Deck Building Products’ Testing Credentials – 3 Key Considerations

Duradek is proud to offer a building product for your decks that has proven to be reliable in both laboratory testing and actual decking applications in our 40 year history. During those 40 years in use, Duradek has met every single test we must meet to assure you that the products we are offering you meet the building code industry standards.

Since Duradek is both a pedestrian traffic surface as well as a waterproofing membrane, it goes through more than double the testing requirements than either a traffic coating or roofing membrane must undergo independently. These rigorous testing requirements are in place to give you the peace-of-mind that a product as important as one that protects the building envelope of your home is one that you can rely on.

There are few very important factors for you to consider when evaluating a deck building product’s testing credentials:

1 – Is there a 3rd party quality control program in place?

We live in a changing world and what was true a few years ago is not necessarily true today. In some instances, a product has been tested and evaluated as having met building code requirements; but over time manufacturing procedures can change. Duradek is proud to retain the services of Quality Auditing Institute to maintain a 3rd party quality control program. With this quality control program in place, Duradek can confidently assure you that we continually meet the same high standards as we did when our product was tested to show we meet current building code requirements.

2 – Is the product merely listed with an evaluation service or actually tested by the evaluation service?

Some third-party evaluation services offer the option for a Product Listing which is different from a Product Evaluation. While these are presented in a very similar manner, they are quite different.

The major difference between an evaluation report and a listing is that a listing will cover an individual trait that requires compliance with a specific, existing individual standard; where an evaluation will show a review of the product and the multiple traits needed to meet or be an equivalent to what is required in the code; particularly in instances where no specific code exists.”

According to the National Research Council of Canada which governs the CCMC, “An evaluation report is CCMC’s technical opinion on the compliance of a product or system to a code, primarily the National Building Code of Canada (NBC). It applies mainly to innovative products for which there are no specific standards that have been referenced in the code. The product is evaluated as an “alternative” solution. An evaluation listing is a technical statement indicating that a product complies with a specific standard. This service is specific only to products that have standards.”

What is important for you to note in this case when evaluating vinyl deck membranes, is that there is no existing specific standard for 'walkable roofing membranes'. The National Building Codes only acknowledge roofing membranes...there is no sub-group for 'walkable' roofing membranes - yet.  So this is where the evaluation services come in to create criteria that addresses both
1 – a walkable deck membrane; and
2 - a roofing membrane.

Any vinyl deck membrane that offers a CCMC Listing has submitted testing criteria to show it meets requirements of only a roofing membrane which means it was not evaluated as a walkable roof deck membrane. Additionally, a product that is listed does not have to keep a 3rd party quality control program in place.

Duradek Ultra vinyl deck membrane holds a current CCMC Report (CCMC 13134-R) showing that we meet the requirements of BOTH a pedestrian traffic coating and a roofing membrane and is under a third-party Quality Control program.

3 – Is the product evaluation you are reviewing the results for the actual product you are purchasing?

One more thing to be aware of is a basic bait-and-switch tactic where you might be initially presented with product test evaluations for a brand’s premium product, but then you are quoted on a value brand that has not been held to the same high standards. Be sure to verify that the product you are actually getting is the one that has the product testing and evaluations to prove it meets building code requirements.

The Takeaway on Deck Building Products Testing Credentials

While testing and evaluation reports may not be a favorite source of reading material, be sure to carefully review the tests and evaluations when choosing a new building product. Know what the product is tested to meet and know that the test results you review apply to the product you are purchasing.

Most importantly, choose a product that incorporates a 3rd party quality control program to ensure that products tested, and their manufacturing process, maintain consistency for the measure of quality it was evaluated to comply with.

Useful Resources: (.pdf download links)

• The Anatomy of an ICC Report
• Time Tested and Approved – Testing and Approvals Checklist
• Techtalk #164 – Duradek Ultra Meets North America Building Code Standards as a Walkable Roofing Membrane
• ICC on Membrane Roof Decks - US
• CCMC on Membrane Roof Decks - Canada

Duradek Vinyl Decking may Help you Sell Your House

One of the advantages of using Duradek vinyl decking on your home’s deck or patio is that Duradek has a value that contributes to the overall value of your home which can be transferred to a new owner. Not only because Duradek’s attractive, waterproof performance requires no annual labour, but also because Duradek has an industry leading warranty that is transferable to the home’s new owner if you sell your house during the 10-year warranty coverage period.

