Duradek Invites You to ABX 2013 - Free Admission

download your free pass below

One of the largest events for the design and construction industry in the country, and the largest conference and trade show in New England, Architecture Boston Expo (ABX) is just around the corner!

Taking place from November 19-21, 2013 at the Boston Convention and Expo Center - Hall C, ABX offers an abundance of educational opportunities that can allow you to earn AIA/CES Learning Units, some intriguing pavilions like the fascinating 3D Printing Pavilion and a variety of social opportunities to keep your trip well-rounded. But one of the most valuable resources at ABX is the excellent selection of vendors to provide you with the best of today's building products, including Duradek.

Duradek will be there, represented by Duradek of New England / Railing Pro's decking expert Steve McTaggart who can share with you the many benefits of making Duradek your decking materials provider.

Duradek's proven membrane waterproofing system and Durarail's innovative railing solutions provide you with a long-lasting, low maintenance outdoor living area that adds an element of style to your outdoor design. When appearance and functionality must work together, particularly for surfacing decks over habitable space, Duradek is the most reliable resource with nearly 4 decades of performance history and a network of trained and authorized installers.

Duradek is:

• ICC and CGSB Approved as a walkable roofing membrane
• Warrantied for 10 years
• Available in over 20 attractive styles and colors

So, if you are in the New England region and want to discover the advantages Duradek can bring to your projects, visit Steve at the Duradek booth #608.

You can register online with promo code BSA13W for free admission to the exhibit hall, or print out this pdf admission pass to gain free access to the exhibit hall.

ABX Show Hours:

• Tues. Nov. 19th: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Wed. Nov. 20th: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Thurs. Nov. 21st: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Duradek Called on to Waterproof in Upcoming Income Property Episode on HGTV

HGTV's award winning lifestyle series 'Income Property' is in it's 8th season, and Duradek is proud to be a supplier for the upcoming episode 'Nick and Karen' on November 7th on HGTV (check you local listings).

Host, Scott McGillvary's hands on approach to renovation and real estate has enabled him to build his own real estate empire with dozens of properties and hundreds of tenants. Scott takes his knowledge and experience to help cash-strapped homeowners and teaches them how to generate income from their existing residence. A big part of that is starting with the right products for home renovations.

Duradek is the ideal solution to invest in a home's value by creating a beautiful and waterproofed outdoor living space and ensuring the area below is dry. While adding dry space below any balcony is advantageous, it is particularly important when a deck is situated above living space. Protecting the structure of the home is of the highest importance and the Duradek system of waterproofing does just that.

In this episode of Income Property, Duradek provides Tiledek, our reliable waterproofing membrane designed specifically for use under exterior tile. While Duradek membranes are the waterproofing and walking surface in one, Tiledek provides secure roof grade waterproof protection with a PVC membrane that was developed with a textured surface to best adhere thin set tiles. Used in conjunction with other elements of your outdoor tile assembly, Tiledek is able to provide relief from leaky tile decks where other systems fail.

Like Duradek, Tiledek membranes are only available through our network of trained installers who know the critical details that can not be overlooked when it comes to deck waterproofing.

After all, especially with income properties, you do not want to have to use the money you've generated to pay for unexpected renovations due to damage caused by water infiltration. Nor do you want to use a deck waterproofing system that requires ongoing maintenance. While some waterproofing systems will require recoating and traditional wood decks demand sanding and re-staining to maintain their appearance and waterproof functionality, Duradek is maintenance free. It is installed with a one-time installation, can be used the same day and is warrantied to last 10 years (while many homeowners report it's functionality up to twice that long). A simple, seasonal cleaning is all that is needed to keep your deck looking great. For any property owner, that is a plus!

So remember, check you local listings and get that PVR ready for Income Property on November 7th!

See Tiledek Case History #136 where HGTV's Builder Boss used Tiledek in a unique roof deck application over a subterranean room.

Casting Call for Contractors

Think you've got a something to bring to the world of home renovation lifestyle programming?

HGTV is currently looking for a host for a new HGTV renovation series. The call states, "If your construction experience and knowledge is matched by your wit and humor, email a photo and resume to: hostcasting@sientertainment.ca ".

Consumer Decking Reviews Give HTR Duradek a 5-Star Rating

Selecting a contractor for home improvement projects like deck construction or renovation can sometimes be a daunting task. While you may have some idea of what you have in mind for your project, finding the right supplier and the right contractor can be a challenge.

Duradek strives to make all information easily available to you to make your selection by hosting a very comprehensive website on Duradek products, in addition to ensuring our product information is accessible on the most respected decking association websites. But another valuable resource in researching your decking contractors is through consumer review sites.

