Album - Leaking flat roof turns into 900+ sq ft usable outdoor space

What was a tiny little walk out deck has become a beautiful roof deck. A great example of how to get the most out of your home while adding value.
Wouldn't you like to invite your friends over for dinner on you new roof deck overlooking the forest and the Wasatch Mountians?

Laying out the materials for a dry fit eliminates errors.

Adding slope manages the water flow off the roof into the gutter system.

Sanding the plywood surface helps to turn this roof into a "floor"

It was a mess, doing it right with Dekmax and Duradek means no worries for decades to come.

Look at the amount of room that was gained by using a walkable roof product!

The tar seaping out of the overlapped areas get on your shoes and ends up in the house.

You can see the rail at the bottom of the picture cut off the largest part of this flat roof. Since they had to fix a leaking roof anyway why not do it right and open up the whole room as an etertainment area?

Do it right the first time!

Although it is beautiful now, this awesome outdoor area had some serious issues. Unfortunatly these costly repairs would have been avoided with the proper system and professional installation. Originally done with tile a water leak into the living space below was the cause for repair. What was found is all too common and can be avioded.

The process that was used involved several different products and some did not follow the manufacturer's recomendations. The subfloor was OSB, ice & water shield, 1/4 inch fiberboard, thinset, then tile.







The picture to the right is a tile from the outer edge of the deck. You can see the tile and about 1/4 inch of thinset was used here.









In this picture you see another tile this one comes aproximatly ten feet from the above picture. What you see here is the dramtic change in thickness of the thinset and an additional inknown product. This was done in an effort to create the nessesary slope to drain the water from the deck surface. This is one of the errors in the installation process.




Tile, thinset and grout are not waterproof. Adding thicker layers does provide slope as you see it and with a level, but water is being absorbed into these materials and looking for an escape. This is a very common problem and can be very costly when failure occurs. When your project calls for tile / stone on an outdoor surface we recommend that you use only products that are fully warranteed over living space and comes with a roofing approval.


Here we have some pieces of the 1/4 inch fiber board that were used over the ice & water shield. When installing tile again we recommend using 1/2 inch cement board per the tile industry standards.

Here you can see the long, darker color piece on top of the larger one. The color difference is the amount of moisture in the longer piece. According to the label this product is moisture and mold resistant. Again the manufacture does not approve of this product being used in an outdoor application.





This is what was to be the waterproof material for this project. Once again it is not for use in a walkeable roof application. It is a deck we are talking about but, since it is over living space this is also a roof. As such a roofing product was needed to avoid these costly errors.

Look closely and you can see the roofing nails that were used to attach the sheets. Never a good idea to put holes into what you are trying to waterproof.

On the right there are visible signs of the water damage and what looks like an area where mold has begun to form. This home owner is fortunate that they are doing the repair now rather then later, this could have been much much worse.

All of this can be avoided by using some simple common sense. Be sure you are using products that are within the manufacturer's recommendations and only a professional who has been properly trained on the products used.

Why choose a waterproof system? COST!

COST. That is the number one reason to consider Dekmax. Let me break it down for you with some samples and our experiences, ones that I am certain are similar to your own.

Wood decks are one of the least expensive (that's why you see them all over the valley). They are also very needy decks, annual sanding, staining, repairing and while your doing all this the wood is continuing to rot. Even the screws that were used to put the deck together are rusting away and commonly break off when you try and remove them. It is a given, the deck is going to need costly repair. If you are relentless with the upkeep and maintenance you can buy some time.

We offer free dry space with every waterproof deck. It is a no brainer to make use of all the dry space you possible can. Seems like we are always looking for another place to store our stuff. Consider the amount of space you have under your deck. Most exterior decks around the valley are from 200 to 500 sq ft. that is roughly the size of a one and two car garage! Next time your getting in the car look around, would you like to get some more room for the car(s) and move that other stuff?

Been talking about the need for a shed? Why take up space in the yard where the kids will play? Look at the room under your deck and consider making it waterproof and maintenance free while you simply enclose the space below.

Take that redwood deck and easily convert it to a smooth surface. Waterpoof it and then think of all the things you can do with your free time. First thing to do is start to figure out how smart you were to do the job with a product that will offer you so much more than just a deck. One initial cost and no annual work load and it goes on and on year after year for more than a decade.