Duradek is frequently included as a value-added feature of a residential property in real estate listings, and this example published in the Globe and Mail on August 12, 2015 in the first paragraph of this article, headed “What they Got”, Duradek is listed as a top feature of a recent upgrade.

The fact that Duradek is perceived and noted as an important feature of a home should tell you two important things about what home buyers want (and don’t want).

- Home buyers want their residence to be constructed of reliable materials that will not require ongoing labour.

- Home buyers want proven, reliable products and to be protected if those products fail.

Deck waterproofing is of huge importance for the integrity of a residential structure. Professional deck waterproofing protects your home’s building envelope while decks finished by contractors that do not specialize in waterproofing my encounter water infiltration issues that can affect the entire home over time and can result in much more costly repairs. Deck waterproofing is definitely a project that you want to be sure is done right the first time.

5 Tips for Home Sellers

If you are selling or thinking of selling your home, and are wondering what upgrades you should perform first, renovating your deck with Duradek is a good value-added place to start.

Additionally, here are 5 great tips provided by Michelle Perrault from Sutton Westcoast Realty. (www.realresultsrealty.ca)

1. Clean and de-clutter

Make sure your kitchen, bathrooms, and floors sparkle. Use old-fashioned elbow grease or call in professional cleaners to get the job done. Can you walk into your walk-in closet? Does your car barely fit into your garage? Start packing early and put your seasonal and personal things into storage. Make your rooms and cupboards look spacious.

2. Repair the little things

Put on your home inspector‘s hat and walk through your house. Make a list of the items that need attention and arrange for repairs. Focus on your entry-way, drywall, paint, sticky/squeaky doors, leaky faucets, flooring and countertops.

3. Help buyers see themselves in your house

Remove your family photos and personal mementos. If you’re a collector, pack up your collection. Buyers have difficulty picturing themselves in your house when your personal items are on display.

4. Let the light in

Bright homes often have a higher resale value. Get your windows cleaned, inside and out. (Consider hiring a professional.) Pull back blinds and draperies to let natural light in. If you still have some dark spots, add floor or table lamps to the area.

5. Groom your yard

You wouldn’t go to a job interview without being well groomed, so make sure your yard is groomed for viewings. Trim your hedges and shrubs. Cut the grass. Pull weeds and cut back any greenery that covers walkways.

Duradek Additional Note to Recommendation 5 – this applies to all of your outdoor living space. Be sure to have your deck clean and staged. Outdoor living space is fast becoming one of the top features of a home, whether it is a single-family residence or a single apartment in a multi-residential property. In some cities like Vancouver, BC, the demand for outdoor living space and decking is creating a development trend. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to highlight a great selling-feature of your home by not presenting your deck or balcony at its best.

For more great tips on selling your home, see Michelle’s 27 Home-Selling Tips.

If you’d like to speak with a Duradek expert on how to transform your aged deck into a value-added Duradek deck, contact a Duradek Dealer in your area for a no-obligation estimate.

A Duradek deck or patio is a low maintenance advantage
for home buyers.

You Ask Shell About Vinyl Decking... Shell Asks Duradek

With so many building products available, even in specialty areas like decking, it is no wonder so many of us trust the experts we have come to rely on for building product advise.

Long before 'celebrity builder' was a job description, we had the pioneers of home renovation advice like Shell Busey to guide us through our home maintenance projects and product selection choices.

Shell Busey has been a much relied on home improvement guru in western Canada for decades and still provides valuable insights on his HouseSmart Referral Network and his AskShell podcasts.

In episode 10 of his educational podcast, Shell addresses questions he has received by email, one of which is regarding vinyl decking surface appearance and he discusses cleaning and painting (at about 40:06).

A little after that, Shell shares his interview with Duradek's Sales Manager Kevin MacMillan who discusses Duradek vinyl with Shell in a little more detail (starting at about 51:30). Kevin discusses some of the key factors that makes Duradek vinyl decking the leader in the industry and how the brand "Duradek" has become synonymous with vinyl decking.

One of the most distinguishing factors that separates Duradek from the less expensive do-it-yourself options is that Duradek has the industry's most comprehensive warranty and that Duradek is installed only by trained applicators who know waterproofing details.

