Duradek Confirms Superior Performance with Competitive Weather Testing

Duradek, the most tested vinyl membrane on the market, extended its dedication to performance testing by contracting the services of a 3rd-party testing agency to conduct accelerated weather tests with Duradek vinyl and the vinyl of an alternate supplier that has been emphasizing their tough, scuff resistant clear topcoat/film. The results speak for themselves...  

The pictures above show the results of equally controlled accelerated weather testing, with one randomly chosen sample of each product. This test was conducted side-by-side over a 9 month period by third-party material testing provider, Atlas Material Testing in Phoenix, Arizona.

(ASTM G90 - Standard Practice for Performing Accelerated Outdoor Weathering of Non-Metallic Materials Using Concentrated Natural Sunlight)

For more information on this comparison testing, see details on this Accelerated Weathering Comparison PDF.

In the lab and on over a 100 million square feet of decks from coast-to-coast...

Duradek Vinyl Membranes Stand the Test of Time.

Providing reliable waterproofing for nearly 40 years, Duradek has proven time and time again that its performance surpasses its warranty terms for long-lasting decking solutions.

Walkable - Waterproof - Roofing Approved

AND - the performance you can count on!

Trained and Authorized Installers - 10-Year Waterproofing Warranty

PLUS... Duradek and Durarail products are virtually maintenance free so you can spend more time enjoying your deck and less time laboring on it this spring!

Duradek - Waterproofing Decks Since 1974.

Trends in Outdoor Living Reveal Duradek as a Top Decking Product Solution

Spring home improvement puts outdoor living space on the top of many homeowners' lists. Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine identifies the top Trends in Patios, Porches and Decks this May to assist you in choosing what upgrades will bring you the most satisfaction from your outdoor living space.

Duradek has been in the decking industry for nearly 40 years, and many of the same benefits Duradek vinyl has brought to homeowners through the decades are the same solutions that can make outdoor living a great experience today.

Top Trends in Patios, Porches and Decks

1. Outdoor Kitchens

From simple grill and prep area to complete outdoor kitchen with refrigerator and sink, outdoor kitchens are a feature many grill-masters want to invest in. According to HBPA, 62% of grill owners cook outside all year round.

Duradek vinyl is a great option for outdoor kitchen areas with it's easy to clean surface.

2. Year Round Use

Enjoying your deck year-round is not limited to residents of states like Georgia or Florida. For cooler climates with shorter summer seasons, outdoor living space can be comfortably enjoyed year round with the addition of fire features or heaters. Additionally, multi-level outdoor living space allows the flexibility of enjoying an open deck or a covered patio.

Duradek is a roofing approved pedestrian membrane so the same walking surface that protects your top deck also provides your lower-level deck with roof grade waterproof protection. No need for the occasional spring shower to keep you from enjoying your outdoor living space!

Open area, covered area and fire feature - ready for year round use!
(photo provided by Duradek of Georgia)

3. Chameleon Lighting

Clever placement of outdoor lighting fixtures as part of structural elements gives a sophisticated look to any deck or patio. This feature also means electrical wiring is hidden within those structures and not posing a safety risk laying out on the usable area of the deck.

Posts and columns may make a great structure to disguise your lighting in, but remember to make sure they are waterproofed correctly. If you are using wood posts, they are just as vulnerable to water infiltration as any vertical perimeter wall around your deck.

4. View Decks

Roof top decks are identified as a top trend for 2013. Whether due to landscape elevation or restricted space, more and more people are enjoying the benefits that come with roof top decks and the amazing views that often accompany them. When it's all about the view, the added advantage of view-through railing systems give residential roof decks a sense of high class luxury right at home.

Rooftop decks are the feature that Duradek is perfectly made for. With ICC approved roof grade waterproof protection and a 10-year waterproofing warranty, Duradek brings peace of mind that when you are enjoying your outdoor living space, the indoor living space below is properly protected.

Duradek's vinyl membranes are a truly low-maintenance product, requiring only seasonal cleaning and do not have to be re-coated...ever! Combined with Durarail powder-coated aluminum railing systems, such as the beautiful and sophisticated topless glass Panorama Post, you get the best in low maintenance outdoor living space for your home.



Gorgeous, low maintenance view deck!
(photo provided by Duradek of Georgia)

Transform Your Deck

If you'd like to see how Duradek can help transform your deck or balcony into a low maintenance outdoor living space, you can contact a Duradek dealer in your area for a free estimate.
Enjoy your outdoor living this spring!

The Results of Duradek's 'Name That Color' Contest

Last week, Duradek put the shout-out to deck builders and homeowners alike to submit their best idea for naming Duradek's latest colour of Ultra Cork vinyl, and we'd like to thank everybody for their great submissions.

We received an excellent response of entries and many great ideas, but there can only be one winner. And the winner is.....  



