Tile Deck Waterproofing
Mer-Kote Waterproofing & Underlayment Systems
For
Decks Receiving Tile
You are probably visiting this page for one of two reasons-
1.) You have tile on your deck and you are experiencing problems with leaks.
2.) You are considering having tile set on your deck and want to avoid having leaks.
If you are here because you answered yes to question 1, we can help you. Unfortunately, experience has proven over and over that the problem usually can’t be solved cheaply. For most clients who have tile decks that have gone bad, they don’t want tile again. For you, our best solution is to replace the failed tile deck with Desert Crete decking. Please visit our Desert Crete page by clicking the link.
Tile deck waterproofing is located under the tile. Trying to seal the tile to stop leaks is a waste of time. The deck may stop leaking for a short period of time, but the damage is usually already done, in that water already under the tiles will seek a way out, usually into the substrate, framing and causing dry-rot. When summer comes and the temps rise, water starts to reallly move, being drawn up towards the heat. Water and heat is a volatile cocktail, and dry-rot is the result.
Leaks on tile decks are NOT fixed with some caulk and some gooey stuff. Leaks on a tile deck are indicative of a substantial problem. Please read through this page, gather some information and call me for a free estimate. Be sure to read John Ogilivie’s article further down the page linked to their site.
If you answered yes to question 2,
Consider This Advice from the Ceramic Tile Institute of America-
When tile is going to be installed on exterior decks, the waterproof membrane becomes the insurance policy that makes the entire installation perform. Under many of these exterior decks are rooms containing files, vital records, books, and also expensive office equipment, including computers. Therefore, no compromise should be accepted for installing the best and most durable waterproof membrane possible.
If this advice is near and dear to your heart, we will work well together.
If you don’t believe this advice, your deck will likely be one of the future horror shows that I see…
It seems that I look at failed tile deck systems on a weekly basis.
Examples of failed tile decks -
One deck I fixed in Arroyo Grande had $25,000 in dryrot damage to beams under the deck. That’s on top of the $13,000 to redo the plywood and waterproofing. Why did it fail? Incorrect flashing at edge of deck directed water under the installation into the beams.
Other examples include a small 10′ x 10′ deck in Santa Barbara that leaked within 4 years of being done, after repairs and waterproofing, $18,000+ in costs to repair. Why did it fail? Incorrect drains left subsurface water under the installation where it couldn’t drain.
Then there’s the 1500 square foot deck on a three million dollar home in Avila Beach-estimated costs to repair $175,000.00 to $250,000.00. Client couldn’t afford it and their insurance doesn’t cover it. Why did it fail? Improper joist spacing, improper plywood substrate, improper drains, improper selection of waterproofing materials.
In Brentwood there’s a 3000 square foot tiled roof deck over 20 million dollars worth of condo’s below it,the deck leaked from day one when it was built 2 years ago. Total tab to tear off and redo-over $250,000.00. Why did it fail? Improper slope to drains, water trapped under mortar bed with no way to drain, no control joints in deck for expansion, improper selection of materials.
On a little cottage up in Aptos I replaced a tile deck that failed within 2 years of it’s original installation. Total repair costs for demo, re-construction and new waterproofing-$18,000.00. Why did it fail? Improper drains. No subsurface water could get out from under the mortar bed that had been placed. Frost heaves caused the tiles to crack, indicating a problem, then the deck leaked.
See these horror show deck failures by clicking on this link to DeckExpert.com
The common theme consistently echoed by the owners was that they took the cheapest bids to waterproof the deck.
They took the cheapest bid…so they could put down expensive tiles that will eventually get ripped up and unceremoniously dumped into the roll off dumpster.
Upon further discussion or investigation , I find out that the tile deck systems they installed were not “approved” or “tested” by independent recognized entities such as International Code Council or The Tile Council of North America or the Ceramic Tile Institute of America.
Some failed systems were a bonafide manufacturer’s system with claims made by the manufacturer that their system was suitable for tile, others were the contractors dreamed up methodology and system to waterproof the deck.
In all cases, the result was a very expensive repair and renovation of the clients deck-framing, substrate, waterproofing. Often times I find that deck coatings for traffic such as polyurethane were used under tile for the “waterproofing”. These systems/products are NOT designed to be immersed under water, rather they are designed to be water resistant, relying on being exposed to the elements and drying off after rain. Often we find that the urethane has re-emulsified under the tile. Failure is then a given, it’s only a matter of when will the leak show up.
