Problems with Liquid Applied and “Roll-Ons”

Here we have a beautiful home with a deck in front overlooking downtown Salt Lake City and the valley as well as a more private deck out the back. The home owner had been experiencing water leaks for several years and never found a good solution. It seemed every year or two they were spending more money on the next best thing that came along. I could hear the frustration in their voices as the described the events.

These decks were designed to be an addition to the usable space of the home, opening up the outdoors and providing a place to relax and enjoy. Rather they became a burden, a money trap and not even being used.

These pictures are from the last attempt at waterproofing the decks. Some type of liquid applied product was used and it looks to have some sand added to it for slip resistance. There are a couple of problems here that the home owner may have uncovered with some effort. A large portion of the decking is over living space (that’s why the leaking was costing so much) and according to building code the waterproofing needs to be 60mil thickness at a minimum. So the question that came to mind was “How do you measure the thickness of a liquid rolled on? When the liquid dry’s it becomes hard and since this is a wood surface it will have movement. Wood shrinks, expands and contracts, and is subject to pressure from the home settling. So when that happens what is the result on the applied product? If it has dried on the wood surface it will fail simply because it can not “move” with the wood.

Installation from a trained professional also reduces silly mistakes likes these.
Notice the brick, the installer simply “painted” the lower brick and decided that was waterproof. The same was done for the bottom of the railing around both decks. This is an actual hole between the brick and the door, you can see where the “waterproofing has peeled away.

There are plenty of products out there. Home owners need to be aware of the proper questions to ask and do some homework to be certain you will not end up with a situation like the one described above. You can see our T.I.P.S at www.dekmax,com or at a minimum you should request a copy of the ICC ES report for the product you are considering. You can look yourself at www.icc-es.org

Warranty’s are good and are a common question. Check the number of years they have been in business versus the number of warranty cycles they have been through. There is nothing wrong with asking about their history. How many recalls? Manufacturing defects? What is the quality assurance program?

A home owner once asked me if they should just trust their contractor? Yes you should and you should ask any question you want because they should be able to answer it clearly in terms that you understand. They may be doing the work for you but it is still your project, your home and your money. Invest it don’t just spend it.

Why Others Fail

We are often asked when meeting with a customer "What about this stuff? Is it as good? " We are not experts on all the other products that are out there but I encourage you to follow these T.I.P.S. to avoid a mistake that could be very costly.

Homeowner Tips

Consider remodeling or improving your home an investment – and determine the value you are adding. Numerous products claim they can waterproof, but only a few meet the IBC requirements for a roof system that allows pedestrian traffic. Before buying, be sure to address these topics:

Training
· How were they trained?
· Look for documented, supplier-provided training + hands-on experience.
· Do they have local support for technical, detail, or planning concerns?
· Can they produce the written details for any portion of the work that you request?
· Avoid on-the-job experience – their experience shouldn't come at your cost.

Investigate
· What am I buying? Is the product being used for its intended purpose?
· Does it come with a company-backed warranty and what are the exclusions?
· What is the company history?
· When waterproofing over a living space, always investigate the risk of product failure.

Price
· Is the price broken down so I can see exactly what I am getting?
· When comparing prices, ensure that the products are comparable.
· The cost to maintain and repair should be included.
· What is the cost if there is a leak? Repairs can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
· Be cautious – you may indeed get what you pay for.

Serviceability
How durable is the product – and what if I want to replace it or make a change?
Is it repaired easily?
What is the expected lifetime?
How long does it take to install and how soon can it be used?
For new construction, who can help you with your design in order to reduce costs?

Waterproofing Roofing Membrane for Exterior Bonded Tiles

There is nothing like the look of tile or slate on that outdoor deck. Unfortunately, the beauty is soon forgotten if water makes its way into your home from the deck, thorugh the tile. It is then clear that most of the attention was given to the appearance rather than proper waterproofing techniques, when the tile was first installed. The resulting repairs can be intrusive and expensive when the cost of replacing the tile is considered.

This is a common story. There seems to be a lack of understanding within the building community about the proper waterproofing of decks, balconies and roof decks that are overlaid with porcelain tile, slate or some of the other natural stone finishes.

