Deck Love in the Summer Leads to Makeover Plans

Ah, the bliss of summer deck love! We are right in the middle of the Dog Days of Summer (marked by the Old Farmer’s Almanac as the 40 days beginning July 3rd through August 11th) and for many of us, there is no place we'd rather be than on our decks; or the deck of our favourite restaurants, pubs, or friends.

As you are circulating decks this season, take note of what you like about the decks you visit. There are more decking options, furniture and accessories available today than ever, so what a great time for a deck makeover!

Ideas for a Deck Makeover

Your deck space doubles with two level decks.

Deck Love is a Long Term Commitment – Outdoor living space has become a favorite part of the home for many North Americans. The old style of constructing decks to a 10 foot by 20 foot single surface has been replaced by a growing number of expansive decks.

The best way to increase your outdoor living space is by using your second level deck as a roof for a deck area below. Deck waterproofing specialists like our Duradek trained applicators can provide a roof-grade deck surface on your upper level deck, enabling you to double your useable space with a protected lower level deck below.

This gives you the advantages of catching as much sun as you can on the top level AND protecting you with some shaded area below when you need it. Plus, let's face it, your deck is not a summer romance. You LOVE your deck and want to use it all year, and when you have protection from above that is possible.

A combination of topless glass railing and
picket railing were used on this deck

Get Creative With Railings – There are many styles of railings available for defining your outdoor living space. There are traditional picket railings made with powder coated aluminum that can provide the classic look of wrought iron without the need for maintenance, or you can choose glass railings, topless glass railings or stainless steel cable railings in some areas.

Go one step further and combine any of the above options for a completely unique look. Durarail powder coated aluminum railings allow for standard or custom designs, and incorporating unique features can provide the best of design and functionality for your individualized deck.

Panorama Universal Post gives you nearly limitless design options

  The Shape of Things to Come – There is no need to be stuck in same old rectangular shaped deck with today’s decking options. Choose octagonal, oval or multiple curves to create a unique shape that brings an element of contemporary style to the traditional feature of a deck.

Innovative new railing products like Durarail’s Panorama Universal Post that allows you to define a curved deck with a topless glass railing system that virtually “bends” around corners gives you almost limitless design options!

Muli-level decks create distinct outdoor 'rooms'.

Multi-Level Decks – Decking trends like outdoor kitchens, permanent (as opposed to seasonal) outdoor furniture and fire features contribute to the use of outdoor living space being used as often as any other room in your home. Incorporating multiple levels to your deck with distinct separation allows you to treat each level of your deck like a separate room. While your outdoor kitchen is on one level, your lounging area can be another and your spa is on yet another…the possibilities are endless based on your favorite leisure activities.

When your deck surface is protected with Duradek vinyl, the area below is kept dry; and even if a lower level of your deck is only elevated a couple of feet, that provides some great dry storage for gardening supplies, camping gear or other outdoor toys.

Want to show your deck a little love? Contact one of our Duradek installers to discuss your deck make-over options.  

Membrane Roof Covering for Walking Decks - Building Code Requirements

Clarifying the Building Code Specifics for a Walkable Vinyl Roof Deck Membrane

Outdoor living areas have become a popular part of the design of both single family and multi-residential projects. Buyers are a mix of younger families or downsizing empty-nesters – both groups of which are choosing to live in modern designs with little or no maintenance requirements so they have more time to enjoy living. These types of homes often have no space for entertaining friends or family so architects and designers are exploring cost effective ways to open up the home by offering outdoor living spaces like roof decks.

But the IBC has no area that specifically addresses walkable roofing. This can put building officials in a tough spot; code requires a roofing approved product. But when these creative designs come into play and the roof will be used for pedestrian traffic, furniture, hot tubs and the like what should be done? This is the grey area.

Membrane roof coverings are designed, manufactured and tested to withstand direct “service” foot traffic. Slip resistance, and abrasion resistance from sustained loads are not part of a roofing membrane standard’s criteria, but are essential to pedestrian traffic membrane.

Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

It is not mandatory that the AHJ use evaluation reports, but rather evaluation reports are there to facilitate a product’s acceptance by an AHJ. ICC-ES evaluation reports remove the burden of determining a product’s proof of Code compliance for its intended use.

ICC-ES Evaluation Report requirements for a membrane roof covering suitable for pedestrian traffic:

The International Code Council (ICC) developed and administers the International Building Code (IBC). ICC Evaluation Services (ICC-ES), a subsidiary of ICC, is an approved agency which provides evaluation reports that can be used to determine if a unique product is suitable for its intended use.

ICC-ES creates acceptance criteria (AC) for products with a similar usage. In the case of Duradek Ultra Roof and Walking Deck membrane it is AC 39 for Walking Decks and AC 75 for Membrane Roof Covering Systems.

Acceptance Criteria (AC) are scrutinized and updated to meet the ever-evolving International Codes.

For a comprehensive overview of the criteria required for AC 39 for Walking Decks and AC 75 for Membrane Roof Covering Systems, here are some great resources put together by Duradek’s technical manager, Len Viegener for your reference:

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)

 For more product test and evaluation results, visit Duradek’s Testing and Approvals page or email our office to request further information.

Source: https://www.duradek.com/membrane-roof-covering-for-walking-decks-building-code-requirements/

Debunking the Vinyl Decking 'Rip Test'

You may encounter some competing vinyl manufacturers performing some demonstrative parlor tricks intended to lead you to believe that one vinyl product is better than another, but we encourage you to see past the flim-flam and look at what is actually important in evaluating a deck vinyl.

Vinyl decking is FULLY adhered to a solid surface, so to be able to take a loose piece off of your deck and tear it is just not realistic at all.

Would that mean it makes sense to show that the thin layers of wood veneer that make up plywood can be torn in half independently, and then claim that makes plywood a product that does not pass the ‘rip test’?

Or does a fabric bandage that can be torn before being applied mean that it does not pass the ‘rip test’ and therefore not suitable to cover a paper cut?

What about latex paint? If you’ve ever had an old can of unused latex paint, you know that when it goes unused and dries to a plasticy, rubbery solid, it can be ripped. Does that mean you have to be worried that when the paint is on your wall, you should be concerned about it ripping?

Of course not. That is ridiculous.

If you are comparing pros and cons on a product, look at factors of its actual use that has some pertinence.



Elasticity is a far more relevant and realistic requirement to address environmental expansion and contraction.

We recommend you look at the Actual test requirements for these products from various building code testing agencies (such as meeting roofing membrane and pedestrian surface requirements), not evaluating based on theatrical demonstrations.

To view the testing results of Duradek for its actual use, visit www.duradek.com/testing-approvals/.

Originally posted at https://www.duradek.com/vinyl-deck-product-choice-myths-2/

Demand for Outdoor Living Space Creates Development Trend in Vancouver

The increasing demand for outdoor living space is seen all over North America, but cities like Vancouver help drive this trend with its mild climate, gorgeous views and abundance of talented designers, developers and products created specifically to best build a deck.

Local specialty building products like Duradek vinyl deck membranes help to accomplish the ideal outdoor living space with the fundamental of reliable waterproof protection to take care of the practical implications of decks and balconies, but the cascading business effect of this trend reaches landscape architects, builders, designers and artisan craftsmen working with decking, fencing, masonry and retailers with décor.

According to the Vancouver Sun article “Vancouver Home Buyers Fuel Outdoor Living Trend”, one condo developer is even favouring large balconies over space for a dining table and a second bathroom. They key is to make outdoor space livable, regardless of whether it is a single family home or a large multi-residential condo.

“We are seeing the trend affect the architecture in neighbourhoods as well,” said interior designer and project manager Benjamin Simpson, who works largely with west-side Vancouver’s $2 million-plus single-family homes.

“Modern, flat roof construction allows for large rooftop patios that have been a huge selling feature for the spec homes we have designed.” said Simpson, co-owner of Blank Canvas Interiors. Simpson claims that clients used to spend half as much on their exterior budget than indoors but “now it’s almost par,”. Sixty percent of Simpson’s clients now ask for exterior design – five years ago it would have been half that.