Duradek's New Cork Color

DURADEK ULTRA CORK - GRAPHITE

While several participants suggested this name (great minds!), the prize goes to the first person to suggest Graphite on our Facebook page, Katherine Kelly Casey from Calgary, AB. Congratulations, Katherine!

The existing colour line-up in the Ultra Cork line of vinyl is Natural, Espresso and Macchiato, and with the addition of Graphite, the Ultra Cork line of waterproof vinyl has a well-rounded selection of shades to compliment nearly any exterior design scheme.

Some Notable Entries

While the name GRAPHITE was the over-whelming winner, we did receive a lot of great ideas. Here are a few of the suggestions...

Several people were inspired by the elements of the earth with suggestions like:

• Midnight Steel
• Gunmetal Grey
• Titanium
• Charcoal

Others took a more sci-fi approach with ideas like:

• Dark Side of the Moon
• Lunar Marble
• Lava Moonscape

Then there were those that stayed with the 'coffee' theme of the existing colours with suggestions such as:

• Americano
• Affogatto
• Earl Grey

And the witty bunch who came up with word-play suggestions like:

• 50 Shades (of Grey)
• Gandalf the Grey
• Grey Matter  

Once again, thanks to everyone who participated and we will be sure to keep you informed on when the new Duradek Ultra Cork Graphite is available.

Find a Duradek Expert at These BC Home Shows

Home maintenance projects are on a lot of people's minds and the spring Home Shows are a great place to start to find ideas, inspiration and the best products to invest in for your home.

Duradek is ready for a busy spring of protecting decks and making sure you have an attractive and low-maintenance outdoor living space.

Here are some shows taking place in British Columbia this weekend where you can find a Duradek expert.

Spring Home Shows This Week

Duradek can be found at shows all across North America to share the benefits of PVC decking. When you are visiting your local home and garden shows, be sure to look for Duradek. This week you will find Duradek at the following shows:

April 19 - 21, 2013 Vernon Home Show Vernon Curling Club, Vernon, BC Look for Duradek Dealer, NOR Renovations

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April 19 - 21, 2013 Victoria Home Expo Westshore Parks & Recreation, Victoria, BC Look for Duradek Dealer, Victoria Deck

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April 26, 2013 Comox Valley Home Show CV Sports Centre, Courtney, BC Look for Duradek Dealer, Modern Aluminum and Vinyl Products

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April 26 - 28, 2013 Prince George Home Show & Energy Fair Kin Centres, Port Alberni, BC Look for Duradek Dealer, Marathon | Duradek North

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If you'd like to find out more about Duradek but you can't make it to a spring home show, feel free to contact a Duradek Dealer near you who can answer your questions or provide a free estimate on your deck.



Find a Duradek Expert  to Answer All
Your Decking Questions.

Last Chance to Enter 'Name The Colour' Contest

You may have heard that Duradek's popular Cork line of waterproof vinyl has a new colour in production and Duradek is sending out the call for your best creative and unique suggestions for naming this stylish and attractive new 'grey' shade. The contest is coming to an end so take action today!



Name this New Duradek Colour!

Here's your chance to make a lasting impression in the decking industry by coming up with the name for this new Duradek Ultra Cork colour.
This is your last chance to submit entries for the Name the Vinyl Colour Contest. All you have to do is visit our Facebook page, and enter your suggestion under the color swatch.

Give Duradek's Facebook page a 'like' while you are there, and take a quick look at our timeline for some great links for info about Duradek and the decking industry.

Contest closes at midnight, Thursday, April 18th, and the winning name will be announced Friday, April 19th.

Deck Waterproofing Details Require Skill

Deck building is sometimes overlooked as a specialty trade, so if you are building or remodeling a deck it is well worth your time to research a contractor who specializes in deck construction and waterproofing. In fact, the waterproofing element of decks, particularly flat roof decks, is an even further specialized skill within the deck building community. Many general contractors throughout North America are grateful to have a local Duradek installer that they can call for balcony or roof deck projects.

Duradek insists all installers complete a 2-day training.

Vinyl Decking Waterproofing Details

Duradek vinyl membranes have been used to successfully waterproof decks and balconies for nearly 40 years, so you can be quite confident in its strength and durability. However, even the best building products can not perform as intended if not installed correctly. That is why Duradek vinyl membranes are only available to contractors who have successfully completed Duradek's two-day hands-on training.

Water diverters, perimeter details, corner details and vulnerable areas like doorways are given special attention in a Duradek training. With proven installation techniques and ongoing research, Duradek is the true leader in walkable membrane waterproofing. Not only will your deck be protected from water infiltration and freeze/thaw cycles, but you will also have an attractive surface that truly defines your outdoor living space.

Specialized Deck Waterproofing with Duradek of Utah

Like all Duradek distributors, Duradek of Utah knows the decking business very well and are experts in the field. When local builders want to offer Duradek vinyl directly to their customers, they are required to successfully complete the two-day training before they are able to purchase the material.

