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!

Duradek Deck Experts Shine in Saskatoon

Duradek is proud to have 40 years of experience behind our product, but perhaps even more proud of the professional network of distributors and installers we have built relationships with along the way, like the exceptional expertise offered by the team at the Saskatoon Deck Shop.

As a company, Duradek recognized early on that no matter how reliable the waterproofing product, it is the installation techniques and skills of the installer that truly will make the difference in how well that product will perform. That is why Duradek is not available as a retail product, but instead offered only by trained installers who are familiar with the intricate details involved in deck waterproofing.

Duradek’s exclusive Saskatchewan distributor, Saskatoon Deck Shop is an excellent example of the type of professionalism and expertise in deck waterproofing that helps Duradek to stand out above other deck vinyl options.

Featured on “Ask the Experts” a print and online publication that includes experts in all areas of the marketplace, Saskatoon Deck Shop as represented by deck expert Desiree Hubbs has demonstrated that the strength of the Duradek product lines combined with skilled tradesmen results in a superior resource for your maintenance free exterior products.

Originally operating as Sunshine Eaves & Exteriors when they started up in 1979, they became Saskatoon Deck Shop when they added Duradek to their offerings in 1993 and soon after became exclusive Duradek distributors in Saskatchewan in 1998.

In 2013, celebrating their 20th year, Saskatoon Deck Shop continued to grow and the demand for skilled Duradek installers prompted them to ensure they had plenty of reliable contractors available to meet the needs of their market. Duradek president, John Ogilvie and sales manager, Kevin MacMillan visited Saskatoon Deck Shop to conduct a Duradek Certification training program and you can be assured that the decks in Saskatchewan are in good hands when they are protected with Duradek vinyl membranes!



Duradek president, John Ogilvie, Saskatoon Deck Shop owner,
Rene Leberge and Duradek Sales Manager, Kevin MacMillan.

Duradek’s ability to be installed in almost any weather condition and perform in all North American climates makes it a reliable decking solution for the extreme temperatures of the prairies. With over half a million square feet of Duradek installed in their region alone, Saskatoon Deck Shop’s experience qualifies them as the definitive experts for waterproof vinyl membranes in Saskatchewan.

If you are planning on building or renovating a deck in Saskatchewan, don’t try to cut corners by doing the job yourself. Be sure to talk to Desiree or one of the other knowledgeable waterproofing professionals at Saskatoon Deck Shop to make sure it is done right the first time.

You can look for Saskatoon Deck Shop at events like the Gardenscapes Show (March 28-30) or the Homestyles Show (March 20-23) at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Exhibition Center.

For all other areas, you can access our ‘Find a Dealer’ locator to access an authorized Duradek installer near you for a free estimate on your deck renovation.