers, insulation, pedestal locations, paver joints, edge restraints, drains, movement joints and access panels. Include product data for the membrane, protection materials, pedestals, pads, shims and pavers, plus load and compatibility statements. The sources emphasize that manufacturer instructions and project specifications govern the actual assembly; obtain written acceptance where a proposed substitution changes a contact material, thickness or drainage path.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can adjustable pedestals be used on any sloped roof deck?
They can accommodate a designed change in substrate elevation only when the selected system’s height range, base geometry and load rating cover the surveyed deck. Verify the slope, insulation compression, wind or seismic requirements and membrane warranty before approval; a pedestal cannot correct an out-of-tolerance or structurally deficient deck.
Is a protection mat required under every pedestal base?
The required interface depends on the membrane assembly. Some specifications call for a protection course, while others permit a membrane-manufacturer-published bearing pad; direct contact is allowed only when the membrane manufacturer explicitly approves it. Follow the exact system detail rather than applying a generic pad rule.
How do I remove pavers to inspect a leak?
Use the planned access panel or lift pavers methodically so spacer lugs, clips and pads are not damaged. Mark each piece, keep debris out of open joints and expose only the area needed for the diagnostic plan; record any displaced pedestal before reassembly.
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Do pedestal pavers need grout or mortar in the joints?
Pedestal systems normally rely on open, mechanically spaced joints so rain can reach the drainage layer and pavers can be removed. Filling those joints with grout or mortar can block drainage and prevent access unless a specifically engineered system requires it.