Most decks over living space these days have OSB on them, one reason. It is the least expensive available. But you can see what happens to it when it gets a little water on it, it is coming apart. If you are simply covering this up you are just delaying the inevitable, it will fail, and it will be expensive to repair. We understand you are shopping around for products as you should, just be sure you are looking at all the right things and comparing apples to apples. You can see our T.I.P.S from the website or do your own cost comparison at the local hardware store. Wood will be the least cost bit the most repair. Composites will be more expensive and laborious but still do nohting to protect the wood or anything below. Duradek is comparative in cost but far out lasts and offer so much more.

Time For Us To Give Back - You Can Win!!!

For years we have been listening to home owners that have water damages or are just plain tired of annually spending money on their deck. It really can be heart wrenching to hear them tell how " they said it work" or "they told us it was good for at least fives years". Then when the owner has water leaking into their home or a rotting old deck "they" are all gone.

We are giving away a new waterproof deck, flat roof, balcony or porch. All you need to do is Tell Us Your Story. From our website www.dekmax.com simply register to win and on April 15th we will award the prize to a deserving home owner. What so we want to hear in your story? What have you gone through over the past few years? Are you tired of sending xxx.xx$ every year on stain and then taking you valuable time to sand and stain the deck? Did you do the outdoor carpet idea only to find out the wood was rotting below? What caused the water leaking into your home? How many times have you gone through this process?

We want to find a deserving home owner and eliminate the frustrations and headaches once and for all. Our products have been around for more then thirty-six years and almost four warranty cycles. We know that even here in our tough climate one application is going to last well beyond ten years.

It would please us to no end to install their new waterproof deck and then watch them sit back, kick their feet up and relax.

Tiledek customer comments

Comments from a customer -

My home was built in 1999, and the original decking was a solid surface produce called “deck-o-crete” or something. At the time, I was told that this was a popular and durable type of finish that my builder recommended. For about 4 or 5 years, I had relatively few issues with it. The only water issue I noticed was a leakage of water at the house/deck interface when a unusually large storm hit (1x or 2x in 5 years). The vinyl railing also seemed to be OK for a while.

Starting about 2005, the surface was beginning to fail…cracks developed, and got worse with the freeze/thaw cycles. Ultimately, a large windstorm pulled the vinyl rail off, and this coupled with many cracks and failure pockets led me to decide to redo the entire thing.
I went through many difference design concepts from a simply railing replacement, to a more glorified design with a deck cover, and enclosure underneath to form a sun/California type of room.
I decided on a framed/timber deck cover, with an enclosed sun room underneath to maximize our enjoyment and use of the areas. I wanted a slate-finish on top of the deck, so needed a very robust, water-proof, and suitable membrane to hold up to the harsh SLC, UT winters.

I researched many products, but settled on Tiledek. It seemed to be the best product out there that fit my needs and requirements. Also, having lived in Canada for many years, provided an extra sense of security, as this product’s origins seemed to come from this cold, harsh environment. I actually found Tiledek on the Internet originally, and this was the medium for my research and decision.

During installation, I was impressed with how durable and robust the product seemed. It was fairly easy to install, with the most time consuming and difficult part being the “welding” with the heat guns on the seams. Also, the seals around the posts and doors were a bit trickly, but Matt at Dekmax was extremely supportive, knowledgeable, and helped make sure everything was perfect. I was impressed by the amount of time and effort he spent with me getting the produce installed correctly.

The installation of the slate over Tiledek was very slick. I’ve laid a lot of tile and stone over the years, and I actually prefer laying it on Tiledek vs. even a normal install on backerboard or mortar composite. Due to my time constraints, the slate was installed about 2+ months after the Tiledek was installed, and I did not notice any adverse effects due to the duration it sat waiting for the slate to be put on.

The install of the Durarail railing was a bit more difficult and time consuming than I had anticipated. Handling and cutting of the long sections was tedious and not easy. Once this was up, however, the product seems very robust and strong.

Currently, I am working on finishing the rest of the enclosed space below the deck. There have been some strong storms come through, and the Tiledek has performed just fine.

I would recommend this product to anyone that is concerned about weather/water proofing their project, especially if tile or stone covering is needed. I have not come across a product yet that compares.
Thanks.

Todd

Waterproof decks, Do it Right the First Time

Many homes in Utah have beautiful views of the valleys, mountain ranges and just plain old spectacular scenery. The spring-to-fall climate is perfect for enjoying some down time, taking in the surroundings, spending some quality time with your family, relaxed, outside, in the fresh air, enjoying life – on your sundeck.