Each aspect of installing the vinyl membrane is covered, and students are required to get some hands on experience in the classroom setting before taking their installation skills to their real-world projects. This far surpasses the the one-page installation instructions provided to some do-it-yourselfers! Check out some of the training details from Duradek of Utah's training sessions....

Name That New Duradek VinylColour Contest!

There's a new colour in production to be included in Duradek's popular Cork line of waterproof vinyl.

Name the new 'Cork' colour

This 'grey' shade is sure to be a stylish and attractive adddition to this successful Cork line...but we need a name for it!

Here's your chance to make a lasting impression in the decking industry by coming up with the name for this new Duradek Ultra Cork colour.

All you have to do is visit our Facebook page, and enter your comment under the color swatch. We invite you to give us your best creative and unique suggestions for your chance to name the new colour.

Give Duradek's facebook page a 'like' while you are there, and take a quick look at our timeline for some great links for info about Duradek and the decking industry.

Fresh Living TV in Utah Examines Duradek Deck Waterproofing

Deck building and deck renovations are popular topics as spring begins to thaw us out of our winter hibernation and we prepare to enjoy our leisure time and our outdoor living space. The key word here is 'enjoy'. There is nothing fun about laboring on maintaining a deck or balcony, or discovering that the waterproofing on your deck has not performed as expected leaving you with unexpected repairs.

That is why it is so critical to find a product you can rely on and Duradek is proud to offer a walkable waterproofing membrane that allows you to have the peace of mind that your home is protected. In the clip below, Duradek Distributor and waterproofing expert Matt from Duradek of Utah / Dekmax talks with Fresh Living host on KUTV in Utah about Duradek and how it can be the ideal solution for your decking needs. You also get to hear first-hand from a Duradek customer on how Duradek was the perfect solution for their deck.

Discover how Duradek can:

• Protect your deck from repeated freeze/thaw cycles
• Provide your home with proven and guaranteed waterproof protection
• Bring an element of style with a variety of colors and patterns  

Fresh Living with Duradek  

Now that you've gotten a glimpse of what makes the Duradek difference, you may be curious about how Duradek can provide the decking solutions that you need. You can request a free, no obligation estimate from a specially trained Duradek waterproofing expert in your area, and prepare to enjoy your deck for many years to come!

To find the closest Duradek trained installer in your area, visit the 'Find a Dealer' page of the Duradek website.

Duradek Invites You To Coverings 2013 in Atlanta

Coverings, the ultimate tile and stone experience, is only a few weeks away and Duradek would like to invite you to attend with this offer of FREE REGISTRATION. Taking place April 29th to May 2nd at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, this is your opportunity to discover what the experts are saying about the latest in surface finishing.

Coverings Presents:

• 4 days of exhibits with over 900 exhibitors offering the best in the tile and stone surface covering products.
• More than 70 FREE specialized training and education sessions.
• Feature speakers addressing the latest in design, marketing and labor trends.
• Installation demonstrations and design showcase.
• Special programs like the CID Design Awards and Project Green.
• ....and more!

Be sure to stop by the Duradek booth #7665 to learn about Duradek Ultra Tiledek, the waterproofing membrane for under exterior tile and the time-proven Duradek Ultra walkable roofing membrane that has protected over a million square feet of decks all across North America.

Home Shows to Find Duradek Decking Solutions

It's that time of year when the sunshine brings us out of hibernation and has us preparing for summer home maintenance projects. Duradek is ready for a busy spring of protecting decks all across North America to ensure you have an attractive and low-maintenance outdoor living space, because Duradek believes that your deck is meant to be enjoyed, not laboured on.

Spring Home Shows This Week

Spring home and garden shows are in full swing and Duradek has been at shows all across North America to share the benefits of PVC decking. When you are visiting your local home and garden shows, be sure to look for Duradek. This week you will find Duradek at the following shows:

April 5 - 7, 2013 Fredericton Home Show
Capital Exhibit Centre, Fredericton, NB
Look for Duradek Dealer, Beaver Construction

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April 5 - 7, 2013 The Ideal Home Show
Exhibition Park, Halifax, NS
Look for Duradek Dealer, South Shore Custom Decks

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April 6 - 7, 2013 Westshore Tradeshow and Expo
Eagle Ridge Arena, Victoria, BC
Look for Duradek Dealer, Victoria Deck

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April 12 - 14, 2013 Port Alberni Home Show
Port Alberni Multiplex, Port Alberni, BC
Look for Duradek Dealer, Modern Aluminum and Vinyl Products

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April 12 - 14, 2013 Colchester County Home Show
Colchester Legion Stadium, Truro, NS
Look for Duradek Dealer, Cobequid Flooring

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Come see the latest Duradek colours!