True tile deck waterproofing systems are not going to re-emulsify. They are designed to be submersed under water.
Now please read this article by John Oglivie, owner and president of Duradek. Then continue reading down below on our services and methodology.
Common Sources of Failure of Tile Decks on Wood Frame Construction
Click the link below to read the technical bulletin (#127) by Mer-Kote on
EXTERIOR DECKS USING MER-KRETE’S WATERPROOFING MEMBRANES
Ok, so if you read the intro to this page and you’ve read John’s and Mer-Krete’s articles, I hope you are catching on that tile decking systems need to be well thought out, properly built and most importantly, properly waterproofed.
Still Want Tile On Your Decks? Read on then…
We install tile deck waterproofing systems from Mer-Kote of Anaheim CA. Their long history with tile systems for baths, showers, tile decks and other tile applications provide assurance that your system has been designed to provide a watertight system that is ICC-ES evaluated as suitable for under tile. Click here to read their ICC-ES report.
A Typical Tile Deck Waterproofing Installation by Central Coast Waterproofing-
If your deck is suitable for tiling over, meaning at a minimum 2×10″ joists 10″ On Center. 1 1/8″ plywood or two sheets 3/4″ staggered. Deflection < 720. Screwed/glued/blocked at seams. Other requirements may apply as well!
Our systems include all flashings necessary for the termination of the waterproofing, providing a sole source warranty. Whether the flashings are copper, stainless steel or galvanized, they are installed first.Drains and scuppers go in now as well.
We then install Mer-Kote materials to waterproof the substrate and flashings, including any tile deck specific drains or scuppers as necessary. Note, we use only Thunderbird Products Tile Deck Drains. They have copper flanges for long life and dual drain for surface and subsurface water.
Underlayment for the tile to be applied over is then poured into reinforcing wire mesh. Appropriate control joints as required/specified are installed with backing rod. Tile and underlayment expands and contracts. TCNA requires expansion joints every 8-10′ in the field on exterior decks.
After the underlayment cures, depending on the tile application, a second waterproof coat may be applied over the cement. We use liquid applied crack isolation/waterproofing to reduce/eliminate cracks coming through your tile.
In all cases we consult and follow the recommendations of our manufacturer and
The 2010 TCA Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation, (which) provides specification writers, architects, contractors and installers industry-consensus, detailed drawings and installation specifications for over 100 installation methods. The specifications for each method include recommended uses, limitations, requirements, materials, preparation by other trades, movement joints and installation standards. The Handbook references American National Standards (ANSI) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) test methods.
Click here for the Table of Contents
Ask any competitor you are getting a bid from if they will be using ICC evaluated products and adhere to TCNA installation requirements. If they do not, caveat emptor…
Watch Our Slide Show Detailing a Tile Deck Install
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Now, after reading all this information, your burning question is
“How Much?
Well, typically an average installation will run $25-30 per square foot.
What will that get me?
You’ll get a manufacturer backed warranty, with full factory support. Your warranty will be for a minimum of 5 years and we have 10, 15 and Lifetime warranties available as well through the factory applicator program. You’ll get a factory trained and approved applicator, with the skills necessary to properly install your tile deck system.
“I got a quote from someone else, their price is much lower.“
If you received a quote from a Mer-Kote applicator for the same identical system, we will meet or beat their price. If we are not comparing apples to apples, we can sit and compare bids to see what is being left out.
“Your competitor told me that their system can have tile placed on top of it. For a lot lower price than what you quoted.”
I do not doubt they claim that you can place tile on top of their system. I do not doubt that they can do it cheaper for you than I can.
I do doubt that it will work for the long term, and with a major investment like tile, are you really going to gamble on a system that has no testing and evaluation? Go on, search the web for tile sites, you’ll read about failures on every site, and the consistent theme is, the failures were caused by the work not done according to minimum standards.
“My tile contractor said he can waterproof the deck”
Maybe. I see lots of failed tile decks that were “waterproofed” by a tile contractor. I’m not saying they can’t waterproof your deck right, I’m saying you better be 110% sure they can. Waterproofing is what we do.
If you’d like a bid for a repairing or correctly installing a tile deck waterproofing system, call me directly at
Ventura/Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo areas 805-545-8300 or
in LA/Orange County 424-235-3196
Monterey/Santa Cruz Areas 831-244-0874
Thank You, Bill Leys- Owner
