Duradek Talks Roof Deck on Buildipedia.com

Duradek has been waterproofing decks, balconies and rooftop decks for nearly 40 years, and never before has there been such a demand for roof decks in the building community as there is today. From the bustling urban metropolis to the suburban sprawl, rooftop decks bring added value to the quality of life of the homeowner in addition to the actual property value.

 

Buildipedia.com features the Guide to Rooftop Decks article by Duradek on the value of roof top decks. Buildipedia.com is a wealth of building information in one convenient location for both AEC professionals and DIY homeowners.

 

A Duradek Rooftop Deck extends your living space.

 

While the actual article on roof top decks by Duradek is located in the landscape topic under the At Home | DIY heading, Duradek is not a do-it-yourself product. Decades of experience have proven that when it comes to waterproofing, it is all in the details, and Duradek wants to be sure when you waterproof your outdoor living space with a Duradek membrane that it is installed properly with every little detail carefully considered. With professional installation, Duradek walkable roof membranes will protect your home well past the 10 years the product is warrantied for. That is why Duradek is only available through a network of trained and authorized installers.

About Buildipedia.com

Launched in 2010, Buildipedia.com was created by AEC professionals to fill the need for a site to share knowledge, promote best practices and advance their understanding of the building process. Already it has established itself as an invaluable resource for the home improvement and do-it-yourself crowd, in addition to professionals looking for the latest in design and construction.

Buildipedia.com organized their content under two major categories: At Home | DIY and AEC Professionals.  The topic categories include:

At Home | DIY

• Everyday DIY Video Series
• {RE} Habitat Video Series
• 60 Simple Seconds Videos
• Jeff Wilson’s Everyday DIY Blog
• Bathrooms
• Design | Remodeling
• Kitchens
• Floors
• Landscaping
• HVAC | Electrical | Plumbing
• Walls | Windows | Doors

AEC Professionals

• Featured Architecture
• Design News
• Solar Decathlon
• Construction Materials and Methods
• From the Job Site
• Engineering News
• Public Infrastructure
• Facilities Ops and Maintenance
• Urban Planning
• CSI Project Solutions

There is also a comprehensive Knowledgebase, organised by CSI Master Format Divisions. For a great source of building information, all catalogued in one place, Buildepedia.com is a great site to put in your favourite websites list as a building materials resource...right along with Duradek.com.

 

How to Deal with Heavy Snow on Your Duradek Deck

Mother Nature has not been kind to everyone this winter. From the east coast to the Midwest, decks have accumulated much more than average snowfall.

While in the midst of brutal winter storms, your deck is probably not your first priority but it still will need to be made passable and safe until the spring weather and warmer temperatures make it your favorite place once again.

To get the longest life from your Duradek vinyl deck, we wanted to take a moment to remind you of how to best use and care for your deck with heavy snow conditions.

Duradek can handle heavy snow.

Winter Deck Care with Heavy Snow Fall

Duradek’s Walkable Rooftop Deck and Waterproofing Vinyl allows for easy and worry-free winter deck care. Duradek patterns and colors are beautiful all year round, but to ensure that you get the most longevity in your deck’s appearance when the wicked winter weather attempts to bury your deck under a mountain of ice and snow, we’ve got a couple of simple tips for you to follow.

#1 – Use Only a Plastic Snow Shovel

The use of metal snow shovels or metal edged snow shovels may risk puncturing your vinyl when you are digging into the snow...particularly with deep snow or thick ice that requires the use of extra force. Be safe, not sorry, and use only a plastic snow shovel on your vinyl deck.

#2 – Be Sure to Use a De-icer if You Walk on Your Deck in the Winter Conditions

While Duradek has some slip resistance built in to the vinyl, when covered in snow or ice it is going to be as slippery as any other surface covered with snow or ice. If your Duradek is at an entranceway or other area where you will traverse it during the winter months, please do not be hesitant to use a de-icing agent. Your Duradek can handle it and your safety always comes first.

#3 – If you Use A De-Icer, Be Sure to Clean it Off Before Spring

Though it is totally fine to use a de-icer on your Duradek vinyl deck, it is very important to clean your deck with soap and water, and rinse it off thoroughly before the spring and summer sunshine returns. The sun can actually ‘bake’ the chemicals into the vinyl surface and compromise its appearance, so be sure to clean and rinse off any de-icing agents used through the winter.

