32 Barbecue Tips and 1 Great Deck Solution for your Holiday ‘Staycation’

A good old-fashioned barbecue is still an occasion that most draws people out to their decks. During the summer holidays is the perfect time to gather with friends and family on decks and patios for this favorite activity. Not only do you get to show off your gorgeous deck, but you can show off your superior grilling skills too.

Last week we talked about the popularity of outdoor kitchens, but whether you have an expansive outdoor kitchen or a very basic, simple barbecue grill, we’ve got some great tips to help you host the best barbecues ever during your national holiday, the rest of your summer…and with the right decking set-up, all year long!

Meaningful Marinade Facts

1.  Marinate your meat in advance. Marinades don’t just flavour the meat, it also tenderises.
2. While some experts recommend an overnight marinade, most cuts of meat only need 20 minutes to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
3. Build your marinade with a combination of acid, oil and flavouring like a good salad dressing. A good guideline is a 1:3 ratio of acidity to oil.
4. The acidity tenderizes the food and contributes to tanginess while the oil provides moisture and richness.
5. Chose light olive oil or vegetable oil over extra-virgin olive oil (while that might be good for salads and sauces extra-virgin olive oil burns and smokes on contact).
6. Marinating more than 2 hours can over-soften some meats or give a tough texture from the acid from citrus or vinegar (never use lemon or lime in a marinade more than 2 hours).
7. Smaller, more delicate foods require a shorter soak.
8. Avoid using pineapple juice as it is destructive, breaking down meat and fish fibres.
9. Marinating meat does more than just tenderise and infuse the meat with flavor; it also inhibits the formation of potentially carcinogenic HCAs (heterocyclic amines) which form when grilling “muscle meats” like poultry, red meat and fish. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), marinating can reduce HCA formation by as much as 92-99%.
10. Marinate in strong plastic bags or use non-reactive containers like stainless steel or glass.

Preparedness is the Key to Successful Barbecue

1. Think ahead. Before you start grilling, make sure you have all you need all the way through to the dining table. Have all of your accompanying side dishes prepared in advance. Make sure you have plenty of gas or charcoal on hand before starting and be sure to start with a clean grill, your barbecue seasonings on hand, cooking tools and utensils, clean plates for removing the food from the grill and your serving plates all ready to go.
2. Remove your marinating meat from the refrigerator at least 15-20 minutes before grilling to bring to room temperature before placing on the grill. This helps to ensure you reach the right internal temperature and cook throughout without burning the surface to a crisp.
3. Pre-heat your grill15-25 minutes before you want to start cooking. A good pre-heat will help to kill any bacteria on the grilling racks. Use a wire brush to brush off any charred debris when the grill is hot (and scrape it again immediately after use).
4. A good pre-heated grill sears the food on contact, but keeps the insides moist and helps prevent sticking.
5. To start a charcoal grill, use of a Chimney Starter makes it a breeze. Simply crumple up a little paper, but it on the bottom, fill with charcoal and light the papers. In about 15-20 minutes you have coals ready to spread in the bottom of the grill with no need to use kindling or fluid which can cause unpleasant taste in your food.
6. To gauge grill temperature without a thermometer, place your open palm about 5 inches above the grill rack. If you have to move your hand in 2 seconds, the temperature is high. If you move your hand in 5 seconds, your temperature is medium and if you move your hand at 10 seconds, the temperature is low.
7. Oil your grill to further prevent sticking. Even on a clean grill, lean foods can stick when directly on a rack. By using a folded paper towel soaked in vegetable oil and held with a tong, you can rub it over the entire rack. Be sure NOT to use spray oil on a hot grill.
8. Food Safety Tip: avoid cross contamination by using separate cutting boards for raw and cooked foods, refrigerate foods while marinating, and NEVER baste with the marinating liquid (Make extra marinade just for basting).
9. Don’t cook cold meat. Bring it up to room temperature to help get the internal temperature on the grill without burning the surface. Using thinner steaks makes it easier to get the inside temperature right.

