Duradek at the Vancouver Home & Design Show 2014 Starts Today

Duradek, the leader in PVC waterproof membranes for all varieties of decks invites you to stop by and visit us at booth #1755 this week at the Vancouver Home & Design Show.

The show takes place at BC Place Stadium from Thursday October 16th to Sunday October 19th. This annual Home Show offers something for everyone with a diverse selection of exhibitors covering everything from building your home to decorating and entertaining in it.  

The HGTV Main Stage Presents Celebrity Guests

Bryan Baeumler, Master Contractor – the Gemini-award winning host of HGTV’s ‘Leave it to Bryan’ and ‘House of Bryan’ takes the HGTV Main Stage on Friday October 17th, at 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Popular for his no-nonsense approach, Bryan started his first handyman business at the age of 14. As heard on Vancouver's ROCK 101 radio this morning, Bryan loves taking questions from the audience at his live appearances, so if you've got something you want to ask this master builder, now is your chance.

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan of Cabin Life TV's 'Colin and Justin's Cabin Pressure' also make appearances on the main stage this year on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 7 p.m. Vancouverites can take opportunity to get first hand advice from the two who have a regular featured column in the Vancouver Sun. These celebrity guests and several more will be taking the Metrie Main Stage throughout the show.

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:

• HGTV Main Stage appearances
• The Urban Barn's Next Top Designer: Reloaded
• The BC Hydro Power Smart Pad
• Samsung Cooking Challenge: Tag Team Kitchen
• Portobello West

Visit Duradek at Booth #1755

You may not be focussed 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 issues with your deck or balcony or if you have 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 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!

Duradek's 40th Anniversary Convention Was a Success!

A great big THANK YOU to all of the talented Duradek professionals that made it out to Kelowna, BC last weekend for Duradek's 4oth Anniversary Convention and celebration.

 

We had Duradek distributors and dealers from all over North America gather for 3 days of sharing their experience and expertise on deck waterproofing with Duradek vinyl membranes...and we had a lot of fun too!

 

It's very impressive to see any business stick around for 40 years, but even more impressive (and certainly more rare) is that many of Duradek's customers have consistently been with us nearly as long. At Duradek, we often speak in terms of our 'Duradek family' when we refer to the network of distributors and dealers throughout North America. During this event it was evident that the term 'family' is used with respect and appreciation for all of the people that make up the North American representation of the Duradek brand and professional network of installers and have helped to build Duradek's history.

And what a history it is!

Check out this timeline for a visual of Duradek's history or for a more detailed information, read "The Duradek Story".

Perhaps even more than the excellent product development details and growth of the Duradek brand as seen in the timeline representation above, it is certainly the people that has made Duradek the successful brand it is today.

Duradek President John Ogilvie kicking off the Duradek
40th Anniversary Convention Meetings

In addition to the recognition awards honoring the individuals who have shown years of support as a part of the Duradek family in their roles as Distributor's and Dealers for the Duradek brand which ranged in increments of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years, there were also a few performance awards for top performing Distributors and Dealers.

Duradek is proud of our entire network of professional waterproofing specialists, but these top performing companies were recognized for their achievements.

• Top Performing Canadian Dealer - Victoria Deck Ltd.
• Top Performing Canadian Distributor - Raildek Distribution
• Top Performing U.S. Dealer - Duradek of Virginia
• Top Performing U.S. Distributor - Duradek MidAtlantic

Again, a GREAT BIG thanks to all of the Duradek professionals that made it out to our 40th Anniversary Celebration and Convention.

And for all of you architects, specifiers, builders and home owners who are looking for a fantastic decking product installed by reliable professionals, look no further than your local Duradek Dealer!

If you are a contractor who sees the advantages of working with a brand that considers it's customers family, you might want to consider checking if there are any opportunities to become a Duradek dealer yourself. Check out our Business Opportunities for more information on how to join this exceptional group of professionals.        

It's still a few months away, but now is the time to start making your plans for the most anticipated Builder's Show of the year in fabulous Las Vegas! You have less than a week left to purchase an expo pass for $50 to the NAHB International Builders' Show® (IBS), but only if you register by September 30!



Duradek is looking forward to this annual event and week look forward to seeing you there to answer any and all questions you have on deck waterproofing.

Be sure to visit us at booth #S1715 to get a glimpse of what is new with Duradek for 2015!

Take a look back at 2014 to get a good idea of what will be happening at #IBSVegas in 2015!

Prices increase October 1 so don't delay! Register Now

Benefits of September Registration:

1. $50 Expo Pass: Purchase an expo pass for only $50 before prices increase to $100 on October 1.
2. Save on Full Reg: Save $100 off the early full registration price. For only $375, this option gives you access to any of the more than 100 education sessions AND an expo pass.
3. Spouses Free: Bring your better half for free. Starting October 1, spouse registration will be $25.

