deck under dry system leaking, now what
We recently rehabbed a deck with the under dry system of waterproofing. after removing decking we had to repitch the troughs to get proper fall so they would drain. We retaped all of the joists and water tested had no leaks. decked and finished ceiling below
Enter our landicane (6 to 14 inches of rain in two days) in the denver area. leaks are slow but steady. We are thinking that with a more normal rain pattern there would not be as much prolonged leaking.We came up with two thoughts
1 remove ceilng and caulk ( using a lifetime {50 year} product) {any recommendations} all joistsand ledgers end to end at the top where they contact the trough material. this would keep water from entering the joist space, though, we’re thinking it would still allow the treated joists to take on a little moisture.
Would this moisture cause a rot problem, normally we are a desert state, with considerably less rain.
2 Remove decking and re retape top of joists check for leaks redeck, check for leaks again ( at this point if we still had leaks would option one be advised, or dynamite). There is a built in unit on top of decking that would require about a day of labor to remove and replace.
Have fun with this as I am headed out of town for the weekend and will check back Sunday or Monday.
Thanks
Jim
Replies
I hope that you had fun over the weekend because now you get to tear off the decking, repair any water damage, replace sheathing, install a proper deck liner that is tucked behind any adjacent side wall cladding (with proper flashing, by the way), then reinstall the decking wood.
sheathing and deck liner?
Hey Sap
;) I can't really replace the sheathing and liner as there is none! :)
The system that was in place is a stiff plastic product that attaches to the joists to form individual troughs in each joist bay.
Think a roll of stiff ( like a diner menu) plastic about twenty inches wide, atach one side flush to top joist. Now push plastic into bay to form a pitched trough. attach to top of adjacent joist .
Repeat process across entire deck, use waterproof tape product rated for ten year exposuree to seal trough overlaps.
then deck with composite decking.
Jim
That system sounds like someone built out of crap he found in the yard. Waterproof tape that's supposedly good for ten years, that you punch a bunch of holes through? Right.....
Can you spell: Another-deck-failure?
If you can't rebuild it properly, then I'd suggest you walk away from this project.
yes it does, somewhat
Helping a friend rehab this deck for a friend
you know the drill " I'd like this fixed, how cheap can you do it. I need to put new floors in my second home"
Look up Trex Dry Below system. I'd post a ink,but, not that smart.
Jim
Yeah, that system's really just designed to keep the space below "sorta dry" -- not to protect a finished space below.
I agree with sapwood
Hi Jim! Hope all else is well. Email me some time.
Hard to say without seeing pics. Where is this leaking? No matter what, I don't see any alternative to pulling up all the decking.
Hey Jim,
I unfortunately , have installed the system you describe, I think it's called 'rain escape'. I was hired as a sub and the contractor had sold it to the HO as the greatest thing ever, what a nitemare. By the grace of god and my horseshoe, it's held up for two years here in toronto. I think your only option is to remove the decking and fix it from the top. My guess is it's leaking from the downspouts, so perhapse you can start from there and not have to remove everything.
Jeff
Those systems are never intended to be waterproof. They are simply diverters to get most of the water away. For a while.
If the HO wants a dry roof, then a dry roof is what needs to be built instead of a shoestring substitute
Here's hoping
Hey Piffin,
I know they sell them as waterproof, and if installed CORRECTLY, I have some faith n them. We did one on new construction a few years back for some very demanding customers and have not heard of any problems.
This system was not installed anywhere near correctly. It was not rehabbed correctly due to budget limitations. Well here we are six or seven weeks of free labor and material and no leaks( doing all the superstitious things now). Would have been better to strip deck down to joists and replace with new system, installed correctly. Probably better on our pockets as well.
Good helping on the Stupid Tax on this one.
Jim at Great White