Commercial Rooftop Patio Repair & Renovation – Tiledek Case History #177

A high profile, high traffic commercial flat roof near Seattle’s waterfront is prime real estate. An unexpected need for a rooftop patio repair & renovation at a legendary, landmark hotel was a big job. While there was frustration that this need came far too soon, it was clear that something had to be done to avoid the risk of costly water damage.

THE PROBLEM – FAILED COATING ON A ROOFTOP PATIO REPAIR & RENOVATION

The 1750 sq. ft. rooftop patio at Seattle’s iconic Edgewater Hotel was falling into disrepair. An elastomeric deck coating that had only been down for 1 year had already failed. This landmark hotel and popular destination for rock n’ roll royalty has fantastic waterfront views, but the condition of the rooftop patio was not at all inviting.

Rooftop patio repair & renovation needed
A rooftop patio in a prime location falling into disrepair after only a year could become a major problem for a commercial business.

Failed Waterproofing is Both Unattractive and Dangerous on a Rooftop Patio

The elastomeric deck coating used as the waterproof deck surface was cracking, splitting and peeling. This outdoor flooring looked like it could have been decades old, not just a year.

With this failed waterproofing, the hotel owners could not be confident that the hotel would not sustain water damage over time. Plus, the overall look of the patio was off-putting to guests who wanted to enjoy the views of Seattle’s waterfront.

Plywood and mats used on rooftop patio with leaks requiring repair & renovation
Plywood and rubber mats are no long-term waterproofing solution for this rooftop patio in dire need of repair & renovation. Not exactly an inviting outdoor area for guests.

The hotel owners decided to give the rooftop patio an upgrade with an attractive and durable outdoor tile surface.

It was clear that this was going to be a big renovation job. The failed coating was layered over a sleeper floor and a torch-on roofing product. Before the Tiledek installers could get started, all existing layers needed to be removed.

A close up look at splitting on a failed elastomeric coating on a rooftop patio
Here’s a close up look at the cracks and splitting on the 1-year-old failed elastomeric coating. Water could definitely make it’s way to the building below.

The hotel owners called the roof deck experts at Duradek Northwest to ensure their roof deck renovation included professional waterproofing.

THE SOLUTION – A ROOFTOP PATIO REPAIR & RENOVATION WITH RELIABLE WATERPROOFING

Duradek Northwest had the perfect solution for waterproofing under exterior tile –Tiledek. They called on two of their best installers to join forces to complete this large project in a timely manner.

After removing the failed coating, sleeper floor, and old torch-on product, the professional Duradek installers prepared the substrate. 1/2″ Dura Rock over 1 1/8″ T&G plywood went down as the first stages of the exterior tile deck assembly.

rooftop patio repair & renovation in process with tarping in place to maintain waterproof integrity
The rooftop patio repair & renovation required some elevated tarping to ensure no water was trapped under the Tiledek waterproof membrane.

For a reliable waterproofing solution, they applied Duradek Tiledek™, which is specifically manufactured for outdoor tile assemblies. Tiledek is constructed of durable PVC and has been 3rd party tested to verify it meets building code as both a roofing membrane and walking deck membrane.

progress in an rooftop patio repair & renovation with post base plates installed.
To ensure best waterproof performance for this rooftop patio repair & renovation, raised base plates were prepared for the installation of posts at a later stage in the project. In this way, there would be no risk of puncturing the membrane.

Coordination with the tile setters was in place to keep the project moving and the rooftop patio closure to a minimum. Once the Tiledek membrane was installed, the tile could be laid immediately as there is no drying or curing time needed.

The hotel owners gained peace of mind from the confidence of knowing the building is protected from water damage. The other significant advantage was that guests could now comfortably enjoy the views from the expansive and updated roof deck. The look of luxury now replaced the look of neglect.

exterior tile rooftop patio repair & renovation with Tiledek waterproof membrane by Duradek.
The rooftop patio repair & renovation was complete. Guests can now enjoy beautiful outdoor space with amazing views and the owners enjoy the peace of mind of reliable waterproofing.

JOB NOTES

Since Tiledek does not require curing time, or multiple coats, Seattle’s rainy weather was not at all an issue in the installation. The professional Tiledek installers used elevated tarping to keep the deck area protected. This detail was put in place to ensure no moisture would be trapped under the Tiledek™ membrane.

The professional Duradek installers ensured water routing was handled effectively, from start to finish.

View or download the .pdf version of Case History #177 for this case history with installer details and before and after pictures.

Learn More on How to Avoid Leaky Tile Decks

For further reading on maintaining a waterproof outdoor tile deck, read our 4-part series “What You Need to Know to Avoid Leaky Tile Decks with Tiledek Waterproof Membrane“.

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