What Are the Pros and Cons of Waterproofing Your Deck With a Vinyl Membrane?

If your home has a wooden deck, you'll need to find some way to protect it from water. Water exposure can cause the wood to rot, which will destroy the structural integrity of your deck and make it unsafe to use. Most homeowners periodically seal their decks with waterproof deck sealant to keep water away—they create a barrier over the wood that water can't penetrate. Unfortunately, even high-quality deck sealant will wear away and need to be reapplied. 

One alternative way to keep your wooden deck protected from water is to cover it with a vinyl membrane. Installing a vinyl membrane over your deck requires attaching plywood to the deck and then gluing the membrane to the plywood, making it quick and inexpensive for a professional deck waterproofing service to install. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of waterproofing your deck using a vinyl membrane.

1. Advantages

The biggest advantage of using a vinyl membrane for deck waterproofing is that it's easy to maintain. There's no need to periodically seal it since it's naturally waterproof. The membrane can be easily cleaned with soap and water, and it doesn't develop stains from pollen or other debris as easily as wood. If you're looking for a low-maintenance way to waterproof your wooden deck, then covering it with a vinyl membrane is a good choice.

Another advantage of using a vinyl membrane to waterproof your deck instead of periodically sealing it is that the membrane will prevent any water from seeping underneath the deck. Water leaks between the boards in a wooden deck, causing the area underneath to become drenched during heavy rains. This can cause water to pool near your home's foundation, which can damage it. A vinyl membrane prevents water from leaking through your deck, keeping the area underneath dry.

With a vinyl membrane, you also have the additional option of diverting water further away by installing a gutter system along the side of your deck. Water will flow into the gutters, away from your home's foundation.

2. Disadvantages

One downside of using a vinyl membrane for deck waterproofing is that it can sometimes lead to water ponding on the surface of your deck. This can make the vinyl membrane slippery, and standing water will also cause the vinyl membrane to degrade quicker.

Thankfully, most decks are installed with a gentle slope that causes water to flow down the sides of the deck rather than remaining on the surface of the membrane. Before installing a vinyl membrane for deck waterproofing, check the slope of your deck using a spirit level to make sure that the surface is sloped towards one of the edges—this ensures that ponding water won't be a problem. 

If you're tired of periodically sealing your deck and want a long-lasting solution for deck waterproofing, consider having a vinyl membrane installed on your deck. Vinyl membranes are an inexpensive option for waterproofing, and the installation process is very quick. As long as your deck has a proper slope to prevent ponding water, a vinyl membrane is a great choice to protect your wooden deck from water damage.

To learn more, contact deck waterproofing contractors. 


Share