(Whether using de-icing agents or not, we would recommend a light seasonal cleaning to keep your deck looking fresh and to avoid heavy accumulation of dirt over time.)

So for all of the folks out there that have decks buried under snow…let’s hope the groundhog was right and winter is almost over!

Duradek Deck Experts at the BC Home & Garden Show

There's no other event that inspires the anticipation of enjoying your outdoor living space like the BC Home & Garden Show, taking place at BC Place Stadium February 20 - 24, 2013. Duradek deck experts will be there with deck experts from all over British Columbia to show you the best in design for your outdoor living spaces. Be sure to stop by booth #537 to talk with our Duradek experts about your deck waterproofing needs, and check out some of the exciting highlights this year's show has to offer.

BC Home & Garden Show 2013 Highlights

• The Dream Gardens - 7,000 square feet of garden oasis featuring 8 landscape designs with inspirations from around the globe.
• Vancouver Sun Gardeners School - Free gardening seminars to inspire your green thumb for your springtime gardening aspirations.
• Smart Renovation Dream Home - Inspired by the popular East Vancouver Bungalows featuring energy smart appliances.
• Celebrity Guests - Hear first hand from Paul LaFrance, host of 'Decked Out' and 'Deck Wars' and Bryan Baeumler, host of 'Leave it to Bryan' and 'House of Bryan'...both of whom are judges on 'Canada's Handyman Challenge'. These pros, along with several other design professionals, provide some great renovation advice along with an element of entertainment on the HGTV Main Stage.
• Contests - There's some exciting contests this year, such as the Ultimate Backyard (valued up to $10,000) and a Kitchen Makeover (valued up to $10,000), and many more.

So for some great ideas, inspiration and the chance to meet your future contractors first hand, be sure to come by the BC Home & Garden Show this week. Admission is $15 at Gate A at BC Place Stadium, or only $12 if you purchase your tickets online.



Imagine this as your outdoor living space!

Our Duradek deck waterproofing specialists will be at booth # 537 to answer any questions you might have about your decking projects. This is a great opportunity to ask specific questions and take advantage of the specially trained waterproofing professionals of Duradek. We hope to see you there!

Look for Duradek's booth at all of your local home shows.

Duradek - Helping to Re-Build the Eastern Seaboard One Deck at a Time

While many residents are still dealing with their insurance claims from Sandy (which generated the second largest number of flood insurance claims after Hurricane Katrina), the recent nor’easter adds additional stress on structures that were compromised by Sandy and more vulnerable to the storm.

Storm damage is a reality that eastern U.S. residents faced in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy with over 300,000 homes destroyed in New York state accounting for approximately $33 billion of the $42 billion in disaster relief funds requested by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Duradek wants to do our part to assist homeowners who lost their decks or balconies in Hurricane Sandy in our own small way by contributing 15% off of the cost of material for our Duradek vinyl membranes in waterproofing new or reconstructed decks in the New York area.

Duradek Assists Hurricane Victims
in Re-Building Decks

Roof Deck damaged by falling tree due to Hurricane Sandy

Working with Specialty Building Systems, our eastern American distributor in NY, NJ and PA, homeowners in these disaster regions may request 15% off the cost of vinyl when they choose a Duradek dealer for their deck rebuilding.

Duradek and Specialty Building Systems will present this offer for one year to the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, but we will require that some proof of hurricane damage be submitted for this special discount offer (photographs or a copy of an insurance claim would suffice).


Hurricane damaged roof deck,
in one end...

...out the other!

It doesn’t matter if your previous deck was a Duradek deck, wood deck, a composite deck, a fiberglass deck, an EPDM roof deck or even a competitive vinyl deck…Duradek will help you waterproof your re-build!

While finding an available contractor is reportedly a challenge due to the volume of reconstruction, choosing a Duradek dealer for your deck waterproofing takes all of the guesswork out of choosing a contractor. All Duradek installers are trained and authorized waterproofing specialists, so you don’t have to worry about the skill or reliability of the people working on your home.

If your deck was affected by Sandy, you or your insurance or restoration company can contact Specialty Building Systems at 1-800-765-9865 or email sbsddek@verizon.net for peace of mind in your rebuilding.

