SUNDECKS | ROOF DECKS | BALCONIES | PATIOS | STAIRS | POOL DECKS | WALKWAYS

DOES THICKER VINYL REALLY MEAN BETTER?

Duradek US Inc.1142 Clay StreetNorth Kansas City, MO, USA, 64116duradekus@duradek.comT 816 421 5830 | TF 1 800 338 3568

Duradek Canada Ltd.8288 - 129 StreetSurrey, BC, Canada V3W 0A6duradek@duradek.comT 604 591 5594 | TF 1 866 591 5594

North American Made Since 1974

duradek.comPage 1 of 1

If you are considering the reliable, low maintenance advantages of sheet vinyl for your deck waterproofing solution, you may be presented with the idea that a thicker vinyl is better waterproof protection for your deck; but that is not accurate at all. Waterproof is waterproof.

Is a Thicker Vinyl Better for A Roof Deck? ...NO!With vinyl decking, it is best to refer to building code requirements as your guideline. If your deck is over 2 ft off the ground and sheds water, by the building code it requires a roofing membrane. If your deck is intended for pedestrian traffic, also ensure it is approved for walking on (light pedestrian traffic). 60 mil vinyl is the recognized industry standard for a walkable roof membrane. Anything over a 60 mil thickness on roof decks does not give you any further waterproof protection. It is either waterproof or it’s not.

In fact, a thicker vinyl can come with disadvantages:

* Potential for Appearance IssuesUnlike North American manufactured Duradek vinyl, some vinyl products are made up of layers that are not produced with UV and mold inhibitors in both sheets (only the top layer). This is often the case with the thicker options which could make them more susceptible to premature deterioration and appearance issues. Duradek is manufactured using only high quality PVC with UV and mold inhibitors throughout the entire 60 mil thickness. This advantage allows Duradek to be one of the only vinyl options that performs well under any condition.

IS 60 MIL VINYL REALLY ENOUGH? YES!The real difference is in the quality of the vinyl, and most importantly, the installation - thickness is irrelevant. Further, the warranty on Duradek’s 60 mil vinyl meets or exceeds all thicker competitive vinyls. A 68 or 80 mil vinyl is no more leak proof than 60 mil vinyl. Thicker vinyl makes details more difficult and therefore a higher risk to fail/leak. Since installation skills are so critical, Duradek is available only through our trained and authorized Duradek dealers. Talk to a Duradek expert near you or contact us at duradek@duradek.com.

For more, see When it Comes to Vinyl Decking, Does Thicker Mean Better? on the Deck Blog or watch on YouTube.

The emphasis for reliable waterproofing should be put on trained installers with proven installation details and warranty coverage - not thickness.

https://duradek.commailto:duradek%40duradek.com?subject=https://duradek.com/general/vinyl-decking-does-thicker-mean-betterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAX6bXyHv3Qhttps://www.instagram.com/duradek/https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDuradekhttps://www.houzz.com/pro/duradek/https://www.facebook.com/Duradek