Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Outdoor living with Peace of Mind


This home owner like so many others was simply frustrated and upset that their "waterproof"deck was failing.  It was a concrete surface that had a nice pattern and looked great.  So what happened to it and why do they have to spend so much money to repair it now? We will try to answer these common questions. 

Concrete is a very durable product and has many uses but it is not waterproof itself.  In order to make it shed water a sealer or top coat needs to be applied to it on a regularly scheduled basis.  These sealers are applied to the top of the finished surface or the pedestrian surface.  The more you use the deck the quicker you will wear off the sealer thus needing to have it reapplied.  Often the warranty is tied to the owner ensuring they have had the installer re-apply the sealer as required.

But "they" didn't tell me that! 

The simple truth is you need to do some work investigating the product, the history and the companies that are involved.  Are they a local company? Have you been to their office? Exactly who will stand behind the product and the installation? 

A contractor has to agree to warranty their installation / labor for a minimum of one year here in Utah, this will vary by state.  So what if you have questions after that time frame?  I can only speak of our networks experiences, we want to hear from our customers regardless who the installer was after one year, five, ten or twenty.  Its simple, at Duradek we care. 





Thursday, December 4, 2014

Donner Lake, Roofdeck by Duradek






This home owner had an ace in the hole when it came to finding the right solution for their new rooftop deck.  Their daughter is an architect! 

This beautiful cabin in Donner Lake California did not have a garage / work area and only a walk out patio in the rear.  During the design phase they had decided to open up the upstairs bedrooms, removing the old windows and adding doors opening right to the roof of the garage.  Very cost effective and added not just value but serious jealously form the neighbors too. 


 Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains there are fire concerns and a class A fire rated roof is required. A sheet of 1/2" cement board is installed over the wood substrate and the seams leveled with thin set. The building inspector was not familiar with Duradek and had some questions.  The following morning he received what he wanted direct from the Duradek Technical support staff.



This cabin has a nice rustic look to it so Duradek's PVC coated drip edge is used around the perimeter.  This allows for the membrane to be welded to it and yet form the ground you only see the face of the drip edge, complimenting the design.



















Fully adhered and thoroughly inspected by the local Squirrels (like the neighbors they were really interested in what was going on). Duradek is in use immediately and ready for whatever the weather may be. It was good thing too, mornings were very cold and frosty with certain snow by now this couple has piece of mind knowing they are protected.

Rock salt or ice melting chemical or even a shovel if needed will allow them to take advantage of this awesome roof deck year round.