Happy Vinyl Decking Customer Shares Story with Duradek

There is nothing more important to any business than a happy customer.

At Duradek, we take pride in the excellent quality of our deck vinyl; and that we have built a brand reputation so reliable that “Duradek” is often used synonymously to describe all vinyl decking.

We also know that no matter how good a vinyl decking product is manufactured, it must be installed with the expertise of a skilled professional trained in the specific details required for effective deck waterproofing to be completely reliable. A unique combination of deck building, roofing and floor laying skills all contribute to the professional installation techniques of a Duradek installer.

It is this combination of a superior product and professional installation that keeps Duradek the leading brand of vinyl decking in North America.

Below is an unedited letter from a recent Duradek customer that details how an unsatisfactory past experience with his deck was able to be turned around when he contacted Duradek. It is summed up nicely with the statement, “The deck is finished and it looks really awesome and I am extremely happy.”, but his story below will tell you why….

Letter to Duradek - September 14, 2015

Good Day and to whom it concerns;

Back in 2014 I contacted your head office and asked for a dealer or installer in my area. I reside in North Bay ON. I was given the name of a Mr. Jim Simpson (at Raildek in Ontario), and this raildekoffice@gmail.com as his e-mail address. I then contacted Mr. Simpson, who sent me to a Mr. Pete Larocque of Deck World North.

Short history, I had a really nice deck built or so I thought, less than 2 years and it was leaking and ruining my house. The other company would not honour their warranty because it was not installed by one of their people, but I bought the product from a store that they sell it at and installed by a person highly recommended by that store. The deck project, which he promised, would be 3 weeks took 15 weeks to finish. First spring it leaked worse than a sieve. So I am somewhat jaded towards contractors. So I called the head office in BC to get a local contractor and that is how I ended up dealing with Mr. Larocque.

When a deck is situated over living space, leaks are unacceptable.

My next and natural question is where do you find these people that you employ and take the time to train into representing your company, they wear your logo on their clothing, they have the logo on their vehicles.

I knew things were not the same as with the other contractor when your people showed up on the correct day, at the correct time and with all their supplies. They also put in a very full long day of work. They did not let a sudden and cold shower slow them down. The second day once again at the correct time and they did a full days work. Third day dawned and they were once more on time, I was impressed. The third day was actually a short day. The deck is finished and it looks really awesome and I am extremely happy.

Duradek Forest Floor vinyl deck installed by Deck World North.

I was somewhat not happy that Mr. Larocque would not let me help and he kept me sitting down. I was not even allowed to tidy up my own deck. He and his partner, Marcel did everything. They both kept telling me to go and watch TV. They left and there was no clean up to do, all the trash and such were removed from the site.

People are quick to call to complain but few are willing to take the time to send a note and say how happy they are with the results of the people employed by anyone, but you folks at Dura Deck should be extremely proud of the way they represent your company by doing an exceptional job, which they did and this will do nothing short to ensure that the reputation of Dura Deck is maintained and broadened. I want to thank Pete and Marcel for going above and beyond the scope of their work and making my deck another room in the house and for their prompt and excellent work. Even if they did not let me do anything.

Mr. Andy R

Thank you, Andy, for sharing your Duradek experience. We hope you enjoy your low-maintenance deck for decades!

For those of you with decking projects on the horizon, before you make your final decision, be sure to talk to a Duradek installer in your area to discover the Duradek difference.

Duradek vinyl decking provides low-maintenance waterproof protection.

Stamped Concrete Roof Deck Question to Expert Leads to Duradek’s Ultra Tiledek

Home Improvement expert Shell Busey has been advising BC home owners for decades on how to best maintain and improve their homes.  A question on a stamped concrete roof deck was raised this summer and was featured in the Vancouver Province Newspaper Q&A Feature ‘Ask Shell’.

Shell, who is very familiar with roof deck waterproofing solutions from a long relationship with Duradek as one of his House Smart Referral Certified products summed it up succinctly with “…always use Duradek Tiledek.”

Vancouver Province Clipping - June 2015

The Q&A article in Ask Shell “Remedying a leak on stucco”, was as follows:

Q: I have an above-ground deck half over my garage and half over the driveway. The deck has a torch down covering with stamped concrete on top.

The problem is that the deck leaks at the seam where it meets the stucco side of the house.

It is a slow leak, but I do not want to end up having damage to the stucco.

I have put caulking along the seam; it sticks well to the stucco, but not the concrete. Is there a better product I can use?

A: It sounds as though the contractor did not install a metal counter flashing when the deck was built.

A 90-degree metal counter flashing could have been cut into the stucco and placed under the concrete decking to give the best water seal.

You might still be able to have a flashing installed by a professional service trade.

In the meantime, you may want to try a polyurethane caulking, which will stick to both types of surfaces. LePage Quad-max would be a good choice.

(Note: Do not use torch down roofing membrane under concrete; always use Duradek Tiledek.)



Tildek membranes protect the are below from leaks.



