All
products designed for exterior use will eventually be
affected by Mother Nature. PVC, man's best attempt at
prolonging the life cycle of various building products,
performs an admirable job in delaying the inevitable,
but it will, however show some signs of degradation.
Warnings against the effects
of UV (ultra violet) rays on the skin are common. After
a period of years these same rays may affect outdoor products
and therefore manufacturers add UV screens and stabilizers
to prolong the life of PVC (vinyl) materials. These screens
are designed to resist the cracking, embrittlement and
discoloration of the vinyl. The thicker the vinyl, the
greater the resistance to degradation.
Appearance
Versus Waterproofing
The prime function of the sheet vinyl product you purchased
is to waterproof the space beneath, to protect the structure
from rot, eliminate maintenance and to provide a durable
long lasting, skid resistant surface. Its initial appearance
will eventually deteriorate, but this does not affect
its ability to provide waterproofing.
Seams
The strength of our system is that in the method we use
to weld the vinyl sheets together. The vinyl sheets are
overlapped and heat fused. The seam is visible. Other
systems previously used that offered invisible seams resulted
in waterproofing failures.
Scuffing
Like any other floor surface, vinyl may scuff if abused.
Try to avoid dragging heavy objects over unprotected PVC.
Skidding a bicycle tire, a roller blade or the edge of
a running shoe across the vinyl creates friction, and
the extreme heat and abrasion may possibly remove the
print. Our membranes are manufactured with a solid 'base'
color, which is complementary, rather than obtrusive if
the print finish is removed. Normal traffic will not damage
the vinyl at all. Solid color membranes are available
for high traffic areas.
What
Happens When the Material Ages?
If an appearance change is desired, our sheet vinyls can
be painted with a specially formulated coating. The emboss
texture will be preserved but any print will obviously
be replaced by a solid color.
Color/Print
As a rule, the lighter the color you choose, the cooler
the surface will stay and the less deterioration will
occur. Darker colors will fade faster and be warmer on
the feet. All vinyl tends to 'yellow' slightly. Gray's
show it the most, while the 'yellowing' is hidden within
earthly toned products.
Products
with higher contrast in the print may show signs of fading
sooner than low contrast colors. Solid colors will resist
the visible effects of the UV the longest. However, high
contrast in the print helps to hide blemishes in the floor
surface beneath, as well as the other from everyday use.
The lower the contrast in colors, the more these blemishes
and the dirt will show. Solid color products are the most
unforgiving. Blemishes such as plywood seams, nail head
depressions or even plywood grain patterns can show up
in late evening or early morning sunshine which casts
a long, revealing shadow.
With
our 25 plus years of experience Duradek membranes are
designed with proven blends of color, print and texture
which offer the most long-lasting performance the industry
can offer.
Subsurface
The better the surface, the better-finished floor we can
give you. Sanded plywood or cement board will give the
best-finished surface possible. As a rule, ¼"
x 3/8" plywood will warp due to absorption of moisture
from the atmosphere. We recommend 'over laying' with minimum
½" and preferably 5/8" plywood or 5/16"
cement board for the flattest possible subsurface.
Slope
For the best product performance and customer enjoyment
of their deck surface, the structure should be sloped
(ideally 2%) to eliminate ponding water. Should the puddling
occur, the area will require more regular cleaning due
to the build up of dirt and pollutants. Ponding water
will not affect the waterproofing of the vinyl but may
eventually cause premature discoloration.
Penetrations
all penetrations (posts, pillars) must be sealed to prevent
water entering under the vinyl. All wood posts or pillars
will crack and give access for water to get into the subsurface
and under the vinyl. Regular inspection and caulking is
required. To completely waterproof a post either fasten
it to the fascia of the building or completely cover it
with waterproof membrane and clad. When fastening metal
rails or posts to the deck surface all pilot holes should
be filled with a sealant before screw is inserted.
Indoor
Use
When using the vinyl indoors where the temperature change
is slightly, the vinyl can be butt seamed with a chemical
sealer (like a kitchen floor seam). No perimeter fastening
is required to control shrinkage.
Stains
Vinyl will resist most staining materials. Some do cause
problems though. Exterior oil base stains, some oil stains,
any tar or bitumen based product, fresh cedar, and some
new wolmanized lumber may permanently stain the vinyl.
Biodegradable matter such as leaves when left on the vinyl
for a prolonged period may also be very difficult to clean.
If any of the above should occur - try to clean off as
soon as possible so the stain doesn't have a chance to
set. Refer to the Care and Cleaning Instructions on the
back of the warranty card or on the website.
Warning
Do not attempt to clean stains, paint or any blemish using
any bleach, acetone, turpentine, lacquer thinner, ketone,
acid or multipurpose stain or print remover or you may
cause removal of the print The directions must be followed
explicitly to avoid damaging the print. The cleaning solution
must be dabbed NOT rubbed, and then cleaned well with
cleanser and water and then flushed with lots of clean
water. Always test on an 'out of the way' place to ensure
there will be no problems.
