Deck Renovations: Why Not Do-It-Yourself

The long days of summer are the ideal time to enjoy your decks, balconies and patios. Your outdoor living space is your own personal oasis where you can enjoy the singular pleasure that comes from relaxing on your deck after the work day is done. But if your deck is weathered and worn, relaxing on it may be a challenge as you consider your deck renovation options and start to tabulate expenses.

If you have deck repairs or maintenance to take care of before the optimum summer weather subsides, you may find it daunting to compare your options to ensure you get the most out of your hard earned dollars. There are so many different options to choose from and there is so much more than just a finished ‘look’ or style to consider. Doing it yourself may seem like a good idea, but can often cost you more in the long run.

Deck Renovations: Foundation Comes First

First and foremost, the structure of the deck needs to be stable and built to the proper building codes to ensure your safety and to provide a solid foundation for whatever waterproofing finish that you decide to use. If you are not a professional builder yourself, attempting this type of project may seem like a good way to save a few dollars, but a few overlooked details can have a costly effect down the road. Improperly built decks are such a widespread problem in North America that the North America Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) has created a consumer Deck Safety program to minimize domestic accidents and ensure all the memories of your deck are happy ones.

Deck Renovations: Aesthetics Count, But Maintenance Adds Up

Once you are certain your deck structure is safe, you want to make sure it is beautiful too. While having an attractive finish is obviously a desirable result, how much money and time will have to be invested to keep your finish looking good?

• Will your deck require yearly sanding and staining to stay attractive and protected?
• How long will your deck be unusable when maintenance is being done?
• How long will your finish last before repeating the renovation process?

That last question is very important when considering which decking material to use, and leads us to the most important factor in deck renovations – waterproofing.

Deck Renovations: The Critical Stage of Waterproofing

The option of doing the project yourself is a tempting consideration for many home repairs and renovations, but when it comes to waterproofing you are much more likely to come out ahead when you leave the job to the professionals. Even professional builders will hire waterproofing specialists for deck projects as there are so many detail-specific factors in properly waterproofing a deck or balcony, and Duradek professional installers are relied on by builders from coast to coast.

Deck Renovations: Why Not D-I-Y

Besides the fact the Duradek installers are all trained specifically in best practices for vinyl waterproofing, they are the only installers authorized to lay Duradek Ultra vinyl membrane. And while there are similar vinyl waterproof membranes on the market, not all vinyl is created equal. Duradek Ultra vinyl is manufactured in North America and goes through regular quality control testing to ensure the product maintains its stringent performance value.

John Ogilvie, president of Duradek has decades of experience with waterproofing outdoor living space and he has seen time and time again how saving a few dollars in the short term has cost homeowners thousands in the long run. Let John explain why…

Your home is valuable and your time is priceless. So why not take a few minutes to let an authorized Duradek installer provide you with a no-obligation estimate. Duradek vinyl membrane both waterproofs and beautifies so you can enjoy your deck rather than labor on it. And by NOT doing the project yourself and relying on Duradek professionals, you get the industry-leading 10-year Duradek guarantee (increased to a 15-year warranty in June 2019) that your waterproofing performs as intended.