Unfortunately, for lots of people, the sundeck area is not the area of enjoyment and tranquility that some of us know. It is an area of maintenance and splinters and rotting wood and dangerous railings and…well the list goes on. If the area directly below the sundeck is over living space, there are usually issues about waterproofing – or the lack of it. Even if the sundeck is not over living space, if it is a carport, the space can’t be used for any kind of storage. In adverse weather, without appropriate waterproofing, the space is virtually useless.

Over the years, there have been very few products or systems available to cover the deck surface and have it meet the following criteria: be waterproof, allow walking, withstand barbeques, kids, dogs and just regular outdoor living AND still be attractive, all-in-one. The liquid applied goops are multi application systems. They are typically a single bland color and therefore have no attractive qualities. And the weather has to be almost perfect for each application, with a 24 hour cure time. The black rubber option is again, not very attractive, so it needs a different surface to beautify it. Now, the home owner is back into the maintenance of wood or pavers or ??

For years Utah residents have been searching for a true waterproofing product that opens up these outdoor living areas. A product that will function, has a warranty, is installed by trained professionals and looks good. Most options for waterproofing have failed in the past, thus leaving home owners with costly repairs and a poor opinion of waterproofing products and the whole concept of sundecks over living space. Then, in 2005, Dekmax introduced the area to Duradek.

The Duradek brands are not new. With more than three decades of proven service and over 150 million square feet of product installed, Duradek has become the “walkable roofing membrane” preferred and specified by architects. It is also recognized by engineers, inspectors and designers, as the appropriate choice. And since Dekmax began the distributorship four years ago it has become a very popular choice with builders, contractors and home owners.

So, what makes Duradek so different from other products trying to accomplish the same thing?
· With a 10 year warranty, Duradek has been through the warranty cycle many times over the course of its history. We have never had to replace material because of a manufacturers defect…ever!
· Duradek is a single ply PVC membrane that meets the appropriate building codes as a “walkable roofing membrane”. It also carries the ICC approval of a roofing membrane that allows pedestrian traffic. We are exactly what we say we are.
· Duradek is only installed by company trained contractors. In fact we do not sell Duradek to anyone who has not been trained – period.
· History tells us that in our climate you should expect fifteen to eighteen years of use with one application. Another benefit is that your structure will still be sound and secure – ready to accept a new Duradek application.
· Details, technical support, presentations and training all provided locally. With over 35 years of experience, Duradek has seen just about every kind of scenario and we have designed details and techniques to accommodate them all. And we are not shy to share these. A very intense 2 day training will teach installers how to handle most any waterproofing detail. But a close 2nd to the waterproofing is that the sundeck looks beautiful when the installation is complete.
· With more than 20 colors to choose from, Duradek can satisfy most any color scheme or designer objective. The choices are anything from solid colors to unique and interesting patterns.

Installation can be done year round in almost any weather condition. Prior to Dekmax coming onto the scene, Duradek had flown company trainers to Utah for training and installations. There are single family and multi-unit projects that are now over sixteen years old and still going strong.

One of the aspects that makes Duradek the leading choice with multi-unit properties is that it is long lasting, low maintenance and easily repairable should it ever need it. Let’s face it. When was the last time you had problems on a deck that was a simple repair rather than a drawn out costly mess? Typically, if there is an issue with the material being cut or damaged the problem spot can be located quickly and the repair takes only minutes.

Though our strength is working over living space, anytime you have exposure to the elements you will have a higher risk of water damages. Simply covering an exposed deck all but eliminates the potential for water damages. By doing so you can cost effectively make the area under the deck more attractive and useable. Add some lighting and enclose the area – now you have a completely enclosed storage are for anything from food stuffs to camping gear and ski equipment.

Always wanted to use tile outdoors but knew better? Now you can with Duradek’s latest product “Tiledek”. Tiledek is made specifically for tile applications and still covered by our ten year warranty. Through years of research and cooperation with the tile industry we can offer the same well proven membrane but with a fabric covering designed to work aggressively with the thin-sets used in tile installations. This will give you the ultimate waterproofing membrane coupled with the exquisite styling that only tile can provide.

So, reconsider your thoughts on sundecks. There is a way to waterproof and beautify your outdoor living area.

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.