The candid opinions found on these review sites from other consumers can help you make your decision with more confidence by learning about real-world experiences and comments. One particular Duradek dealer, HTR Duradek that serves the Greater Toronto Area has received numerous reviews on the N49.ca website and has an impressive 5 out of 5 star rating.

Comments include:

5-stars – “Flat Roof Now New Deck”

“Mike and his team did a fabulous job turning our flat roof into a new usable outdoor space with Duradek. Thanks team for the great work. You went above and beyond. Cheers. ”

 

5-stars – “Our Awesome Deck”

“HTR Duradek did a fantastic job on our deck. They really helped out of a bind. They basically came to the rescue when another contractor left us hanging and did not show up to do the job. We called HTR and within a short time we had a deal planned out, a good price and a date when they would start. They were there when they said, did a terrific job and left no mess at all... Kudos guys and thank you very much.”

 

5-stars – “Beautiful Deck and Excellent Workmanship”

“We had HTR Duradek install a Duradek on 300sf concrete walk-out deck. The deck is now waterproof and looks beautiful. Thank you to the Duradek crew!”



HTR Duradek can transform your old deck.

HTR Duradek is an excellent example of the professional service that supports a superior product like Duradek membranes.

Visit the HTR reviews on N49.ca to read all of the reviews that gave HTR Duradek a 5-star rating.

Seeing is believing… so see for yourself the excellent work completed by the team at HTR Duradek.

Vancouver Home and Design Show 2013 Starts Tomorrow!

Vancouverites who've been anticipating the Vancouver Home and Design Show need wait no longer! This excellent home design and lifestyle event starts tomorrow, Thursday October 17th and runs until Sunday October 20th, 2013.

Here at the beginning of the chilly northern nesting season, the Vancouver Home and Design Show is the perfect way to gather ideas for your home renovation plans for the coming year. The show features some exciting celebrity guests, some great design ideas and the best home renovation products to add to your wish list, including Duradek vinyl deck membranes and Durarail aluminum railing systems.

Even though peak season for enjoying your deck has past, now is the time to start planning your deck renovations or deck make-overs and make sure you can  find the skilled contractor you want for your project before the busy deck building season starts in the spring. Duradek invites you to come by our booth #537 to discuss your decking options and meet with one of our trained installers.

Perhaps you've grown tired of the labour it takes to maintain the waterproofing on your wood deck. Maybe this year you skipped your deck waterproofing maintenance completely and are uncertain what condition your deck will be in come spring. Duradek installers will be on-hand throughout the show to answer any of your decking questions or arrange to come out to assess your deck and provide you with a free estimate.

Remember, when water gets into the structure, wood rot can develop slowly over time and when it goes unnoticed, what once could have been a small repair can easily become a complete rebuild!



Be sure to visit Duradek at booth #537.

But the show isn't just all about serious home renovation issues...there is a lot of fun to be had as well. In addition to speaking to a Duradek professional deck waterproofing specialist, The Vancouver Home and Design Show offers an abundance of appearances by building, design and real estate celebrities to enjoy. You will have the opportunity to see:

• Love it or List it hosts, Jillian Harris and Todd Talbot
• The Property Brothers hosts, Jonathan and Drew Scott
• Paint Legend and creator of 'chalk paint', Annie Sloan
• Feng Shui Master, Marlyna Los
• Design Expert, Alykhan Velji
• ...and more!

Additionally, there is a great selection of show features and highlights that will tweak your design ambitions and spark your imagination. And remember, for your attractive and low maintenance outdoor living space, be sure to visit the Duradek booth #537 for the best in deck waterproof surfaces.

Functionality and aesthetics combine in one product solution that allows you to enjoy the look of your outdoor living space, while being confident that it is keeping your home water-tight....all without the need for annual maintenance! A simple one-time application and your Duradek is ready to be enjoyed for many years to come. In a rainforest region that is very vulnerable to water infiltration, this could be the most important stop for you at the Home Show....we hope to see you there!

A long standing participating exhibitor in both the fall and spring Vancouver Home Shows, Duradek is one of the most recognizable brands for deck waterproofing in British Columbia. Not surprisingly, Duradek was originally conceived in B.C. nearly 40 years ago, and since then has been joined by various other vinyl manufacturers but still maintains its position as the #1 most tested and recognizable vinyl brands available.

The Vancouver Home and Design show is a wonderful opportunity for homeowners to compare their options and plan for any renovations, upgrades or other investments into their homes. Check out what the Home & Design show has to say about Duradek.  

Buy your ticket online to save $3 off admission.

Show Hours and Information.  

