I have a guy who wants to waterproof his 2nd floor deck (exposed – no roof over it). Its about 20′ x 30′, and the construction detail as it stands is really goofy. Its 2×6 edge to edge with caulking in between, covered with outdoor carpet. It leaks like a sieve on the patio below. Very little slope. Anybody have success with waterproof deck covering?
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http://www.duradek.com
thanks, I'll check into that. Have you had good success with it?
Huck the luck I've had is great. Not a cheap product & has to be installed by a dealer but no problems and every one loves it.
I checked into Duradek once. They don't sell here in LA because the smog people won't let them. So it's important to check out the local laws.
-- J.S.
JOhn I wonder if you were given bad info. I called the US office & was told they have a distributor in L.A. & it is installed all over out there.
Maybe that, or maybe I got them confused with some other deck product that had an AQMD issue. I'll make a note of their web site for when I get around to re-doing the deck.
-- J.S.
search archives here for EPDM and decks
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thanks - are we talking welded seam membrane? I'll have to research when I get a little more time. I had only used welded-seam membranes in roof applications, didn't know it was suitable for decking also. Like I say, I appreciate the heads-up and will research the archives.
You might want to check out Universal Protective Coatings...especially their Deck 70 product---If you use the 2 part undercoat (the name of which escapes me), you will have a water proof membrane that will last years...You will, however, likely need to put down a plywood substrate, but ask them:
Universal Protective Coatings
San Rafael, CA 94901
Good luck with your project.
Thanks, I'll look into it. I always prefer something I can install myself, 'cause then I make more money on the job. But of course bottom line is I want something that will hold up, and thats a big open deck to cover. Yeah, I figured that deck will need something over the planks, thats the goofiest detail for waterproofing a deck I've ever seen, and its a big custom home. But that may be a homeowner addition at some point, I don't know.
Duradeck is PVC membrane with heat welded seams, meant for deck applications.
EPDM is adhesive or butyl seams and not meant to be used as a walkable deck membrane.
Both will require a better substrate to adhere to. Duradeck should be on G1S T&G with seams and fasteners filled. EPDM can go over regular plywood, and will require decking of some sort over top.
hmmm, that might be an issue, come to think of it. He's got a glass slider with a low threshold, and anything I do to raise the level of the deck surface could potentially create an intrusion problem at the door. Have to think this one over carefully. Maybe I could get him to put a roof over the door area? (just thinking to myself) Thanks again Scott and everyone for all the helpful insights!
Huck, how much clearance do you have at the threshold? All you need is 2" +/-. If you use 5/4 decking layed on 5/4 decking as sleepers you would only need 2" ?
That way you could use EPDM over plywood and lay out new decking to walk on and be able to do it yourself.
the threshold is pretty close to flush with the deck surface now. I was hoping for a thin membrane or coating that could do the job. If I go over an eighth of an inch, I'm afraid water intrusion will be an issue, as there is virtually no overhead protection, and the deck slope so slight. HO says putting a roof over it is OK, if I add skylights and keep it sunny. Problem is, the cost starts increasing dramatically if I include a roof in the deck proposal. Someone said fiberglass, which idea I liked, but seems like everything needs a more stable substrate than 2x6 edge-to-edge. HO is being patient, but I've yet to come up with a satisfactory proposal.
Raise the threshold and trim the door?
"Raise the threshold and trim the door?"I did think of that, but its a sl. glass door in a metal frame., stucco exterior, so that makes it impractical.
Edited 2/12/2005 7:32 pm ET by Huck
Sarnafil
thanks David, I've emailed Sarnafil to see if they recommend it for this application, and to see if its available here in Bakersfield Ca.
Sarnafil is another PVC membrane with heat welded seams, same type of application as Duradeck. I do not think they have a walkable deck surface and their regular membrane is as slippery as ice when wet.
Caulk and outdoor carpet sounds like a REALLY bad combination. That lumber should decay in no time.I was visiting a friend's house a while back, and they had a similar situation. They had solved it with some pieces of sheet metal suspended under the deck that dumped into a couple of gutter sections. Call it "faux redneck".Wish I had some pictures of it.(-:
If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
I had a customer who wanted to keep the rain off the patio underneath. Since he wanted to do it absolutely as cheap as possible, I suggested fiberglass roof panels underneath the deck joists sloped away from the house. Headroom was not an issue.
Ultimately, he changed his mind, but I still think it could have given him what he wanted.
-Don
http://www.dec-tec.com comes in four colors heatweld or solvent weld seams
doc.... I did not see in their spec's where you could use solvent for the seams.... far as I know PVC is heat weld.
I like the Elastomeric products...no seems...and good installers have come up with many decorative colors and installations. You do need a good plywood underlayment for a wood (roof) deck.