Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Top 6 Deck Building Design Features of 2015

Deck building design demands for 2015 highlighted a consistent preference of features for new decks and deck remodels. The most noteworthy deck building products at the 2015 International Builders Show and Deck Expo included features to meet those demands and deck building professionals have no shortage of products to choose from.

In many cases, it takes 2 or 3 different products to meet these design objectives, but Duradek is proud to be able to meet these decking demands in one single product solution.

Colorful
A full range of color options is a desirable feature with many new deck building products releasing a selection of earth tones that harmoniously blend outdoor living space with the surrounding environment.

Duradek has over 26 colors with a range of natural hues from subtle neutral tones to sunset and seaside inspired shades. With a range of patterns, this slip-resistant deck surface brings style to virtually any exterior design scheme.

LIGHTness
Lightweight products have been recognized as environmentally advantageous at the latest builders shows, but not at the expense of durability.

Per square foot coverage of Duradek vinyl decking is a very light weight option, needing just the basic structural load bearing requirements (though extra load-bearing considerations should always be taken into account for deck add-ons like fire or water features, planters and hot tubs).

Duradek has an option to compliment virtually
any outdoor design scheme.
 
Keep it COOL
Thermally treated deck building products are making an appearance with new technologies promising higher fire resistance and temperature insulation; but with all new technologies the practical application has yet to be proven and cost may make some of those options a little prohibitive when compared to alternatives.

Deck surfaces that stay cool on the feet can be achieved with Duradek’s lighter color options. When used on 2nd level decks, Duradek provides roof grade protection and a shaded area below. Sun-lovers can enjoy the upper level deck to bask in the rays, while those less tolerant to UV exposure can enjoy the shaded lower level and still enjoy the outdoors, even in the peak of the afternoon sun.
 
NATURALLY Inspired
Subtle, earthy and aged looks are very popular with low-maintenance, decking products. Beyond simply color tones, the naturally inspired looks for manufactured deck building products imitate their natural counterparts in texture as well with faux wood and stone taking popularity polls.

Duradek was a trend setter early on in these faux-natural favorites with the popular 'Cork' pattern that takes on the texture of real cork, and the unique ‘Forest Floor’ pattern taking on the appearance of fossilized leaves. The latest introductions follow this trend with the ‘Legacy’ line that offers a dynamic aggregate pebble option “Pebble Beach”, or the wood grain looks of ‘Barnwood’ and ‘Driftwood’ that emulate the appearance of aged wood - but without any of the maintenance that real wood requires (see the Pebble Beach press release).

The LEGACY line of vinyl featuring: Pebble Beach,
Barnwood and Driftwood

 
MOISTURE Management
One of the most critical features of deck building is moisture management and there are a variety of options available to incorporate into your deck design. Drip-through deck boards can be enhanced with complex spacer-flange systems or trough systems that route water to gutters; and under deck systems can channel water to gutters, sometimes requiring special joists or underlayment. All of those options include many seams, joins or exposed deck elements that may encounter trapped water. This may provide a dry area below, but is not the best method of ensuring the building envelope or structure of the deck is protected from water infiltration and subsequent wood rot. (see Dry Below Decks Made Easy Part 1 - Trough vs Top | Part 2 - Below vs Above)

Duradek ‘Cork Natural’ vinyl is a low maintenance deck
surface as well as a roofing membrane to keep it dry below.
Duradek is primarily a waterproofing membrane and moisture management system. In fact, Duradek is a classified roofing membrane in addition to being a pedestrian surface. With 40 years of proven waterproofing details and techniques afforded by the quality pvc membrane and pioneering the vinyl decking industry, Duradek provides a dry area below the deck. It protects the critical junctions between deck and structure and eliminates trapped water, deflecting it away from the structure’s points of vulnerability. Duradek allows the water management and attractive walking surface to be addressed in one single product while many other options require 2 or 3 stages of installation.

Duradek vinyl deck membranes provide roof-grade waterproof
protection for a lower patio and dry storage for outdoor items.
 
On the down LOW MAINTENANCE
Homeowners want to do less maintenance on their decks, leaving more time to enjoy it; thus the popularity of manufactured deck building products like composite decking. While composite decking has come a long way in the last decade, it has not been without a myriad of growing pains. Builders and home owners have had to absorb the majority of the cost on failed products as they mature (see When Choosing a Building Product, "New" Does Not Always Mean Better).

Duradek forged the way for low-maintenance manufactured deck building products with its sheet vinyl for waterproofing decks and balconies over 40 years ago. The durable pvc never needs any maintenance or reapplication and will continue to perform its waterproofing function for decades. And unlike many composite products or other vinyl products, Duradek is the only vinyl manufacturer to offer a written appearance warranty to protect home owners from excessive discoloration. While UV exposure will always eventually cause fading over time, Duradek stands up to UV exposure exponentially better than other comparable products and its 5 year appearance warranty backs it up.
 
TRIED and TRUE
After more than 40 years leading the vinyl decking industry, Duradek knows waterproofing details. Because waterproofing details are so critical to the longevity of your deck, Duradek is available only through a network of trained and authorized dealers.

