Duradek Expert Talks Decks with Home Improvement Trailblazer Shell Busey

Celebrity builders like Mike Holmes, Bryan Baeumler and Scott MacGillivray offer their high-profile building advice on the airwaves to a very appreciative audience, but these cutting edge T.V. personality builders had the road to their home renovation audience paved by pioneer Shell Busey and his House Smart Network.

Shell is probably one of the most knowledgeable men in North America regarding building products and he knows the value of doing it right the first time.

Just as Duradek pioneered the use of PVC membranes for waterproof deck surfacing, Shell Busey forged the trail for the industry of home improvement experts that have become a new breed of the North American celebrity.

So what is it that makes these celebrity builders and home improvement experts attract our attention and earn our trust? It is their knowledge and experience with a topic common to the most of us...our homes. The home improvement experts take our basic need for shelter and show us how to maximize space, value and personal enjoyment from our homes which is one of the most important investments we make for both practical value and quality of life.
Check out this House Smart Coffee Break video clip featuring a recent interview with Shell and Duradek Sales Manager, Kevin MacMillan.

Shell Busey has been in the home improvement industry for more than 50 years and while his notoriety is mostly renowned in his home base of south western B.C., he has national recognition throughout Canada and is known in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. as a reliable source of home improvement information. Everything from fundamental building products to the care and maintenance of specific features of your home, Shell Busey's website, www.askshell.com is a fantastic resource for your home

Shell has a long-standing relationship with Duradek and has been sharing the advantages of the Duradek waterproofing systems with homeowners for many years. Starting with our original Duradek waterproof, walkable membrane to our uniquely reliable Tiledek membrane for exterior tile projects, Shell knows a good product!

When your whole business is about referring people to the right resources for their home improvement projects, you must be very confident in the products you recommend and Shell has been recommending Duradek for decades!

Remember, if you need decking advice, call on a Duradek dealer in your area...and if you need other home improvement advice, you can ask Shell Busey at www.askshell.com.

Duradek Recaps Deck Safety Month's Dangerous Decks

Deck safety awareness is an important topic for anyone that owns, resides in or visits properties that include the desirable feature of a deck or balcony; yet a topic that often gets a mere nod of acknowledgement but little focussed effort.

Decks are traditionally a favourite place to gather, particularly in the summer months, and each year we hear of people suffering needlessly from trauma and injuries resulting from deck collapse. Just within the last few weeks alone there were two reported deck collapse incidents.

On May 16, 2015 in Lithonia, GA there was a sudden deck collapse when friends and family were gathered after a wedding, injuring 9 people – 7 of whom were hospitalized. Officials say that old, dry-rotted wood that was only held up by nails and not proper fastening bolts were the main contributors.



View deck collapse video coverage on CBS46 News

On May 16, 2015 in Noblesville, IN there were 12 people on a deck that collapsed sending 2 to hospital. This wide-spread, ongoing issue prompted the North America Deck & Railing Association (NADRA) to launch the Check Your Deck initiative and designate May as annual Deck Safety Month.

Duradek is proud to be a Deck Safety Ambassador to help further awareness of deck safety issues and to encourage both consumers and builders to use the excellent free resources for deck safety that NADRA offers on their website. Valuable tools like the Deck Evaluation Form and Consumer Checklist can help you to identify the trouble areas to ensure your deck is not at risk of collapse.

Using these tools and taking the steps necessary to check your deck goes a long way to ensure the safety of your family and friends.

Just ask consumer deck safety advocate Jeremy Wilt has been educating the public after he and his family experienced a traumatic deck collapse a year and a half ago. Jeremy has taken on the mission to spread the message of safety and prevention through a series of YouTube videos. The video from WMC Action News featured below shows shocking footage of the collapse that occurred at the clubhouse of Wilt’s New Albany subdivision during a Christmas Party.



Other recent deck collapse incidents include:

On April 30, 2015 in Cedarville, OH 8 people were victims of deck collapse.

On April 20, 2015 in Knoxville, TN a balcony collapsed at an apartment complex sending 1 woman to hospital and prompting an emergency repair work order on 100 other decks in the complex which were very old, wooden decks not well-maintained.

As Deck Safety Ambassadors, Duradek would like to remind you that maintaining a wooden deck by resealing each year is not just for aesthetic purposes…it is to keep the wood protected and reduce the chance of water infiltration and wood rot.

To reduce the time, effort and cost on deck waterproofing maintenance, consider the advantages of Duradek vinyl decks for your home. Duradek will protect the wood of your deck with a completely water-tight seal and Duradek’s professional installation techniques will help protect the entire home by considering the building envelope and preventing water intrusion at the critical areas where deck meets house.

If you’d like to speak to a decking professional about your deck, contact one of Duradek’s trained and authorized installers in your area.