Duradek is the foundation of enjoyable outdoor living space.

A product like Duradek vinyl decking is the most fundamental investment for accomplishing this design trend with its roof grade waterproof protection. Duradek is a roofing membrane and walking surface in one, and provides reliable waterproof protection without the need for ongoing maintenance, which is a huge advantage to home owners to save them the cost and time involved in higher maintenance waterproofing systems and deck surfaces.

Vancouver building experts have known and trusted Duradek for decades. Local building celebrity Shell Busey has recommended Duradek vinyl decking from way back on his House Smart television segments, his House Smart Referral Network, and as recently as last month in a Vancouver Province column “Ask Shell”. In this instance, Shell was recommending Duradek’s Tiledek membrane above traditional torch-down products for waterproofing under a stamped concrete roof deck.

In a high-rainfall climate, Vancouver building professionals have to be confident that their waterproofing is handled expertly. That is where Duradek has earned the reputation for reliable waterproof protection. Originating in BC over 40 years ago, Duradek knows the waterproofing and aesthetic value of their decking product…but Duradek also knows that no matter how great a waterproofing product is, it has to be installed correctly to perform as intended. This is why Duradek is only available as an installed product through its network of trained, waterproofing professionals throughout North America.

If you are planning on creating new outdoor living space or renovating an existing deck or balcony, be sure to consult with a Duradek vinyl decking expert before you begin your project….and remember, Not All Vinyl is Created Equal.

NOTE TO THOSE IN THE VANCOUVER, BC AREA:

Be sure to plan to visit Duradek at the fall Vancouver Home & Design Show on October 22-25 in a new location this year at the Vancouver Convention Center West. You’ll find Duradek at booth #122 and it’s a great opportunity to see the latest Duradek patterns and colours first hand and talk to someone about your decking needs. Hope to see you there!

Coast to Coast Collapses Demonstrates Need For Deck Maintenance

Another deck collapse recently made the headlines; this time from a family gathering at a seaside vacation home at Emerald Isle, NC on July 4th, 2015. This instance took 26 family members down with the deck when it failed, sending 16 people to hospital with emergency responders and another 4-6 people from private transport. At least 5 of the injured parties were in critical condition. It was supposed to be a happy occasion intended to be captured by camera but instead became a nightmare its victims would like to forget.

According to the final report from Emerald Isle town manager (link to official press release below), 26 people were injured in the collapse. A building official concluded that corroded fasteners were the primary contributor that brought the 8-foot by 10-foot section of deck crashing 9 feet to the ground.

This follows last month’s horrific Berkley balcony collapse that claimed the lives of 6 of the 13 students that occupied the 4th floor balcony when it detached from the building. In this instance, the balcony reportedly detached from the building and swung down at a 90 degree angle sending all of its occupants to the ground below. A Berkley Building and Safety Division inspector said the deck’s severed joist ends looked “extensively rotted”. The outer beams of the balcony had sustained “significant rot and decay”. CNN succinctly summarizes this story and the findings in the official report.

It’s an all-too-familiar story of summer celebration turning tragic and why Duradek is an active supporter of the North America Deck and Railing Association’s Deck Safety Program. This deck safety initiative was created to increase public awareness on deck safety issues as well as provide some very useful tools for both consumers and professionals on deck evaluations and maintenance.

Deck maintenance is not just to keep your outdoor living space attractive. Deck waterproofing is critical in maintaining the structural integrity of your deck.


See page 31 in the online magazine for "Three
Common Deck Collapse Factors..."

From west coast to east coast, the contributing factors to deck collapse are often the same and Duradek addressed these issues in Landlord BC’s ‘The Key’ publication in the summer 2015 issue with “Three Common Deck Collapse Factors and How to Avoid Them” (.pdf).

In most deck collapse occurrences, the decks were originally built to code, but water infiltration and its resulting damage appear to be the primary contributors to the collapses. Weakened wood from dry rot and fasteners disintegrated by corrosion would leave any deck unable to support the load it was originally built to sustain.

It is important to remember that while a deck is a cherished part of the home, its maintenance requirements are very different from most other parts of the home as it is the only load bearing part of the home that is under constant exposure to the elements.