To request a free estimate on your decking project, contact a Duradek Installer in your area and trust the proven performance of Duradek vinyl decking for your deck building projects.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Vancouver Home & Design Show 2015 Starts Tomorrow

The much-anticipated annual Vancouver Home & Design Show begins tomorrow at a new home this year, leaving its former location of BC Place Stadium for the new location at the Vancouver Convention Center West from October 22 - 25, 2015.
Just in time for nesting season, the Vancouver Home & Design Show is packed full of ideas, inspiration and resources to make your home the perfect combination of comfort, style and functionality for whatever your lifestyle desires.

Transform your deck or patio with one of
Duradek's hot new colours like
Legacy Driftwood.
Many of us desire a really great deck or other outdoor living space that does not require a lot of work or expense to maintain, so that is why you should stop by the Duradek booth #122.

Duradek and its superior method of deck waterproofing by trained installers may be the most important exhibitor you visit if you've got a decking project in your future. Now is the perfect time to begin your research on your deck renovation. Duradek professional installers with their detailed waterproofing experience are in high demand, and many people who look for their expertise in the busy spring and summer months are disappointed with longer than anticipated wait times. Act now so that you can have your beautiful new deck built and ready for your enjoyment next spring...or even get that second level deck covered in Duradek this fall so through the rainy winter months you've got a dry, protected area below.

But there's a lot more to see at the Vancouver Home & Design Show than just finding your perfect decking solution...

Highlights at the 2014 Vancouver Home & Design Show

In addition to visiting Duradek at the Home and Design Show, here are some of the highlights you might want to include in your visit:
  • Opening Night Soiree where you can win prizes and mingle with some of the top talent in Vancouver's design scene.
  • HGTV Main Stage appearances with celebrity guests like W-Networks Jillian Harris & Todd Talbot.
  • Junior Chef Challenge
  • The BC Hydro Dream Home
  • The Upcycling Challenge
  • Ask a Designer
  • ...and much more!

Show Hours

  • Thursday, Oct. 22nd: 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 23rd: noon - 9:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 24th: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 25th 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Did you Know...
Visit Duradek at Booth #122
You may not be focused on your decks and balconies as rainy season descends on the Greater Vancouver region, but now is the time you will start to discover if you've got any water leak issues.

Don't let avoiding your deck waterproofing turn into larger, more expensive renovations down the road. If you’ve got any questions about deck waterproofing, this could be the most important stop you make at the Vancouver Home & Design Show.

Duradek has been waterproofing decks, balconies and roof top decks for over 40 years and is proud to bring you the waterproofing expertise needed for your outdoor living space. Take a moment to discuss Duradek’s excellent warranty with one of our specially trained and authorized installers.

We hope to see you there!

Monday, October 5, 2015

The Cost of Vinyl Decking Promises vs Proven Performance

When evaluating vinyl deck membrane choices before you purchase for your decking project, it is important to consider if you are buying proven performance or potential promises.

While the most important job of vinyl decking is actually waterproofing the deck and protecting the building envelope of the home, nobody wants to be left with an unattractive deck after a couple years of use.

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. And anything under constant exposure to the elements will age to some degree.

Yes, long term results should be taken into consideration...BUT - 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.

Performance-Promise
Historically, clear protective top coats on deck vinyl have been a real issue and more than one company has had to replace many decks when their clear coat surface failed. In fact, not all companies that went through the experience were able to survive it.

Now once again, some companies are offering a “Scuff Resistant” clear top coat, but it has only been on the market a relatively short time and it offers no Appearance Warranty!!

Since clear top coats have historically been a problem on plastics under constant UV exposure, 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? You enlist the services of an accredited testing agency like Atlas Material Testing Services that perform UV exposure tests to help answer that question.

We've talked a lot about clear top coats over the past couple of years because of our decades of experience and repeatedly witnessing the undesirable results of failed clear top coats. That is because we really want to drive home TWO very important facts.

1 - Accelerated Weather Testing shows that the currently available clear top coats that are in the marketplace today will very likely experience extreme appearance issues.
 
2 - Not all vinyl decking warranties cover appearance issues. In fact, Duradek Ultra 10 year warranties are the only published warranty we can find that specifically covers appearance issues.
 
Compare the three vinyl sample swatches below. One is Duradek and the other two others are other brands of vinyl decking (one that offers a clear top coat). These samples were tested side by side in the same accelerated UV exposure test.

 
Alarming, isn't it? Almost unbelievable, so these products were not just tested once, but twice…

More Vinyl Decking Accelerated UV Aging Testing Results

The images below show a progression of unaltered test results sults of accelerated 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 and an appearance warranty. The 2nd test included multiple product comparisons, and all those with a clear top coat exhibited the same failed results.

Download the images of the test result swatches in .pdf format:

Test #1 - AQ31696 - June 2012
Progression Sequence (644.2 kb .pdf) | Single Sample vs. Control (1.16 MB .pdf)

 Vinyl Deck Weathering Tests - New clear coat vs. 40 year history

Test #2 - AQ32825 - June 2013 Progression Sequence (663.6 kb .pdf) | Single Sample vs. Control (792 KB .pdf)  

Vinyl Deck Weathering Tests - New clear coat vs. 40 year history.

Test #2b - AQ32825 - June 2013 Progression Sequence (607.5 kb .pdf) | Single Sample vs. Control (693 KB .pdf)  

Vinyl Deck Weathering Tests - New clear coat vs. 40 year history.


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)
History of Clear Top Coats (.pdf)

Related Posts:

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