 

Duradek Cautions on Unproven Deck Building Products Technology

Duradek is very vocal about the truth that ‘new’ isn’t always better…especially when it comes to building products; and now Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation has discovered that basic truth the hard way.

The group built 104 energy-efficient homes in the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. Dozens of those homes built from 2008 to 2010 included decks and stairs made from TimberSIL, a supposedly glass-infused wood that claimed to provide “an effective barrier in lumber to rot, decay and common wood problems” without using toxic ingredients.

New Product Failure Rates infographic

This ‘new’ product’s lack of chemicals appealed to the Make It Right foundation because of its dedication to “green” building features, but the product performance fell short when premature reports of rot and decay started appearing in 2013...nowhere near the 40 year product guarantee.

As expressed in the New Orleans Advocate, “some local home builders and other non-profit executives said they saw the episode as a cautionary example of the problems facing many in their industry in trying to balance new, cutting-edge technology with time-tested construction techniques.”

The professionals at Duradek couldn’t agree more! We are cautioning builders about a potential similar issue in the niche vinyl decking industry with some manufacturers releasing highly suspect, unproven products into the market. (See Vinyl Deck Membranes Appearance Promises vs. Appearance Warranty).

It is unfortunate that Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation had not chosen the time proven Duradek vinyl deck membranes for these projects. Duradek has a proven 40 year history and has gone through several warranty cycles to be absolutely confident in the Duradek product and installation techniques.

Furthermore, Duradek is also a “green” product and is installed on untreated plywood to avoid the use of harmful chemicals.

Innovation is a great thing, but if you don’t want to gamble on your project and money invested, be sure to use a product that has a proven performance history. To speak to a Duradek professional in your area to bring Duradek’s 40 years of performance to your projects, contact a Duradek dealer in your area.

Useful Resources:

• Time, Tested and Approved (.pdf)
• Before You Buy, Consider This (.pdf)

Related Posts:

• When Choosing a Building Product, “New” Does Not Always Mean Better
• Vinyl Deck Membranes Appearance Promises vs. Appearance Warranty

 

Appearance Promises of Vinyl Membranes vs. Long Term Protection with a Duradek Warranty

Be cautious when evaluating vinyl deck membrane choices…

Some companies offer a “Scuff Resistant” clear top coat, with No Appearance Warranty!! That's a pretty bold promise with nothing to back it up.

But really, the chance of light scuffing on a well-used deck is the least of your worries if you want a waterproof membrane that will last for decades.

Clear top coats have historically been a problem on plastics under constant UV exposure, but how do you determine how well a product will stand up in 10 years when it has only been on the market half that time?

Accredited testing agencies like Atlas Material Testing Services perform accelerated UV exposure tests to help answer that question.

These unaltered test results below show actual results of UV exposure testing (ASTM G90) of two brands of vinyl deck membranes. The product on top is a vinyl product with a clear top coat.  The vinyl on the bottom is the ‘tried and true’ Duradek membrane with a 40 year history.

Pretty shocking, right?

Almost unbelievable, so the product was not just tested once, but twice…

The 2nd test included multiple product comparisons, and all those with a clear top coat exhibited the same failed results.

All vinyl scuffs to some degree under certain conditions…as does wood, composite deck boards, even concrete. In fact almost everything we walk on scuffs, marks or fades over time. This is the inevitable, realistic result of a ‘wear surface’; particularly with decks under constant exposure to the elements.

However, long term results should be taken into consideration. Be careful not to forgo the long term protection of a proven product with an appearance warranty for short term promises of “scuff resistance” that may have unexpected and unwelcome appearance issues over time.

Make sure you are using a proven product so
you don't get surprises like this.
This deck was originally a light grey and reached a point
where UV rays darkened it completely and quickly.

Read here about the History of Clear Top Coats in the Pedestrian Vinyl Membrane industry. With deck surfaces, clear coats on vinyl have not traditionally been met with a lot of success…in fact most have failed miserably!

Railing Systems that Reveal Style, Function and Canadian Innovation

If you have any sort of elevated deck or balcony on your property, guard rails are an absolute essential, but maintaining them does not have to be a high-maintenance chore. You are familiar with Duradek™ as the leading brand of low-maintenance vinyl decking, but you might not be aware that Duradek also offers Durarail™ Aluminum Railing Systems which is another exceptional deck building material option to help you get the most out of the dollars invested in your property maintenance.

Durarail railings are produced locally by Excell Railing Systems Ltd., a proudly Canadian aluminum railing manufacturer that has made its place in a crowded market with quality, durable and attractive standard railing products and bold new product innovations.