New This Year - It's International Builders Week

All IBS registered attendees will have access to the other four exhibit floors of Design & Construction Week™: NKBA's Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), International Window Coverings Expo (IWCE), Las Vegas Market and The International Surface Event (TISE).

Duradek president John Ogilvie is often turned to for advice on deck waterproofing.

 

Since Duradek is the original sheet vinyl membrane used for deck waterproofing and John Ogilvie pioneered its use over habitable space as a true roofing membrane, it is no surprise that even the experts turn to Duradek for best practices and advice.

 

This fall's issue of Waterproof Magazine features an article titled, "Dealing with Moisture on Lightweight Decks" and is a good example of how often Duradek is used as a proven successful deck waterproofing solution, even when compared to similar waterproofing products.

 

Check out this .pdf download article of this fall's Waterproof Magazine, "Dealing with Moisture on Lightweight Decks".

 

   

 

To discuss your decking projects with a Duradek Professional, be sure to contact us to be referred to an authorized, professional Duradek installer in your area.

Building Envelope Professionals Gather in Vancouver

In just one week on Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 the British Columbia Building Envelope Council (BCBEC) holds its annual one-day conference in Vancouver and Duradek will be there.

The main theme of this event is the performance of the building envelope. The event will be held at the Vancouver Fairmont Hotel and registration and breakfast takes place between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. before a full day of presentations.

Be sure to be there early because between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. during breakfast is your best opportunity to visit the exhibiting sponsors of the event who are all important contributors to the building envelope community.

If you miss the chance during breakfast, you also have opportunity during the morning break to browse the selection of exhibitors in a well-defined table top show focused on products related to building envelope protection. Be sure to stop by and say hello to Duradek’s technical manager, Len Viegener and representative, Winston Conyers to discuss how deck waterproofing plays a critical role in building envelope protection.

Duradek vinyl membranes are the original, walkable roofing membrane. Whether used on roof deck applications over living space or on adjacent deck or balcony applications, Duradek is applied only by trained and authorized installers to ensure that the necessary waterproofing details required to protect the structure are professionally assessed and installed.

Whether for construction professionals or property management professionals, the importance of reliable waterproofing solutions cannot be underestimated. In beautiful British Columbia, the use of outdoor living space has been common practice for many years so it makes sense that it is where vinyl waterproof membranes for decks was first created and used. Duradek has helped to extend the home’s living space outwards, and in doing so, has also played a critical role in how deck waterproofing has evolved and how it integrates into the proper sequencing of professional building envelope protection.

At the BC BEC Annual General Meeting and Conference attendees can expect to be a part of the conversation for practical expertise, new technologies and research results.

You can register at bcbec.com or email info@bcbec.com for more information.

BC BEC Annual General Meeting and Conference 2014 Program

Related Article:

Understanding Balcony to Wall Interface Rehabilitation

Related White Paper:

The Ds of Decking: Waterproofing Flat Roof Decks

Deck Collapse Disasters Strike Again

The peak season for deck use and reported deck collapses has passed (June-August), but in the last couple of weeks there have been a few more deck collapse stories to hit the media with a too-familiar story of people gathered on a balcony or deck for what was meant to be a fun occasion and instead find themselves suddenly plummeting to the ground amidst the debris of the failed deck.

Dekalb County, GA has had two recent incidents. A deck collapse in Ellenwood, GA on August 30th sent multiple people to the hospital after a residential deck pulled away from the home. On August 17th, there was a collapse at a Brookhaven apartment complex had a balcony collapse which injured 3 adults and 2 children. One of the children, an 11 year old boy, was pinned under the rubble until DeKalb County Fire and Rescue arrived.

In Towson, MD, another deck collapse injured 7 people when a second floor balcony of an apartment suddenly gave away. 6 people were treated and released from hospital right away, however one seriously injured person remains in hospital with life threatening injuries. While witnesses claim to have seen between 4 and 10 people on the balcony, it was substantiated as a total of 6 people on the balcony at the time of the collapse. Sadly, the most critically injured person was standing below the deck and was pinned beneath the debris until emergency responders arrived on the scene.

photo from CBS Baltimore

See video coverage:
Several Hurt After Deck Collapses At College Party In Towson: Several Hurt After Deck Collapses At College Party In Towson

One resident of the apartment complex stated that she was not surprised and had her own concerns about the safety of the balconies as she had experience water infiltration into her suite through light sockets, which she felt was a safety hazard.

None of these incidents seem to indicate that over loading the decks was the issue.

So What Then Caused the Decks to Collapse?