 Grilling it Right

1. Be sure to use lean cuts of meat or trim excess fat and remove poultry skin. This will reduce flare-ups which happen when fat drips onto the heat source and catches fire which reportedly causes carcinogenic PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and can accumulate on the food being grilled.
2. If flare ups do occur, some experts recommend keeping a squirt bottle on hand to squelch unexpected flare-ups, but others say avoid the use of water bottles as they can just spread the burning oil…instead just close the grill lid and cutting of the oxygen will not allow the flames to survive.
3. Before placing on the grill, be sure to pat the meat dry from the marinade to properly sear (still wet with marinade will steam the meat and you can lose that caramelized texture you are going for with the grill.
4. Foods that are small and finicky might fall through the grill rack or may be too cumbersome to turn over one-by-one ideally make use of a grill basket.
5. If you are using bamboo skewers, be sure to soak them in water before use.
6. Avoid over-turning your meat. To get the ideal, caramelized barbecue crust on your meat, only turn it once or twice.
7. Don’t squish down the meat and force the juices out. That just leaves you with an overly dry protein.
8. Don’t be afraid to expand your barbecue horizons…play with pre and post cooking marinades, dry rubs, skewers, cooking in parcels, slow cooking and smoking.
9. To add the ‘smoke’ flavour to your meat, wood chips can be placed directly on charcoal grill coals, or make a simple foil basket filled with wood chips to place on grates directly over the heat on a gas grill.
10. When roasting, place the meat over indirect heat (or flame-free area). If you need to create an in-direct cooking area, just turn one burner off on a gas grill or simply push coals to one side on a charcoal grill. Keep the lid of the grill closed and avoid opening repeatedly as it can take 10 minutes for the temperature to climb back up after opening the lid.
11. When cooking chicken, boneless cuts cook well over direct heat, but bone-in pieces require a longer cook time and should be placed over indirect head to avoid burning outside and getting a cook all the way through.
12. At the end of cooking time, season or add a glaze for extra flavor. Melted jam is the quickest and easiest glaze and should be brushed on at the end of cooking or immediately when removed from grill.
13. After cooking, let the meat rest on a clean platter for about 10 minutes. While some experts recommend covering with tented foil, others claim this can make your meat soggy with the steam so we recommend tenting your foil to keep the heat in while your meat in settling, letting the juices permeate back through the meat fibres, but cut a small venting hole in the foil to allow any steam to escape.

But My Deck Leaves Much to be Desired…. What do I do?

If you want to show off your barbecue expertise but are not thrilled at the idea of hosting a barbecue on an unattractive, neglected deck, how can you transform your high maintenance, unsightly deck into one you’d be proud of and could allow you to enjoy grilling throughout the year?...

1. Contact one of our skilled Duradek professionals to help transform your old deck into a gorgeous, low maintenance place of leisure. Act fast to reach a busy Duradek installer and you can potentially have a deck transformation before the Labor Day weekend!

There you have it! Everything you need to know to host the best barbecues on your beautiful Duradek deck this summer.

Enjoy your Holidays!

Outdoor Kitchen Fundamentals from Duradek

Outdoor kitchens are a feature that homeowners are increasingly interested in adding to their residential outdoor living space. Whether expansive roof decks or small ground level patios, cooking outdoors is on the top of the list for many homeowners.

Barbecue grill manufacturers are making huge advances in grilling equipment that are very functional and have features similar to interior kitchens making old table-top hibachis nearly as obsolete as cassette tapes. Deck designs that include built-in grills with counter space, refrigerators and warming drawers and now becoming common place. When it comes to outdoor cooking space, it seems that the larger the space to work with, the larger the kitchen being installed.



Duradek gives outdoor kitchens attractive outdoor flooring
as well as roof grade protection above for year round use.

One fundamental outdoor kitchen design detail in which Duradek is proud to contribute allows homeowners to use their outdoor kitchens year-round. By providing a roof-grade waterproof surface on upper level decks, homeowners can enjoy the advantage of a lower level deck protected from the elements so they can cook and be out of the rain or the hot sun.

The ideal place for kitchens is under or below an existing 2^nd level deck and we offer several solutions keeping the under deck dry and waterproof. The most common deck we see is wood boards on the deck surface with space between the boards. When it rains water will leak through to the lower deck, leaves and other debris fall through to the area below, or leaves and pine needles end up stuck between the boards holding moisture for a breeding ground for insects.