Reliable Waterproofing of Tiledek Membranes for Roof Decks Using Pavers

It is a very common scenario that roof decks surfaced with tiles or pavers result in leaks into the home below, but fortunately it is a problem that Tiledek can remedy.

Only a couple of years after Tiledek’s  introduction, TileLetter Magazine featured an article “Waterproofing Makes All The Difference In Dual Level Decks” to show how effectively Tiledek solves leak problems under exterior tile decks.

Like all Duradek membranes, Tiledek is only installed by trained and authorized contractors who are familiar with Duradek’s superior methods of reliable waterproofing. Critical areas like where the deck meets the house are addressed with Detailed Drawings for installers to reference to ensure the building envelope is protected.

In Duradek’s installation best practices, the membrane runs up the vertical wall about 6 inches and is overlapped by the moisture barrier for 2 inches to ensure that the inside perimeter, or “seam” between deck and side of the house, cannot allow any moisture to infiltrate.



Tiledek Detail Drawing IS-1T

For more information on how Tiledek can ensure you avoid leaks under tile or pavers on your rood deck projects, check out the Tiledek section our website or contact us to be referred to an authorized installer in your area.

Check out these Tiledek Case Histories for more examples!

The Most Professional Advantages Under One Roof for Deck Builders and Remodelers

Remodeling Show | Deck Expo | JLC Live (R|D|J) 2015 – Oct. 1 -2

Known as the event that raises the bar for remodeling and deck building professionals, R|D|J is an annual trade-only residential construction mega-event that provides remodelers, deck builders and other industry professionals with all the resources they need to be the leaders in their trade.

This year the show takes place in Chicago at Navy Pier with education sessions running from September 28th to October 2nd and a lively Exhibit Hall on October 1st & 2nd. In addition to the hundreds of exhibitors, the exhibit hall features LIVE installation clinics presented by leading industry professionals, interactive, hands-on workshops and instructional exhibitor-led product demonstrations.

You will find Duradek at booth #2218 where you can talk with Duradek sales manager, Kevin MacMillan about the superior waterproofing performance of Duradek vinyl decking membranes. Be sure to take a look at the latest vinyl colors offered in the new Legacy line and ask about the revolutionary Panorama Universal Post – the most versatile topless glass railing system available. You may also get to speak with Duradek president John Ogilvie who pioneered the vinyl decking industry and has dedicated the last 4 decades to mastering the nuances professional installation techniques of this unique, multi-functional deck building product solution.

John Ogilvie is not the only decking industry professional to learn from at the 2015 R|D|J show. This year, the North America Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) is presenting a fantastic education session for Deck Evaluation and Inspection. After a year of multiple deck collapses that resulted in a range of minor to fatal injuries, the evaluation course is a must-attend for home inspectors and a huge advantage for deck builders conducting initial estimates on job sites for deck renovation or remodeling projects.

ND12 - Deck Evaluation/ Inspection Certification Class for Home Inspectors
Thursday, October 1 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Deck Evaluation / Inspection Certification program will allow the home inspector the opportunity to employ the ability to safely inspect a deck using the NADRA Deck Evaluation checklist. The NADRA Deck Evaluation checklist has been developed specifically for home inspectors as a comprehensive tool to be used to properly assess the safety issues of a deck. After the program the home inspector will understand how to analyze the following deck components and issues and more;

• Stairs Footings and Posts Joists
• Joist Connections
• Girders Ledger Connections
• Deck Boards
• Handrail Assemblies and Guards
• Recognize proper and improper fasteners
• Assess hardware or material corrosion
• Review of the safety standards of all (decks, stairs, guards) structures
• 4-hour Presentation For Home Inspectors

The course will be presented by Jim Mailey who is the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic market training manager for Simpson Strong-Tie—a company that manufactures structural connectors, prefabricated shearwall panels and other fastening products that reinforce the frame of homes and decks. Jim has given hundreds of presentations to more than 15,000 design professionals, building officials, builders, contractors and dealers. He has developed numerous programs designed to educate building inspectors, builders and contractors on how to install Simpson Strong-Tie products as well as how these products meet various building code requirements. Jim is considered an expert in safe, outdoor wood deck construction and provides economical product solutions to satisfy structural code requirements for wood decks.

Not All Work…

Remodeling Show, Deck Expo, JLC Live is packed full of professional advantages for construction industry professionals, but its not all work… R|D|J offers some fantastic social networking opportunities as well. Events like the Welcome Party, NAHB Event, Pub Crawl and other fun events take place throughout the week.

Your Invitation to Deck Expo | Remodeling Show | JLC Live

Don’t miss your chance to visit the windy city to attend the ultimate platform for face-to-face networking with manufacturers, distributors and representatives of all sizes displaying products, services and equipment for the remodeling and deck building industries.

Duradek invites you to Register with promo code X52 for complimentary Exhibit Hall Pass ($35 value) and 20% off All-Access Conference Pass. We hope to see you there at booth #2218.