Porcelain/Stone Tile On Outdoor Decks Over Living Space - White Paper

Porcelain or Stone Tile on outdoor decks provides a beautiful surface but the failure rate is high. This paper discusses the common pitfalls of a tile overlay from the construction of the deck throught the application of the top finish. It deals primarily with decks and balconies on wood frame buildings with a focus on protecting the structure with solid waterproofing (roofing) details. It also prepares the reader with the questions to ask when choosing tile, thinset mortars, decoupling and drainage mats and making decisions on slope and railing attachment. To view the White Paper, DOWLOAD HERE.

Duradek on 'Holmes on Homes'

Yes, it's true! Mike Holmes has chosen to use Duradek to solve some of his tough waterproofing problems!
Duradek was featured in Season 7, on Episode EP7081: Rocky Reno. This was filmed in Canmore, Alberta near the Rocky Mountains.

Holmes on Homes Episode: Rocky Reno

We have a link on our website News Page to the Episode...

We are listed as one of his Approved Contractors on the 'Make It Right' website.

Duradek Ultra Plazadek - Waterproofing Under Pavers and Duck Boards

Since 1974, Duradek PVC membranes have been used to waterproof decks, balconies and roof decks. Well over a hundred million square feet of Duradek has been installed all over North America and it has proven itself to be a durable, attractive and relatively maintenance free waterproofing system.


Duradek has developed significant expertise in the waterproofing of surfaces designed for leisure living and pedestrian traffic over that period of time. Applying walkable roofing membranes requires details and a skill set beyond just keeping the water out. It involves accomplishing the work with appearance in mind. And deck/balcony details are far more complicated than basic roofing. It requires finishing around doors, drains, pillars, railings, stairs and many different types of siding and tie ins to other roofing products.

There seems to be a trend towards many of the higher priced houses using pavers or duck boards as the deck finish over living space. The walking surface provides the visual part but the real important work is done by the waterproof membrane. Duradek’s Plazadek is the ideal choice to protect the building owner’s investment.

Roofing Approved Membrane

Duradek Ultra is a 60 mil, PVC membrane, with CCMC and ICC evaluation reports covering its use in Canada and the US as a roof membrane capable of pedestrian traffic. Plazadek is a “model” of Duradek Ultra designed specifically for a paver or duck board overlay. The 60 mil product is 25% (48 vs. 60 mil) thicker than what is required for roofing commercial buildings and therefore capable of handling almost any abuse it would be subjected to over its lifetime.

Installed by Trained Applicators

The primary benefit of Duradek Ultra Plazadek is the trained applicators who install the material. Duradek will not sell waterproofing products to any company who’s installers have not been trained. The typical details those installers work with every day on decks and balconies are just as important for decks covered with pavers or duckboards.

Railings

Your decision on railing also plays a major role in good waterproofing. Duradek is a manufacturer of powder coated aluminum railings and has great expertise in making sure that the safety provided by the guard rail does not compromise the waterproofing integrity of the roof membrane.

Perimeter Trims and Waterproofing Details

Regardless of what surface you walk on, the perimeter finish of the waterproofing membrane is of great importance to the appearance and waterproofing function over the long term. Duradek has many options of perimeter finish details, depending upon the desire to remove the water with a gutter or drain and scupper system and depending upon how you want the visible portion of the membrane to show.

Plazadek's details also include the recommendation of a drainage mat between the paver and the membrane to allow water to drain while keeping the dirt and other contaminants from building up underneath or between the pavers. In anticipation of potential damage during the placement and subsequent movement (vibration) of the heavy pavers, Duradek’s Plazadek detail calls for extra protection to be built in at the junction of the deck and wall. And for duckboard systems, Duradek has a detail for bonding the sleepers to the membrane without risk of penetration or movement. It easily allows the boards that are walked on to be safely restrained in place.

Warranty

Duradek Plazadek is covered with a written ten year guarantee and the peace of mind of knowing it is backed by a company with over 35 years of expertise in roofing of surfaces intended to be walked on.

What Is Duradek, You Ask…?

Duradek is the trade name for a line of PVC vinyl membranes that were developed to solve waterproofing problems for sundecks, flat roof decks, balconies and other leisure walking surfaces. The technology was borrowed from the marine industry where PVC was being used to waterproof hull liners for over 25 years. If PVC membrane could perform well in those harsh marine environments, then it can certainly waterproof decks and balconies!

As the industry leader in sheet waterproofing systems, Duradek has been applied to literally billions of square feet of walking surfaces, to protect them from rot, decay and to form a roof over the space below. Now, with over 36 years of waterproofing experience, Duradek is still the primary choice of Architects, Builders, Property Managers and Homeowners who appreciate our attention to detail.

Here is Duradek's current product line-up:

Duradek Ultra – Duradek is the original sheet vinyl designed to waterproof flat decks and roofs. Duradek is textured to provide slip-resistant walking surfaces and comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns to provide a contemporary, clean look previously unavailable in the outdoor waterproof flooring industry. Installed in one easy step and in almost any weather condition, Duradek can be used immediately. Duradek provides the waterproofing and the walking surface in one simple solution.

Duradek Ultra Tiledek – Duradek Ultra Tiledek is identical to Duradek Ultra except the top surface is a fabric top, to which the thinset mortar mix that holds down tile, can tightly adhere to. Installed with the same waterproofing details and techniques as Duradek, Tiledek is the waterproofing roofing membrane under a tile, slate or porcelain finished surface. In addition to protecting the surface below, Tiledek also acts as a crack isolation barrier to bridge small cracks in the substrate preventing those cracks from transferring through to the tile.

Duradek Ultra Plazadek – Duradek Ultra Plazadek is designed specifically for the purpose of waterproofing flat deck or roofs which are intended to have pavers, stamped concrete or a wood/synthetic wood duckboard system placed overtop for pedestrian traffic. Plazadek is identical in construction to Duradek Ultra, installed with the same waterproofing techniques, by the same network of trained applicators and performs the same function of protecting the living space below.

Durarail – Durarail is a powder coated aluminum railing and fencing system produced by Duradek. Constructed with a heavy wall thickness of durable aluminum, the system is exceptionally strong. It enables wider spans between posts and provides for a better visual appearance and view. The TGIC powder coating comes in 8 standard colors, in addition to over 180 custom colors and provides a maintenance free, durable and attractive finish which meets AAMA 2604 and 2605 specifications. The Durarail finish will not rust, peel or corrode even in harsh environments. Durarail is available in many styles, from pickets to view-through glass and is easily customized to satisfy any requirement.

Durarail has systems that meet the rigorous building code standards in both the US and Canada. Additional engineering is available to satisfy even the toughest of code jurisdictions.

A Durarail railing or fencing system is a safe, strong, yet attractive addition to any outdoor living space.

The DURADEK Story…

Duradek has been in the deck, balcony and flat roof waterproofing industry since 1974. We pioneered the use of PVC membranes as an outdoor walking surface and were the first to have an approved single ply 'walk on' roof membrane. Duradek membranes are the primary roofing approved materials on tens of thousands of flat roofs and decks throughout North America. From large condo and townhouse complexes to single family homes, Duradek is the choice of Architects, Builders, Property Managers and Home Owners who understand our attention to detail.

Duradek's factory engineered products and professional installation techniques have set new standards for waterproofing that works. Duradek products are only installed by trained, professional applicators to ensure the job is done right, the first time!

Duradek is the source for time-tested and proven materials, details and installation techniques for any waterproofing sundeck, balcony or rooftop deck.