| Waterproof deck leaks cause billions of dollars of | | | | charred or burned. It is not a good sign when you |
| damage annually across the U.S. Not to mention the | | | | can drill a hole with your index finger into rotted |
| health problems associated with the moisture left | | | | wood. |
| behind. After a storm, the water has trouble getting | | | | Technically, these decks are called pedestrian |
| up and over the end of the decks surface. | | | | membrane surface coatings. They include metal |
| The metal flashing at the end of the deck creates a | | | | flashing, plywood, metal lathing, cementitious |
| dam that water can't get over. A puddle is then | | | | rubberized acrylic mortar, fiberglass cloth, epoxy resin |
| formed and over time, corrupts the integrity of the | | | | coating, safety texture and finally, four coats of an |
| deck. The coating decomposes over time and the | | | | elastomeric waterproof deck coating is then applied. |
| leaks begin. Once the wood has been compromised | | | | These complicated decking surfaces meet new |
| by moisture, then come the termites. Termites use | | | | stringent fire codes and allow for over one hour burn |
| the affected wood as an entrance into the frame of | | | | time. Older coatings often are the cause of fire from |
| the house. Once inside, they nest, and then the real | | | | burning embers from barbecues. The universal deck |
| fun begins. | | | | coating code also includes a pitch of a minimum |
| Mold spores also become a health concern, water | | | | 1⁄4 " per foot, so as to allow for proper |
| can't evaporate and remains trapped in the framing | | | | drainage. |
| and insulation of the home. Soon, heat of the sun | | | | If you choose your color too light, it will blind you |
| refracts onto the decking surface off the glass door | | | | from the reflection off the sun, (White) and will show |
| off the deck. | | | | the dirt and dust as it accumulates. Should you |
| Like a magnifying glass increasing the suns power, | | | | choose a black surface color, or too dark of a brown |
| soon, water comes to a boil. The liquid turns to a gas | | | | color, the deck will show the light color of the dirt |
| and forces its way out of the interior in the form of | | | | and dust and burn bare feet! Tan's- beige's and grays |
| steam. The steam has a decomposive affect on the | | | | or " earth tones " are used most often, but |
| wood that softens up the wood such that it | | | | terracotta and Hunter green have also been used. All |
| becomes unsafe. | | | | the layers combined form a laminate, redundantly |
| Over time a deck will fail, often resulting in injury | | | | impermeable by water. |
| when the foot crashes through the plywood and into | | | | Tired of unexplained illness, headaches and breathing |
| the drywall below. In the last few years over 50 | | | | difficulties? Just maybe it is the integrity of your |
| people have been killed by catastrophic deck collapse | | | | deck that is the problem. Tired of putting out the |
| and over 1350 injured, and many incidences go | | | | pots and pans to catch the drips every time it rains? |
| unreported! | | | | Have a licensed contractor fix the problem and use |
| Once the decking surface has been removed, the | | | | those pots and pans to prepare a great meal |
| damage revealed is incredible. The wood itself seems | | | | enjoyed out on the deck. Soak in the view, rather |
| as though it has been through a fire. Both the | | | | than being soaked by the view. Contact Christopher |
| plywood and framing is so "cooked" its color has | | | | Doctor, Owner Delphi Construction, to see how we |
| turned from a light wood color to a charcoal color. | | | | can help you. |
| The wood has the appearance as though it has been | | | | |