Duradek 60 mil vinyl decking membrane is one easy way to waterproof an elevated deck making the upper deck look great, and at the same time, keep the under deck dry.

Duradek vinyl provides complete waterproof protection with an attractive look that truly transforms deck surfaces into designer outdoor flooring. Extending the design of the interior of the home to the outdoors, Duradek helps to create outdoor living space and makes outdoor kitchens a cohesive part of the home’s design.

For a Lower Deck: If you have waterproofed the upper-deck, it is likely your under-deck will be a concrete surface. If you’re installing a new kitchen under your protected deck, you are going to want the flooring in your outdoor kitchen to look good as well….solution: Duradek.

Prefer the look of tile for your outdoor kitchen? Don't forget to
include Tiledek under-tile waterproofing membrane below.

Now on both upper and lower level decks, Duradek provides the homeowners with more usable space for outdoor living and gives outdoor kitchens a polished look and the ability to be used year-round.
Prefer the look of tile? Another option Duradek presents is Tiledek, an under-tile waterproofing membrane. Tile deck surfaces are a popular choice for outdoor kitchens, but it is important not to overlook the critical detail of waterproofing. Many homeowners have been caught off-guard with expensive repairs because proper waterproofing consideration was not given to outdoor tile projects.

You can do it right the first time with Duradek’s Tiledek membrane specifically designed for use in exterior tile assemblies.



This elevated poolside deck uses Tiledek under-tile membrane
to provide roof grade waterproof protection for the kitchen below.

The full outdoor kitchen below with plumbing and electrical
is totally protected from above and can be used year round.

Whether you prefer the look of tile or one of the many attractive colours and patterns of Duradek vinyl membranes, outdoor kitchens get a great foundation and can be used year-round when the design includes Duradek.

Contact a Duradek dealer in your area to discuss your decking needs.

Vinyl Decking Product Myths

Debunking the 'Acetone Test' Myth

Duradek, the original vinyl deck membrane, was the only product of its type back when it was first introduced in 1974.

Today there is a large variety of vinyl manufacturers presenting vinyl deck membranes of various widths, thicknesses and styles. And as most of us will agree, Not All Vinyl is Created Equal.

In this competitive environment, there is unfortunately a lot of flim-flam and parlour tricks being presented by some manufacturers to attempt to make their product appear to perform better than the others. When you are building a deck, be sure to chose products that are proven to perform as intended, not just touted to do things unrelated to its actual intended use.

Look at this short video clip where Duradek president, John Ogilvie discusses one of the claims being made in the Acetone Test.



So, how often do you have big containers of Acetone on your deck? The most common household use of acetone is nail polish remover, and as any woman who paints her nails knows, you always put the cap back on your nail polish remover right away to avoid spilling and discolouring any material.

Is withstanding discolouration from an acetone spill really a valid factor in choosing your vinyl deck product?

Is it reasonable to be running around on a deck with a can of acetone? Obviously, not. We feel it's about as 'reasonable' as evaluating your vinyl decking to how it stands up against an Ice Pick Test or a Blow Torch Test...all of which have very little relevance to real-life, day-to-day use of a sundeck. In over 40 years of business, Duradek has never once had an acetone warranty claim.

So don't be persuaded by irrelevant tests. Check the tests that really matter.

The take-away here is that you need to evaluate what is actually important. What really matters in selecting your vinyl decking are these four key points:

• Company Reputation and History
• Quality of Trained Contractors
• A product that withstands what it is actually exposed to...water and UV rays.
• A Warranty that includes both the performance of the material AND appearance

Remember, vinyl decking brands come from different sources which are all produced to their own unique specifications and standards. Some sheet vinyl deck products available are produced in North America (like Duradek) and others come from off-shore manufacturers, but all have their own unique 'recipes' to create their unique product.

When you are choosing your vinyl deck membrane, be sure to select one that has a proven history and a warranty that actually provides some reasonable recourse should the product not perform as promised. With Duradek you can be confident that your deck and your home are protected with style.

To speak to a trained and authorized Duradek installer in your area about your decking needs, visit our Find a Dealer page.

Be cautious of competitors using parlour tricks that are used to distract from real issues and meaningful tests, such as Weather Testing  (such as accelerated weathering ASTM G-90 shown below).