Initial responses for inquiries on what causes a deck collapse are commonly quick to question if the deck was built to code with proper permits and inspections but it appears that most times there is no negligence in that area. While there are several possible reasons for the deck failure, more often than not, the failure is attributed in some way to the ledger board that connects the deck to the building structure.

The connecting hardware securing the deck to the house is often the first item to be checked. While inexperienced deck builders may use inadequate nails to secure the deck ledger board to the rim joists of the house, more often than not the correct anchoring fasteners were used. What then causes the fasteners to pull away from the house? Often the culprit is wood rot. When water invasion has weakened the wood to the point of softening or rot, no fastener is able to perform securely.

Waterproofing for Safety

When some home owners (and inexperienced deck builders, for that matter) think about deck waterproofing, the focus of the consideration is often the deck surface or the railings and the aesthetic value waterproofing brings to outdoor living space. Sadly, it is the critical inside perimeter waterproofing details that are neglected that can allow water to infiltrate the deck components and the building envelope which can compromise the structural security.

Many times, water intrusion and wood rot is discovered before weakening to the point of collapse and the deck can be salvaged, but sometimes the water damage goes unnoticed. When this happens for too long, eventually the rot will deteriorate the wood until the deck becomes unsafe (This seems to be more common in circumstances where the owner or manager of the property is not the primary resident, such as in the vacation beach home deck collapse in Ocean Isle Beach, NC in July last year).

For example, see Duradek Case History #151 where the inside perimeter waterproofing details were previously neglected and threatened the structural integrity of the deck. Luckily it was noticed and repaired in time to salvage some of the deck, and most importantly, avoided deck collapse and injury. After looking at these recent deck collapse incidents, and considering the possible causes of these dangerous incidents, you may want to have your own deck inspected.

If you find that it is time for a deck renovation and would like to have a Duradek waterproofing professional provide a free estimate on renovating your deck, contact a Duradek dealer in your area.

For full deck collapse stories, see:

• Deck collapse in Towson, MD on September 1st 
• Deck collapse in Ellenwood, GA on August 30th
• Deck collapse in Brookhaven, GA on August 17th 

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Duradek and the Vinyl Bucket

There is a delicious irony when people who have dedicated their lives to waterproof protection are doused with ice-cold water.

That's exactly what happened this week at Duradek's headquarters in Surrey, BC when Duradek's owners and sales managers took the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS.

Gail Penner of Victoria Deck, Duradek's authorized Victoria dealer, nominated Duradek president, John Ogilvie, Duradek National Sales Manager, Kevin MacMillan and Duradek Regional Sales Manager, Winston Conyers. The men of Duradek were up for the challenge...and of course, put the challenge forward.

Duradek president, John Ogilvie extended the challenge forward to Duradek's Canadian Distributors - Rene Laberge of Saskatoon Deck Shop (Saskatchewan), Mel Dueck of Windeck (Manitoba) and Jim Simpson of Raildek Distribution (Ontario)....as well as his partner and brother, Bob Ogilvie.

It is a beautiful thing to see a fundraising effort take off so strongly and spread so widely.   If only a fraction of the people who participated in the awareness portion by publishing YouTube videos of the dumping cold water over their heads have donated funds, it's no wonder that the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge campaign has more that reached it's goal. 

Duradek staff members raised nearly $100 to see their managers participate, and John and Bob Ogilvie generously donated $500 on behalf of all of the 4 men who participated at Duradek's Canadian headquarters on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Of course, as a business participating, we wanted to take the opportunity to show off the strength of our Duradek membrane and how the heat-welded seams completely protect a deck from water penetration. There have been some competitor generated rumours and even an amusing staged video that attempts to infer that Duradek's seam strength is not as strong as theirs. Well, we can put that myth to rest!

Bucket made with Duradek Cork Macchiato by
Trevor at Full Deck Restorations.

One of our talented Duradek installers, Trevor Deighton of Full Deck Restorations, made us a bucket constructed of Duradek Ultra Cork Macchiato.  Duradek's roof grade waterproof protection was able to hold approximately 4 gallons of water without showing any signs of stress on the seams, so you can be certain when it is laid on your roof deck or balcony that it is water-tight!

Here is a video compilation of all of our participants; and below you will find links to their individual videos to hear who they nominated to forward the ALS Challenge to keep the awareness and fundraising going. Thank you to all for participating!

See Duradek owner, John Ogilvie's complete Ice Bucket Challenge

See Duradek owner, Bob Ogilvie's complete Ice Bucket Challenge

See Duradek National Sales Manager, Kevin MacMillan's complete Ice Bucket Challenge

See Duradek Regional Sales Manager, Winston Conyers's complete Ice Bucket Challenge - where Duradek installer Trevor Deighton sets the record for fastest respondent to the challenge!