Duradek is Calling All Deck Builders to Deck Expo 2013!

This week, the event of the year for deck builders takes place in Chicago at McCormick Place as Deck Expo co-located with Remodeling Show offers 3 days of events, conferences and exhibits.

Starting Wednesday October 16th and running until Friday October 18th, Deck Expo is THE event for raising the bar for Deck Building Professionals.

Deck Expo celebrates it's 10th year in 2013 and the event kicks off with the North America Deck & Railing Association's annual "Howl at the Moon" event on Wednesday the 16th. This ticketed event starts of with a cocktail reception, dinner and awards presentation and the annual post-party.

The Exhibit Hall Show Floor opens on October 17th & 18th with hundreds of exhibits showcasing deck and railing products, and Duradek invites you to come by to see us at Duradek Booth #2241 where we can show you the advantages of our deck waterproofing systems.

In addition to the exhibits there will also be nearly 100 seminars and events including:

• Installation Clinics
• Interactive Workshops
• Live Deck Collapse
• Business Boot Camp

If you haven't registered yet, it's not too late. You can register for free admission to the exhibit hall and take part in this singular annual event for deck building professionals!  

And remember to come by booth #2241 to chat with our Duradek waterproofing professionals.

Deck Expo Co-located with Remodeling Show’s History

Deck Expo is a trade only event focusing exclusively on the deck, porch and railing industry. Sponsored by NADRA and Professional Deck Builders Magazine, Deck Expo began in 2003, and co-located with Remodeling Show in 2009.

Remodeling Show is owned and produced by Hanley Wood and sponsored by the National Association of Homebuilders, NAHB Remodelers and Remodeling Magazine, Remodeling Show. It has been an anticipated industry event since its inception in 1991, and since that time has seen many ups and downs in the industry, several technological advances and an increased breadth and scope of building products on the market. One thing has remained consistent over the years - manufacturers continue to innovate and allow residential construction professionals to work smart and efficiently.

Understanding Balcony to Wall Interface Rehabilitation for Repairing Water Damage

When waterproofing has failed on the balconies of multi-residential buildings, particularly condos or apartments, the costs involved in repairing wood rot can be staggering. However ensuring the project is done correctly and avoids further need for repair in the future makes the investment well worth the cost.

We'd like to invite you to check out a great visual provided by RDH Building Science and Technology (see link at bottom of page) that will help you understand the changes in technology that result in a more durable detail. This excellent sequence shows you how best practices take a 6-level system to a 17-level system and provide the most security and confidence that your building envelope is protected at the vulnerable deck to wall intersection. Once the rehabilitation has been done, it looks virtually identical to the original detail from the outside, but it is what is going on underneath that is important to understand.

Important Detail on Working With the Vinyl Membrane in Multi-Layer Systems

One of the critical details on the best practices is to ensure that there is a separation layer between any asphalt based products and the vinyl membrane. Products that are asphalt based and the plasticizers in the vinyl membranes can cause the asphalt to "flow". This is particularly noticeable with rubberized asphaltic "peel and stick" types of products commonly used for waterproofing transitions at doors, windows, etc.



An Asphalt Based Peel and Stick product softened and flowing on PVC.

In summary, here is a comparison of the steps involved in an older system as compared to best practices that exist today.

Old Methods	New Technology Best Practices
1-Interior Gypsum 2-Framing 3-Insulation 4-Sheathing 5-Deck Membrane 6-Cladding	1-Interior Gypsum 2-Framing 3-Insulation 4-Sheathing 5-Building Paper 6-Membrane Flashing 7-Building Paper 8-Framing 9-PVC Coated Metal Flashing 10-Deck Membrane 11-Membrane Isolation Strip 12-Building Paper 13-Membrane Flashing 14-P.T. Strapping 15-Paper Backed Metal Lath 16-Stucco Base Coat 17-Stucco Color Coat

Again, we encourage you to check out this great RDH Balcony to Wall Interface Rehabilitation Graphic Sequence for a thorough understanding of what is going on under the surface in waterproofing projects.

If you'd like to inquire about a Rehabilitation project, call Duradek to be referred to a trained and authorized installer near you.

Outdoor Flooring That Extends the Theme of Home Design

The use and functionality of residential outdoor living space has been growing at a steady rate, and to make the most of your home's deck areas it is important to start with a good, sturdy foundation and ensure that once it is structurally sound that it is protected with effective waterproofing. Then the real pleasure in designing your outdoor living space is making sure that the reliable waterproofing of your deck does not take excessive maintenance and that it is also an attractive addition to your home. After all, it is a place that is used primarily for pleasure and should be visually pleasing and harmonize with the overall design of your home.