In the final Emerald Isle report, town manager Frank Rush wrote, “North Carolina General Statures do not currently grant authority to NC cities and counties to conduct periodic building code or deck inspections of vacation rental units. Routine inspections of vacation rental units / exiting homes are the responsibility of the property owner and / or property management company.”

See the Emerald Isle final press release on the incident that includes building official’s findings, as well as police and emergency responders’ official incident reports (http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/pdfs/PressRelease07072015-DeckCollapseFinalReport.pdf), or an overview of the story on Emerald Isle Deck Collapse on the WNCN.

Duradek vinyl deck membranes have been waterproofing decks and balconies for over 40 years. With this experience we know that when it comes to waterproofing, it is all in the details which is why Duradek is not available as a do-it-yourself product. Deck waterproofing is a specialty trade and general contractors may not have a full understanding of the specific details and techniques required for long lasting deck waterproof integrity.

To speak to a Duradek professional installer about your decking project, look for a Duradek Dealer in your area for a no obligation estimate.

Duradek Compares Vinyl Decking Warranties

At Duradek, we pride ourselves on having the best warranty in the vinyl decking industry, but we wouldn’t want to be complacent in our assumptions of offering the industry’s best warranty without checking out what other vinyl manufacturers are offering with their warranties from time to time.

We encourage you to do a similar comparison on vinyl decking product warranties before you make your product choice as well. There are several ways that a company can portray that it has a great warranty, but it is up to the homeowner to determine its real value. Don’t be swayed by being sold on a point that really isn’t that important.  Similar vinyl products can be vastly different in their performance and their warranties can make that difference even broader still when you read the fine print and ask specific questions.

In evaluating the Product Warranty of 8 vinyl decking manufacturers, in most cases there is some variation of the statement, “The vinyl will be Free of Manufacturing Defects that may results in Leaks”.

Further to this, we noted some insightful questions for you to ask so that you can assess what actual value a vinyl decking product warranty provides to the end-user.


What exactly is the ‘Product Warranty’?

The Product Warranty is relevant only to the actual material and protects you from leaks resulting from a manufacturing defect. Given the nature of pvc (polyvinyl chloride) membranes, once vinyl decking is installed on a deck, any issues resulting from a manufacturing defect would typically be discovered during the first year or two (after the deck has gone through all seasons). If you have not experienced any defects in the material in the first year, you can be fairly confident that the vinyl was manufactured to adequate standards. So whether your vinyl ‘Product Warranty’ term is for 10 years or 15 years makes little difference since any manufacturers defects would be discovered long before the duration of the warranty term.

Does the Vinyl have an ‘Appearance Warranty’?

Since decking products are continually exposed to the elements, there will always be some level of appearance degradation over time, but there can be a big difference in what is considered ‘normal’ aging versus a product with an appearance failure.  Most vinyl manufacturers will specifically state that they do not cover any appearance issues. But what happens if your brand new vinyl decking displays an extreme change in appearance over and above normal aging? With many vinyl decking warranties, you have no recourse if your vinyl’s appearance failed but the waterproofing was still performing.

Duradek’s warranty, however, offers 5 years of protection on surface appearance. That provides a higher level of real protection so that homeowners aren’t left with an aesthetically unsatisfying deck surface even if the waterproofing is still intact. Of course, this appearance warranty is applied only to manufacturing issues over and above normal aging and weathering and not resulting from misuse or neglect.  If a company is not willing to warranty the appearance of their product, then one should always question, "Why not?".

Does the Vinyl have a ‘Workmanship Warranty’?

Many vinyl deck membranes offer a warranty only on the actual product, but some do offer a limited warranty on workmanship. Vinyl membranes are one of the most superior methods of waterproofing when installed correctly, but shoddy installation and poor details can result in leaks for the homeowner. That is why Duradek is not a do-it-yourself product and is only available as an installed product through trained and authorized dealers. Duradek’s warranty includes a separate workmanship warranty that is dictated by the installation company. Any performance issues resulting from installation can be addressed specifically with the installing company.