Located in Surrey, BC, Excell Railing Systems is home-based in a wet region that benefits greatly from the advantages of its powder coated aluminum deck railing and fencing products. Excell has been in business for over 15 years and has provided aluminum railings throughout continental North America and beyond, including other rainforest regions such as Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Excell has over 20,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and its own powder coating facility that enables timely delivery and a high level of quality control to its customers. All railing systems are engineered to current building codes and are used in a variety of different applications for high-rise, multi residential, commercial and residential applications.

Powder Coating Facility

Excell’s powder coating process ensures that Durarail aluminum railings are completely sealed and protected in a hard finish that is far tougher than conventional paint. The powder coating is electrostatically applied as a free-flowing dry powder and is then cured under heat to allow it to form a “skin”.  This process provides railings that will never rust and will never require sanding or staining. A simple wash brightens them up year after year.

Innovative Railing Options

In addition to its standard picket or glass railing options, Excell is distinguishing itself in a saturated railing market by becoming known for custom aluminum projects and innovative railing solutions. This year, Excell Railing Systems introduces two new, inventive products.

Durarail is proud to present the next generation of topless glass railing systems which is born with the creation of the all-new “Panorama Universal Post”. Excell has taken the advantages and beauty of their existing topless glass Panorama Post system and transformed it into a super-post for a complete “one post does all” system.

Excell Railing Systems president Robert Ogilvie says, “We are very excited to introduce this new topless glass railing system. It is one our most innovative products yet.”

The Panorama Universal Post is an end post, inline post and corner post in one. In addition to this multi-functionality, the Panorama Universal Post also has glass channels with the ability to angle 30 degrees in either direction for a full 60 degree angle variance which is an excellent feature for various design options like uniquely shaped or curved decks.



Panorama Universal Post easily accommodates curved or
custom shaped decks and balconies.

A thicker wall construction allows the Panorama Universal Post to also be used as a divider panel system or a wind wall system; and the glass channel can accept different types of glass or even alternate materials for a louver look.

If those aren’t enough design options for you, the Panorama Universal Post can also accommodate the addition of a top rail cap*, but with a bottomless railing look for your less-obstructed view.  The innovative design of this post offers endless solutions to various railing needs.

The second new addition this year is the “XL Park Rail Top Rail” - a 3 ½” x 2” top rail that can facilitate up to a 3 inch post to fit underneath it in a continuous run. The XL Park Rail Top Rail can also be used with the new Panorama Universal Post and a stock 2-1/2” post allowing for the “beefier wood look” to be achieved. This new top rail is available for both picket and glass systems.


XL Park Rail Top Rail Profile

Safety First,...then low maintenance peace-of-mind

The advantages of powder-coated aluminum versus wood railings are very significant when it comes to security. There is no risk of water infiltration or wood rot to weaken the structure which can be a problem with wooden railings that have not been maintained regularly.

Particularly in the summer time when people tend to gather on decks and use the guard rails as leaning posts and group photo locations, you don’t want to risk a structure weakened by water infiltration. Re-painting or re-sealing railing posts each year is far from an ideal solution.

Of course, the fact that Durarail and Excell powder coated aluminum railings do not require any maintenance at all is a huge advantage, particularly in rental properties where building maintenance can be intrusive or inconvenient for tenants. But first on most property owners’ minds is reducing liability. They must have railings that are manufactured to meet building code requirements, meet all safety requirements and have a solid warranty. Of course, the fact that Durarail and Excell railings look great too makes them a complete package and easy choice for new decks or deck renovation projects.

Have an enjoyable and safe summer season on your decks!

* The XL Park Rail Top Rail can be used with the new Panorama Universal Post

Duradek Reminds You That May is Deck Safety Month

Duradek is proud to support the North America Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) in its Deck Safety Month® program. NADRA launched this initiative back in 2006 in an effort to promote the enjoyment of beautiful outdoor living space in a safe environment.

NADRA estimates that there are 40 million decks in the U.S. that are over 20 years old, which means they were installed prior to today's building codes. This makes deck safety a critical issue that must be addressed and NADRA helps to make it easy by providing a Deck Safety Consumer Checklist and a Deck Safety Evaluation Form for builders.

Duradek is proud to support the North America Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) in its Deck Safety Month® program. NADRA launched this initiative back in 2006 in an effort to promote the enjoyment of beautiful outdoor living space in a safe environment.

NADRA estimates that there are 40 million decks in the U.S. that are over 20 years old, which means they were installed prior to today's building codes. This makes deck safety a critical issue that must be addressed and NADRA helps to make it easy by providing a Deck Safety Consumer Checklist and a Deck Safety Evaluation Form for builders.

These free tools are a fantastic resource for keeping all your deck renovation assessment details together and can be very handy to reference  when getting estimates or discussing project options. You can get both of these very handy free tools on the NADRA website Deck Safety page.

Make sure that your deck does not end up as a deck collapse statistic....remember to check your deck!