I’d change the upstairs windows, providing sills inside will be a nice change and still large windows. This will allow you to have a nice sloping roof reducing visibility from those upstairs windows,

and if the deck is for upstairs...if this is at the front of the house have you checked with council about permitted setback and building requirements in your area? only way to be sure of what's possible is to have builders inspect the site but what is the height from ground to eaves.. occasionally you will see an example where the deck roof is separate to the house leaving a gap between the two roofs something like this where there are no changes to the original roof and gutter

called a flyover roof

Brisbane Deck and Flyover Patio Roof Timber Balustrade · More Info

Thanks it is ground floor decking, we have no setback issues from council but we can’t change the windows upstairs.

Would you consider a free standing sloping roof for your patio to match your entry roof? By not attaching it to the house, all your problems are solved. Looking at it front on, it is not obvious that it is not attached as the gap is minimal. Have seen it successfully done.

Google 27 Illuta Ave, Ferny Hills, QLD which will give you an idea of what can be done.. If you look at the real estate site, looking side on you can tell the carport and entry portico are free standing. As well as the bedroom windows, the owners had to contend with slotting it into the "l" shape where the entry and deck protrude out further. Looking at it front on, you can't pick it to be free standing. I have a soft spot for this house as it was our first home, which we sold forty years ago.

I wouldn't do any form of covered deck petsonally . I think even a 1 metre wide 'roof' will look strange , as there only looks to be 30-40cm between the downstairs and upstairs windows . A flat open pergoda would be about all I'd consider , even then only maybe 3 metres maximum , probably with clear corrugated sheeting or the more modern clear corflute -- the problem is both of them get moss and dirt over time , and there simply isn't the 'fall' to do anything else ( as well as clear on a slope would look awkward ) .

Mounted higher would have all the wrong proportions .

And any roof , no mater its height or slope , done in tiles or steel would cut down so much light you'd regret it except the sunniest of days IMO .

Do a wooden deck , tiled deck , even a deck twice the width of a pergoda , but nothing 'roofed' .

What would be the purpose of this covered area being at the front of the house, a Pergola would be my choice open with vines or a Vergola Pergola which is flat and can have the roof open or closed

Sorry going to stick my neck out here and disagree. Just an opinion. I think an uncovered deck would look odd at the front of this house. Also a flat roofed structure would clash with the sloping roof of the front entry. I think a sloping roof in line with the entry roof would look great. It would improve street appearance as the house is quite flat fronted now.

Rose, I do apologise. I just realized that what I wrote sounds like a criticism of your lovely house. It wasn't meant that way at all. It's just that I am visualising what a roof would look like.

This rough sketch shows how a flat roof would work, there is a set back in the front wall so the pergola could be two separate sections or just the on with the left section being narrower than the right where the wall is stepped out, this will add definition

a flat roofed roof could have a covering over all or part of it with shade cloth stretched across the pergola and/or low profile roof sheeting to allow for a shower proof area although low tin or lazerlite roofs can be very hot underneath and black shade cloth just feels like shade

Thank you all for your suggestions. I am not sure I understand what the benefit us from having it not attached to the house. Are you suggesting that the roof would block the window in part? Otherwise I don’t really understand what difference it makes.

Beams for a pergola or roof would attach to the house, which could be with a beam flat against the wall between the windows on both levels what are planning on using it for, weather control or appearance

the only reason for it to not be attached directly to the the house all the way across over the windows is IF there is not enough headroom but extra height can also be gained by dropping the deck floor

Rose, to answer your question about blocking windows. If you were to consider a sloping roof to match your front entry, the top of the structure would come through at the division in your upper floor windows. I dont think there would be any blocking of windows as such. From the street the upper part of the window would appear to be a complete window. From the deck underneath, the lower part would appear to be a clerestory window. The only way to do it would be to have it freestanding. The gap to the house would be negligible and I dont think it would compromise your windows inside.

Why have a deck anyway, wouldn't paving be better, ie Random or just a concrete slab?

Can I ask the clever houzzers a question please? I am frustrated as I used to be able to edit or delete but am unable to anymore. Two spelling mistakes in my last post as I didn't proofread. Any solution?

after submitting my suggestions i can see an ëdit at the bottom right hand side (used to be at the top) where i can still make changes.. check directly with HOUZZ if you can't see it on yours

@siriuskey good question - I have a disability so I need a deck, can’t do pavers unfortunately

@oklouise thanks For explaining. I was thinking it wouldn’t be any different in terms of headroom because 2.4m high is 2.4m high no matter how close it is to the house, but I think I understand what you are proposing is a pergola away from the house that doesn’t have a roof?

Thanks @Lyn Wood. I don’t think we can do any slope on the roof otherwise it will be too low near the front of the deck, even if it is only 12 degree slope to match the house.

Editing spelling. I could use that :)

i use a laptop and couldn't manage without being able to edit all my misspelling...

and Rose, we think of minimum ceiling height being 2.4m but you also need to allow for the thickness of the frame so first measure from the bottom of the upstairs windows to the ground to see how much space is available...the frame will need to be 15 -30cm thick depending on the length of each beam so there needs to be enough space for the frame, ceiling height and then maybe dig down for a level space and. as siruskey asked, why a deck when a gravel or pavers could be easier if you don't want the structure to obstruct the upstairs windows to allow for enough height

Kate, I think you're correct. I used to use a small portable laptop and could do it. Not now with iPad. Thank you. In future I'll have to be very careful what I write after already insuting Rose. A cringeworthy day.

Editing can not be done on iPad, only personal computer.
@kate we seem to put up with your unusual posts. Sometimes I have to really think about what you are trying to say.

Vergola or any of the other comparable structures.

yeah i can't edit on the ipad, which is why i end up posting multiple times as i post and go "oh! hang on... and have another thought."

Sadly my handwriting is just as messy

ok now back to the deck. Do you need shade or rain cover? If its about shade, then what about using some trees? you can buy mature trees bare-rooted in winter, without soil they are more affordable and can be sent by post or courier. You could wrap the deck around the trees for an even floor surface.