If repair or replacement is offered as the Product Warranty solution, is labour included? What about for an Appearance Issue?

Some vinyl decking product warranties allow for repairing or replacing the affected portion of the membrane, but not necessarily the labour required to install the replacement product to complete the repair. Duradek covers the cost of both material and labour on repairing vinyl that has failed due to a manufacturing defect. Further, if a vinyl deck appearance warranty claim was made in the first 2 years of its 5 year term, Duradek would cover the labour costs on that as well (past the 2nd year to the 5th year, the customer would be responsible for the labour on appearance issues).

If a refund is offered as the Product Warranty solution, is it based on what the customer paid, or simply the wholesale cost of the vinyl that the Installation Company paid?

Some vinyl decking manufacturers, particularly the ones that have longer term warranties, offer a refund amount on a failed deck. This refund amount is sometimes a percentage of the cost of the vinyl membrane that decreases each year of the warranty term. So if a vinyl deck membrane were to fail half way through the warranty term, the homeowner may only be provided with half the cost of the vinyl. Not only does that not address the cost of labour to replace the failed deck, but that portion of the vinyl cost can be the wholesale cost of the vinyl to the installing company, not what the homeowner paid. So in the interest in avoiding a lot of boring mathematics, suffice it to say that a refund based warranty, even when covering a 15 year term, does not leave the homeowner with adequate funds to replace the failed deck.

How long has the vinyl decking manufacturer been around? How many warranty cycles has it been through?

When it comes to building products, new does not always mean better. When investing in your home, would you rather take a chance on a new, unproven product or choose a product that has a proven performance history? If a company has been around long enough to have gone through several warranty cycles, they can be confident that their product performs as intended and as their warranty promises. For example, Duradek with a 10 year warranty has been around for over 40 years, and has seen Duradek vinyl perform for 3 times as long as its warranty coverage.

Is the vinyl decking warranty transferable to a new owner?

Most vinyl decking warranties are not transferable to a new owner; however Duradek is proud to stand by its warranty even when the building it is installed on is sold to a new owner. While having a new Duradek deck is something to be enjoyed, it is also a great value-added feature on homes being sold to have a reliable, low-maintenance deck. Duradek honors warranties when the home has been sold (but the new homeowner must be able to provide some documentation of when the work was performed to process any warranty claim).

Even low-maintenance vinyl needs occasional cleaning
and annual inspection for any sealant details.

What are the homeowner’s maintenance responsibilities?

It is important for homeowners to note that most vinyl decking warranties will indicates what maintenance responsibilities must be performed to keep their warranty intact. Similar to automobile warranties, there are some maintenance tasks that if not performed will void a warranty. Homeowners should be prepared to perform cleaning and an annual inspection and maintenance of any sealant (caulking) that applies to their deck.

What’s Really in the Warranty

Overall, the general length of the warranty term does not hold as much relevance to actual protection for the home owner as some of the other restrictions and limitations.

We found it very interesting to note that several vinyl decking companies had either very little or no public information on their warranty programs, which in itself raises a question.

According to the information we have available, at this date, there are some clear advantages to Duradek’s warranty:

• Duradek is the Only Company to Offer a Warranty that is Transferable to a New Owner.
• Duradek is the Only Company to Offer an Appearance Warranty.
• Duradek is the Only Company to Cover Labour Costs on Appearance Related Issues (and perhaps even Product Related issues).
• Duradek is the Only Company that has been around for over 4 Warranty Cycles (Over 40 Years).

All in all, Duradek is proud of our warranty and how we handle warranty issues. We feel that we actually Do what we state and often go over and above.

As you can see, the length of the warranty term is only one small factor in what the warranty actually will do for you. If you had a deck that looked like this one below after only a year, we are pretty sure you’d want a vinyl warranty that includes appearance and would cover the installation cost for the replacement.



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

If you’d like a little more detailed information on Duradek for your decking needs, contact one of our trained and authorized Duradek Dealers near you.

Other resources you may find useful in your research on vinyl decking:

• Vinyl Purchase Checklist (pdf)
• Before You Buy, Consider This (pdf)
• Duradek Warranty (pdf)