Outdoor Flooring with Security and Style

A door threshold showing a natural cork
interior floor complimented by
Duradek Ultra Natural Cork vinyl
on the outdoor flooring.

Duradek vinyl membranes have been a reliable source of deck waterproofing for nearly 40 years and with over 20 colors and styles to choose from there is something for nearly every residential design motif. One of Duradek's most recent lines of vinyl patterns is the popular 'Cork' line that offers 4 beautiful options for outdoor flooring. Natural cork has become known as an attractive flooring material for interior walking surfaces and Duradek Ultra Cork Natural vinyl allows this look to be lent to a home's exterior providing a harmonious extension that can unify the overall design.

The attractive pattern of the cork vinyl is not restricted to the natural color of cork, and variations such as 'Espresso', 'Macchiato' and the most recent addition, 'Graphite' provide color alternatives for a stylish and sophisticated look. As seen on Housing Zone, the online hub for Professional Deck Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines, Duradek Ultra Cork is a stand-out in design options for outdoor flooring. And while it's beautiful appearance is a highlight, the real beauty of Duradek's Ultra Cork vinyl is that is one of the most reliable methods of waterproofing your deck on the market today.

A deck protected with stylish Duradek Ultra Cork vinyl.

Installed exclusively by trained and authorized Duradek dealers who are familiar with the intricate and critical details involved in deck waterproofing, Duradek vinyl membranes are warrantied for 10-years for waterproofing. But the peace-of-mind does not stop there....Duradek also comes with a 5-year appearance warranty for excessive discoloration which is a rare benefit in decking products that are constantly exposed to UV rays and naturally will fade over time.

Duradek clearly stands out above other vinyl options, as well as other decking materials like some composite decking products that have had such massive appearance issues that class-action suits have had to be settled.

When it comes to your outdoor living space, make a choice that lasts with style...protect your deck's surface with Duradek vinyl membranes.

Deck Collapse Causes And Prevention

While the well-defined peak season for reported deck collapses has passed (June-August), in the last couple of weeks there have been a couple more deck collapse stories to hit the media with a too-familiar story of unsuspecting folks gathered on a balcony or deck and finding themselves suddenly plummeting to the ground amidst the debris of the failed deck.

In Dartmouth, NS 16 people were on a deck at a party when it collapsed with 2 people standing underneath the deck at the time. Four people were seriously injured. See full article on the Chronicle/Herald website.

In Boston, MA about a dozen fine art students gathered on a 3rd-floor balcony at an art opening were suddenly and unexpectedly crashing down to the 2nd-floor deck. Luckily, nobody was seriously injured. See full article on wcvb.com.

What Causes Decks to Collapse

Initial responses for inquiries on what causes a deck collapse are commonly quick to question if the deck was built to code with proper permits and inspections but it appears that most times there is no negligence in that area.

While there are several possible reasons for the deck failure, more often than not, the failure is attributed in some way to the ledger board that connects the deck to the building structure.

The connecting hardware securing the deck to the house is often the first item to be checked. While inexperienced deck builders may use inadequate nails to secure the deck ledger board to the rim joists of the house, more often than not the correct anchoring fasteners were used. What then causes the fasteners to pull away from the house? Often the culprit is wood rot. When water invasion has weakened the wood to the point of softening or rot, no fastener is able to perform securely.

Waterproofing for Safety

When some homeowners (and inexperienced deck builders, for that matter) think about deck waterproofing, the focus of the consideration is often the deck surface or the railings and the esthetic value waterproofing brings to outdoor living space. Sadly, it is the critical inside perimeter waterproofing details that are neglected that can allow water to infiltrate the deck components and the building envelope which can compromise the structural security.

Many times, water intrusion and wood rot is discovered before weakening to the point of collapse and the deck can be salvaged, but sometimes the water damage goes unnoticed. When this happens for too long, eventually the rot will deteriorate the wood until the deck becomes unsafe (This seems to be more common in circumstances where the owner or manager of the property is not the primary resident, such as in the vacation beach home deck collapse in Ocean Isle Beach, NC in July this year).

When water invades a deck's substrate, it can literally
crumble under the surface.

For example, see Duradek Case History #151 where the inside perimeter waterproofing details were previously neglected and threatened the structural integrity of the deck. Luckily it was noticed and repaired in time to salvage some of the deck, and most importantly, avoided deck collapse and injury.

If you would like to have a Duradek waterproofing professional provide a free estimate on renovating your deck, contact a Duradek dealer in your area.

For further information on the topic and study of deck collapse, check out the Barrie Home Inspector website article “Deck Collapse Is Your Deck Safe?”.