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 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 that previously 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 earth-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 30-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 slight,
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 it 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.
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