40 Years in Business and not once, ever have we seen, heard about or handled a complaint about acetone!

Building a Deck that Meets Code

While building a deck for your home may seem like a fun, do-it-yourself project, the truth of the matter is that deck construction is a specialty trade. Even general contractors with plenty of building experience may not have the specific knowledge and experience required to construct a structurally safe and attractive deck that meets building code.

There are a number of International Residential Code requirements that are specific to building a safe deck that are not required for most other areas of a home. Decks have two very distinctive and significant contributors to make them such a unique feature requiring special consideration:

1 – The density of occupants on a deck are often far greater than in any other part of the home.

2 – The deck is the only a load-bearing pedestrian surface of a home that is under constant exposure to the elements.

These two factors combined make building codes critical to ensuring the safety of a deck’s future occupants – not just in how the deck is constructed, but also in what materials are used. Whether you are motivated by protecting your family or by reducing potential liability, the following information is critical in building a deck.

The Two Most Important Code Resources for Deck Builders

1 – ICC Approved International Building Code Resource Book

2 – ICC Approved Product Evaluation Reports

International Residential Code (IRC) Reference Book for Deck Building

While the 2015 IRC is complete, many jurisdictions still rely on the 2009 IRC as their standard. Deck builders have the distinct advantage of the availability of a specific Deck Construction Code Book written by one of the industry’s key players, Glenn Mathewson. Glenn Mathewson is an active North America Deck & Railing Association (NADRA) member and is one of the most knowledgeable professionals in the decking industry. He produced the Deck Construction Code Book in partnership with the North America Deck & Railing Association (NADRA) and the International Code Council (ICC).



This specialty reference book takes all decking related code out of the cumbersome 2009 IRC (an 868 page book with decking references in multiple sections) and reduces it down to a concise 270 page decking reference that is much easier for decking professionals to understand. It includes photos and commentary from Mr. Mathewson as well as exact printed reference of the 2009 IRC codes.

International Code Council (ICC) Product Evaluation Reports

Using the right products for your deck building projects is just as important as the construction methods used to ensure a safe and reliable deck. When you are planning your projects and selecting the products to be used, be sure to review a copy of the product’s ICC-ES Report.

When a product has an ICC-ES Report you can see first-hand what specific use(s) for which the product has been evaluated, as well as any products it is used in conjunction with, its installation requirements and what kind of 3rd party testing was conducted to prove its suitability for a particular use.

It is important to note the distinction between an ICC-ES Listed product vs. an ICC-ES Evaluated product which goes through a much more rigorous testing procedure.

Duradek, another industry leader and proud NADRA member, has been around long enough to know the importance of having the performance based ICC-ES Evaluation Report. Duradek’s evaluation (ICC-ES ESR-2151) proves the effectiveness of Duradek’s performance as both a roofing membrane and a pedestrian traffic coating to give our customers the peace-of-mind to know the product will perform as it is intended.

To help our customers and future customers understand and use ICC-ES Reports to their full advantage, Duradek Technical Manager, Len Viegener has produced a couple of easy-to-follow pieces to educate even the most non-technical minded individuals on the value of these reports and how to read them. With a unique product like vinyl deck membranes that does not have its own specific evaluation criteria but instead relies on two distinctly separate evaluated features (in this case, traffic coating and roofing membrane) it is even more important to understand what to look for and why.

The latest document, “Why is an Evaluation Report so Important” breaks down what material standards apply, which building code authority has jurisdiction over those standards and how that leads to the final evaluation report.

Understanding Evaluation Reports from Duradek (PDFs):

CCMC on Membrane Roof Decks Evaluation Reports

• Why is an Evaluation Report so Important | in Canada/CCMC (2 page .pdf)
• Duradek’s CCMC Evaluation Report 13134-R (4 page .pdf)

ICC on Membrane Roof Decks Evaluation Reports

• Why is an Evaluation Report So Important | in U.S./ICC-ES (2 page .pdf)
• Duradek’s ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-2151 (3 page .pdf)

• The Anatomy of an ICC-ES Report (2 page .pdf/tri-fold style brochure)

Deck Building Code Resources from Glenn Mathewson, MCP:

• Deck Construction Based on the 2009 IRC
• Building Code College – Building Code for Building Decks (4 Courses)