In addition to all other building code approvals, Duradek has been tested to show our Duradek Ultra Vinyl meets the requirements and received evaluation reports for both Wind Uplift and for Pull-Off Testing for Edge Flashing.

Nemo Brings Added Risk to Already Compromised Decks

Structures that were compromised by Sandy are already much more vulnerable to storm damage and the storm unofficially dubbed 'Nemo' may have added increased instability to decks and balconies.

The catastrophe modeller AIP said the heavy snow and high winds that were expected from Nemo “means that drifting snow will be a problem, increasing the possibility of roof collapse. Design snow loads for structures vary across the United States. Ten to 20 inches of snow can produce loads of roughly 15 – 30 pounds per square foot on flat roofs. Other building elements – porches, carports, awnings and gutters, which often do not receive any specific design attention, are similarly vulnerable under the forecast conditions.” In addition, more weight due to mix of rain and ice, and downed trees add the possibility of additional structure damage.

Don’t take chances with your deck…be sure to perform deck inspections to ensure safety before using it if your home was in a storm’s path of destruction. According to the Insurance Information Institute, winter storms are the 3rd largest cause of catastrophe losses for the insurance industry, behind only hurricanes and tornadoes.

Duradek at Buildex Vancouver 2013 February 13th and 14th

Duradek is excited to participate in Buildex Vancouver 2013, one of the largest trade shows in Western Canada for Design, Construction and Real Estate Management professionals, taking place at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre West on February 13th and 14th, 2013.

With about 13,000 attendees, 600 exhibitors and over 50 educational seminars, Buildex keeps you up to date on the latest in construction and design trends, and how it affects your place in the building industry.

Duradek, the suppliers of the original waterproof roofing membrane believe in being on the top of your game, no matter what your specialty may be. That is what makes the Buildex Vancouver 2013 Show such an exceptional opportunity. Offering the latest and greatest products and information for 3 distinct professional markets, Buildex covers the most relevant topics for Real Estate Design, Building and Management professionals.



The Forest Floor line of Duradek vinyl.

Duradek is a proud participating exhibitor and is excited to introduce you to our latest selection of PVC Waterproof membranes such as our Duradek Forest Floor line which includes 3 distinct colour shades - Alder, Ash and Birch. This innovative new line follows the successful launch of the 3 options in the Cork line of vinyl - Natural, Espresso and Macchiato.

Duradek would like to invite you to come visit us at booth #1914 and take advantage of talking with our technical expert Len Viegener about outdoor waterproofing projects and what makes Duradek the leader in waterproof roofing membranes.

7 Critical Questions to Ask When Investigating New Decking Material Products

In the November/December 2012 issue of Mid-Atlantic Builder Magazine, there was a great article entitled “Switching Building Products” (Download .pdf of "Switching Building Products" article) that addressed key questions to ask and answer before switching to a new building product. There are many considerations for a seemingly minor product switch in residential construction, and asking the right questions ahead of time can help you minimize the risk of using a new product.

We invite you to consider these key questions as they apply to decking materials and show how Duradek answers all of them for a risk-free waterproof, walkable flat roof deck and sundeck membrane surface.

1 – Is the Product Up To Code?

The first and most important question to ask is “Does the product meet local building code?” While it is highly recommended that you check with your local code official, you can investigate yourself by checking to see if there is an ICC-ES report on the product. You can access ICC-ES reports online to see what code requirements a product meets, along with its installation requirements and other key details. Code Inspectors rely on these evaluation reports and you can too.

The Duradek Answer – YES! Duradek is Up To Code

Duradek has been evaluated through ICC-ES for many years and the current report (ESR 2151) is valid until 2014. Duradek hopes that builders and home owners alike take advantage of the information available in these reports and provides current and potential customers with a little ‘tutorial’ on how to read, understand and compare products using ICC-ES reports.
From all available evidence, Duradek is the MOST tested single-ply vinyl membrane on the market today. All current testing reports and evaluations are available on the Duradek website’s Approvals pages, as well as this convenient checklist to refer to when comparing products.

2 – Is The Product Field Tested?

If the product has not been widely used in the industry and demonstrated successful performance, then you might want to inquire about field evaluation reports which are cooperative efforts between builders, manufacturers and testing agencies.

