[gchappel]

The people on this forum know a lot- I don't.
We are rebuilding an old dock, and as it has an upper 2nd story deck I am "grandfathered" in to allowing one in the new construction.
Upper deck area is 12x30'
We presently have a 2nd story flat upper deck, with the boat hanging below. Flooring is some type of coated marine plywood, painted not to be slippery. Has worked fine for 20yrs. Not elegant, but it is a dock and works fine.
New dock builder is reluctant to rebuild the same structure. He says he cannot make the dock, with a large flat "roof" or deck area sturdy enough. He wants to build a pitched roof over 20' of it, and a flat 10x12' deck on the far end.
So question for you smart engineers. Is a pitched roof that much more stable than a flat roof/structure? Can a flat roof/deck not be braced to be as strong as a pitched roof? Or is it just that he has not built one before. They are not allowed on new construction, but I am allowed to replace a pre existing one. So new construction of an upper deck is unusual.

Second question
Any new products I should look at for the upper deck flooring? Needs to be somewhat waterproof, as it is covering the boat hanging underneath. Nice to walk on, not slippery. Painted marine ply works fine.
Rest of the dock is going to have some engineered wood product for the planking.

Thanks for any thoughts.
gary