A failed tile deck or balcony is a common occurrence. There are two main types of failures; problems with the tile overlay such as eruptions or cracking and problems with the structure such as leaks into the building and rot. In most cases, the source of the failure is the lack of understanding of the properties and the limitations of the materials being used:

1. Inadequate waterproofing: There are many 'waterproof products' yet they are being installed incorrectly. A knowledgeable contractor is more important that a good product. Poor waterproofing can have far more expensive consequences than just repairing the tile if it involves rot repairs from a water leak.
2. Waterproofing membrane which is soft allows too much deflection: Any acceptable material must be firm enough under all temperatures to support the tile overlay. Many decks are waterproofed with 'Modified Bitumen' roofing membranes that get soft in hot weather which may allow tile to crack. Any suitable product will be tested with a Robinson Floor tester to meet ASTM C-627
3. Tile is installed with no provision of expansion: There is a recommendation by the tile association of expansion joints every 8-10 feet in any direction. If the tile has no room to expand, tiles will crack or lift.
waterproofing membrane which allows too much deflections.

A properly installed waterproof tiled deck would look like this:

Outdoor living space adds value to your home!

So many of us have decks, flat roofs, balconies and porches that are done like everyone else in the valley. For years a wood plank deck was the thing to do, mainly because it is the least expensive. Soon the excitement of the new deck turns into a annual maintenance and repair headache. The resulting costs and time can be frustrating and replacement is inevitable.

What's the next best thing? You can get the same general appearance of a wood deck by using composite materials. These are easy to come by from name brands or even the local Home Depot and Lowe's for the do it yourself-er. The problem is the same but you have bought some time: the wood supports and trusses are rotting. True the composite materials are waterproof and they will not rot. They will fade, can splinter, stain or discolor and water will leak through them just like the old deck. Again to by some time pressure treated wood can be used or required and the chemicals that are used will add a little time. While those chemicals are being washed into the ground over the years they to will begin to rot and need to be replaced.

Both of these and others may be the "popular" thing but what do they do for the resale value of your home? Do you look at the decks, flat roofs, balconies and patios that are in need of repair as investments for your home? Will the products you choose add value to your home?

Just for a minute think of these areas as outdoor living space, not much different than your living room or family room. Would like to have an area that can provide you with the opportunity to entertain and relax while taking advantage of our awesome Utah views? With the more than twenty Duradek colors and designs any outdoor area can be converted to a long lasting, low maintenance entertaining area. Unlike the previous decks this meets code as a roofing membrane so go ahead and take advantage of the space underneath. Storage? Now you have the space. Place for the hot tub so you don't get cold water dripping on you? Perfect. Get all the stuff out of the garage so you can use it for the car. Great idea. This is where your investment begins to pay off. Now the area underneath become usable space, completely dry and ready for you to take advantage of however you like. By using this process you have made excellent use of your time and money so have some friends and family over and entertain them in your new outdoor living area. While they are wowed with the changes you made you can relax knowing that your annual maintenance will be a with a hose washing of the deck. Don't worry about the snow and freeze thaw; rock salt, ice melt, shovel it, no problem.

Now you are thinking about the cost of something like this. It's OK we think about it too. The old fashion wood deck would be the least expensive and you can do it yourself. The composite materials are more expensive and again if you think your up to it you can do it yourself. The same area done with a membrane which offers you so much more has a material cost that would be less than the do it yourself composite choice! BUT, this is not a do it yourself project. Only professional company trained installers are used. You are no longer simply building a deck area you are investing in your home, most will agree this is not the time to try and cut the initial amount you spend. Doing it the right way the first time will provide you with well over a decade of use and you are saving the annual repair and maintenance cost of wood decks.



When was the last time you walked outside sat down and relaxed with no deck worries?

Adding Value to Your Roof!

This home in Holladay, Utah has a flat roof in the rear with a fantastic view of the mountains. The home owner needed to repair a leak that was causing damages to the living space below. Rather than simply replace the old roofing system that had failed, they searched for a long term solution that would also allow them to turn this area into an outdoor living space. Duradek's membrane meets building code as a roofing material but is unique in that it also allows pedestrian traffic, perfect for opening up decks, patios, balconies and flat roofs to make them beautiful outdoor entertainment areas.

Tar leaves unattractive finish on fascia


What a mess! Removal of failed system


Wroght iron rail system with tar at base


Roof turned into usable space


Sanding to remove any imperfections to finished flooring


AC unit re-installed with properly waterproofed platform


Proper slope means good water management


Durarail replaces wrought iron

By using the Duradek and Durarail products this home owner has fixed the leaky roof problem and added significant value to the home by adding almost a thousand square feet of outdoor useable space.