The Duradek Answer – YES! – Duradek is Proven in the Industry

Duradek has been protecting decks since 1974 (almost 40 years!) and has thousands of installations over the decades.  From coast-to-coast throughout all North American climates, Duradek has performed successful deck waterproofing on patios, balconies and roof decks. No matter what kind of residential deck project you are considering, chances are Duradek has done it. Check out some of Duradek’s Case Studies for examples.

3 – Will The Manufacturer Be There For Support?

It is very important to consider how much support the manufacturer is willing to provide.  Issues such as warranties, technical support and training, as well as support and guidance to the home owner are all things to consider before switching to a new product.

The Duradek Answer – Yes! Duradek Provides Excellent Support

In addition to an industry leading 10-year waterproofing warranty, Duradek provides all sorts of support to their customers. With Duradek, technical support begins with mandatory training on installation and waterproofing details. In fact, Duradek is not even available to contractors who have not completed Duradek’s training program and become authorized to install the product. The education does not stop after the initial training…Duradek keeps up on changes in the industry and supporting products to ensure product compatibility and installation techniques are always as current as possible. (Duradek also provides online education through Hanley Wood and AEC Daily).

4 – Does it Provide Marketing Benefits?

Are there any marketing advantages to making a product switch? Are any added costs balanced out by performance features? You want to be careful about the claims you make about the product, particularly with any Green claims. Be sure to comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides.

The Duradek Answer – YES! – Duradek Has Marketing Benefits and YES – Duradek is Green

Besides the fact that Duradek is a strong, proven brand with excellent technical support, marketing support and a proven track record, Duradek is a Green product and qualifies for LEED points.  In addition, it is worthwhile to note that having a deck protected with Duradek vinyl is often considered a value-added feature of a home, and a highlighted feature in Real Estate Listings. 



Duradek is a building product considered a valuable feature in residential real estate.

5 – Is it Compatible with Your Other Products?

While it is encouraged to look for ways to improve your product offerings, you certainly want to avoid making changes that will have a domino effect that negatively affects your other product offerings.

The Duradek Answer – Yes! You Can Incorporate Duradek With Your Other Offerings

Duradek can be applied to plywood or concrete surfaces and you don’t have to worry about any of the adhesives or accessories needed since Duradek is sold as a ‘complete system’ and will provide all supporting products for the installation of their vinyl membranes. In addition, Duradek offers Durarail powder-coated aluminum railing systems, Tiledek waterproof membrane for use in exterior tile applications, and Plazadek waterproof membrane for use under paver systems. Unless you have existing exclusivity contracts with other membrane and railing suppliers, Duradek is easy to incorporate into your product offerings.

6 – Will Your Crew Be Able to Handle the Learning Curve?

With any new product offering there is likely to be a learning curve for your team to be familiar enough with the new product to be able to effectively sell and install it.  Many times, the cost associated with the training involved in a new offering is a significant consideration. Additionally, defective installation can effectively negate a manufacturer’s warranty.

The Duradek Answer – Yes! Duradek Will Train Your Installers

In fact…that is the only way you are authorized to purchase Duradek vinyl. Duradek offers new dealers a thorough 2-day training program. Duradek operates from the belief that when it comes to waterproofing, it is all in the details; and no matter how good a vinyl membrane is manufactured, the true performance is measured by how the product is installed.  Duradek is proud of their extensive network of trained and authorized installers and technical support for all installers is available indefinitely.



Duradek technical manager, Len Viegener
conducting a Duradek training.

7 – How Will It Change How You Educate Home Owners on Maintenance?

Most professional builders and developers want to see their hard work demonstrate longevity, and part of that includes educating home owners on proper care and maintenance.

The Duradek Answer – Yes! It is Easy to Educate the End User on Care and Maintenance of Duradek

If a walkable, waterproof vinyl membrane is new to your offerings you will be pleased to know that the care and maintenance of the Duradek vinyl is a great selling feature. Duradek vinyl is a low maintenance decking material that requires only seasonal cleaning and annual inspections to keep looking great. Care and Cleaning instructions are provided to the home owner right along with their warranty.

Are You Considering Adding Duradek to Your Product Offerings?

If you can see the advantages that Duradek can bring to your product offerings with its time-proven, thoroughly tested, walkable, waterproof membrane, Duradek invites you to explore the potential business opportunity a little further.  We are confident that when you discover the Duradek difference, it will be your vinyl membrane of choice.