For more information, have a quick listen to get Kevin's overview of Duradek in a 10 minute interview (start around 51:30) that addresses warranty, cleaning, installation and alternate deck surface waterproofing products like Duradek Ultra Tiledek, made specifically to waterproof roof decks that are surfaced with exterior tile or pavers.

For more specific information about how Duradek can work for your decking project, contact an authorized Duradek Dealer in your area.

Duradek's 2015 New Vinyl Decking and Railing Recognized by Top Industry Resources

Duradek vinyl decking products have been a favourite method of low maintenance deck waterproofing for decades and this summer's much anticipated new Legacy line is making it out into the marketplace in both Canada and the U.S. and is getting a fantastic response.

The Legacy line was an inspired endeavor to meet market demands for naturally inspired colours and textures. The three vinyl options initially offered in this line (Barnwood, Driftwood and Pebble Beach) present a unique look in this faux natural styling class and are getting noticed by some of the industry's leading product information resources.

Professional Remodeler Magazine online displays Duradek's Legacy line of vinyl in it's New & Notable Products for Roof Systems (Yes! Duradek vinyl deck membranes are actually a classified Roofing Membrane so it's the perfect product to choose for decks over living space!)

Duradek is also proud of Durarail's Panorama Universal Post (manufactured by Excell Railing Systems) which is highlighted in Professional Builder Magazine online in decking products and in Architectural West summer 2015 issue.

The Panorama Universal Post is the most versatile post available for topless glass systems allowing one single, multi-function post to serve as an inline, corner or end post with up to a 60 degree angle variance in each glass channel and the option to adjust glass types and heights to achieve virtually limitless design options.

Both of these great new decking products presented by Duradek are featured in the Home Builder Magazine 14th Annual New Products Showcase featured in their summer issue. You can view the magazine feature online or download the New Product Showcase here.

Having received "Best New Product" recognition in 2014 from Professional Builder magazine for its Cork Graphite vinyl and "Best New Product" acknowledgements in 2013 from both Professional Builder (Cork line) and Professional Remodeler (Forest Floor line) magazines, we are very excited to see further favourable feedback on the new Legacy line of vinyl with its naturally inspired textures and colours and the new Panorama Universal Post.

If you've got comments on these or other Duradek products, we'd love to hear from you! You can contact us through any of the regular channels or feel free to use our Customer Feedback form.  

Vinyl Deck – Elasticity vs. Breaking Strength

A good roofing membrane has to be strong enough to withstand stresses and flexible enough to accommodate deck movement.

When you are comparing the properties of vinyl deck membrane options for your deck, you may encounter claims that one vinyl’s ‘Breaking Strength’ is greater than another, followed by claims that a higher rating on Breaking Strength makes it a better option.

Breaking Strength and Elasticity (also called Elongation to Break) are both measured by a tensile testing machine, which pulls a rectangular piece of the vinyl membrane at a constant rate. Breaking strength is the stress needed to break a sample. The elongation-to-break is the strain on a sample when it breaks.

We propose the more important of the 2 tests is Elasticity.

Duradek meets all Breaking Strength and Elongation requirements - it is this elasticity that allows Duradek to perform its waterproofing function for so long (we've seen evidence of our membrane still performing after more than 30 years!...see video below).

Elasticity in a vinyl deck membrane is extremely important.

Imagine your deck as it expands and contracts throughout the seasons as the temperatures change year after year. The deck will be moving and since the membrane is fully adhered, it needs to be able to move with the deck. That requires elasticity, not breaking strength.



So don’t be led to believe that just because one product’s ‘Breaking Strength’ is rated greater than another’s, that that means it is better suited for protecting your deck.

For a great demonstration of elasticity, we love this video from Duradek of Utah that was created to demonstrate Duradek vinyl’s excellent seam strength by towing a Ford F250 truck. This amazing visual shows not only the strength of Duradek’s heat welded seams, but also clearly shows the excellent degree of elasticity in the membrane which is far more than will ever be needed by climate expansion and contraction issues.



When you are selecting a vinyl deck membrane, trust the proven performance of Duradek. Installed only by trained contractors, Duradek makes sure your deck waterproofing performs as intended.

Look for a Duradek installer in your area to discuss your decking project.

Source: https://www.duradek.com/vinyl-deck-product-myths-3-elasticity-vs-breaking-strength/