While we are always thrilled to introduce Duradek to people and explain all of the benefits of waterproofing your deck with our Duradek Ultra vinyl membranes, one of the most enjoyable part of home shows for us is to hear the comments of so many happy Duradek customers who tell us, "Oh, we've had Duradek for YEARS!".

If you'd like to find out more about Duradek but you can't make it to a spring home show, feel free to contact a Duradek Dealer near you who can answer your questions or provide a free estimate on your deck.

Home Inspection Checklist Includes Deck Considerations from Duradek

The arrival of spring brings a bevy of home improvement ideas for many homeowners, but before you start compiling your wish-list, it is a good idea to perform a complete annual home inspection to ensure you don’t miss any important details and can properly prioritize your home improvement plans. Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine has given homeowners an advantage with a special section in their April issue and Duradek was happy to contribute some of the key deck considerations for your reference.

The ‘Spring Spruce Up’ (page 37) is a handy maintenance and repair checklist guide full of detailed information on the steps you need to properly provide your home with an annual inspection without missing a thing. This time of year it is particularly important to pay attention to your deck maintenance needs so your deck is safe, secure and ready for enjoyment through the sunny summer months.

Deck Inspection Advice

The folks at Duradek of Georgia are deck experts and members of the North America Deck and Railing Association (NADRA), so they know that deck safety is a primary concern.  On page 41, Duradek of Georgia mentions that with over 40 million decks in North America over 20 years old, homeowners would be wise to refer to NADRAs deck inspection checklist to dive even deeper into inspection and maintenance details for decking. It is important to ensure that any activities or enjoyment that your deck can bring to your family and guests are safe and worry-free.

Of course, general stability of the deck structure is the most important concern, but to ensure your deck structure stays strong you need to be confident that it is properly waterproofed to protect it from being compromised over time by water damage.

Deck Waterproofing

Duradek is the perfect solution for deck waterproofing since the PVC membrane provides a completely water-tight seal around your deck’s surface.  In addition, Duradek vinyl deck surfaces require no yearly maintenance like the sanding and staining a wood deck requires or the re-application of a liquid waterproof coating over a concrete deck. Whether you start with wood or with concrete, once Duradek has been installed you have guaranteed waterproof protection for 10 years.

A deck protected with Duradek as seen in
Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine

In the image above which was included in April’s Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine, you can see how Duradek provides a beautiful, clean and contemporary look. But what it doesn’t show is that this deck also serves as a roof for the ground-level deck below. Not only does Duradek protect the deck structure, but the roof-grade protection of Duradek Ultra membranes ensures that anything below your deck is kept dry too.

Duradek 2nd story deck provides roof-grade
waterproof protection for lower deck

If you are curious about the advantages of Duradek vinyl membranes and would like to talk to a trained and authorized Duradek installer about your potential deck renovations, you can contact a Duradek dealer in your area for a free estimate.

Duradek Provides Waterproofing Solution for 200 Year Old Home

Roof decks are becoming quite a popular value-added feature of new home developments, but renovation plans for older homes are also seeing roof decks as an important part of the overall objectives for the home.

Take for example, the Glenlochan in Urbanna, VA. This home was originally built in the 1780’s and the new owners plan to make it their dream home to last the rest of their lives. Like many homeowners who see a house and instantly know it is ‘the one’, the renovation plans and construction are supported with an emotional investment beyond the financial investment for the home.

One part of the renovation of Glenlochan includes a second-story porch. The original plans for the home had this deck over top of living space, but concerns of water issues down the road and allocation of space had the homeowners reducing the size of the second story porch. While no longer planned to be directly over living space, this porch still acts as a roof over the first floor porch. The homeowners wanted to be certain that there would be an impermeable membrane on the second story porch to keep the area below dry. They knew that this home was going to be their home into their golden years, and wanted to be sure not to run into problems down the road. They wanted something that would last, and Duradek was the perfect fit.

Duradek dealer Paul from PJ's roofing provided the trained Duradek installers for this project. Like all Duradek installers, Paul's team has been specialy trained in the intricate details of deck waterproofing with PVC membranes. Had the homeowners decided to keep the large porch over living space, Duradek would still have provided the home with warrantied roof grade waterproof protection over living space as it is an ICC-ES approved product as a walking deck and classified roof covering in accordance with ICC and CGSB requirements. But in this instance, Duradek provides a roof area for a dry first level porch and a beautiful, low maintenance walking surface for the second story porch.



Screen shot of Glenlochan Blog

With the homeowners documenting the progress of the renovation of Glenlochan, the resulting blog is a very interesting read in the surprises and challenges involved in the renovation of a house that is 229 years old. Check out the Glenlochan blog.

If you are considering a renovation project that includes a roof deck or second story deck, contact a Duradek dealer in your area for a free estimate and to see how Duradek can help reach your renovation goals.