A failed tile deck or walkway is a common occurrence.  Tile is very beautiful, but it is not always the best choice to waterproof the outside of your home or building.  Up until now, I have not felt comfortable installing a tile roofing deck, knowing that most applications are simply not adequately waterproofed to keep the structure dry and protected from moisture related deterioration.  However, Duradek has recently released a new waterproof tile and membrane combination that has successfully proven to be weather-proof while allowing the tile to adhere properly throughout our harsh Utah climate: Tiledek.

This product is so beautiful once installed, that it is easy to forget it is actually a roofing product.  Duradek has been waterproofing roofing decks for over 30 years using PVC membranes. The Tiledek roof assembly is comprised of a 1/2" thick cementitious board called Durock, which is adhered to the plywood and fastened with screws.  Tiledek membrane is then fully adhered to the Durock Cement Board and terminated properly at all perimeters.  All seams in this membrane are heat welded together to prevent moisture penetration during summer rains or winter freeze - thaw cycles.  

The membrane is unique because it has a fleece effacer on the upper surface of the sheet that allows the thinset used in tile installations to properly adhere.  The PVC membrane fleece effacer adheres to a thinset mortar, which then securely holds the tile and grout in place.  This process has proven so successful that certain assemblies of Tiledek have been deemed heavy enough for commercial use.

Compared to other manufacturers, there is a reason I recommend Tiledek.  For example, most tile walking decks use modified bitumen roofing as a waterproofing material.  For areas with extreme temperatures, like we experience in Utah, this material has a tendency to soften, which then causes the tile attached to it to crack.  Because Tiledek uses PVC membrane, this problem is avoided.  Also, Tiledek is heat-welded together, causing seams to be more secure than membrane seams that are chemically adhered.

When installing any walking deck on your roof or home, it is important to treat the task as a roofing project and not as a tile project.  It is best to hire a certified roofing contractor that specializes in roof deck and balcony waterproofing.  If your tile deck is installed by tile setters, they may miss crucial waterproofing steps that could actually cause your tile to be more likely to crack, as well as causing water damage to your home or building.

Brady Roofing is specially certified to install Duradek products on homes and commercial buildings.  We specialize in waterproofing vulnerable areas to protect your roof from leaks.  We also have the experience necessary to make any walking deck look and feel beautiful.  Contact us today for a free estimate.
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Why is my roof is leaking?  What do I do if I find a leak?  How can I locate a leak on my roof?  Finding a leak in your home can cause frustration and anxiety.  However, there is a simple step by step process that will help you know what to do when you find a leak, how to locate it’s source, and prevent further damage.  

Is My Roof Leaking?
It is important to keep in mind that if you find a sign of water damage in your ceiling or wall, it does not necessarily mean that your roof is leaking.  The problem could also be the result of leaky plumbing or even condensation.  If you find water damage on a ceiling that is not directly below the roof, you may want to consider these other possibilities as causing the leak.  

Even if you find sign of water damage in your attic, these signs may not equate to a current leak.  For example, if your house is 50 years old, it would have had two or three layers of roofing, and the leak could have occurred anywhere during the life of either roof.  A water stain on the roof’s rafters is often what sets off an alarm with the building or home owner, but is far from conclusive evidence of an existing leak.  

To determine if your roof is leaking, check the water damage during a rain storm or while snow is melting on your roof.  If the damage shows up within 5 hours of recent rain or snow activity, it is probably the result of a roof leak.  If the damage occurs outside of this 5 hour range, you may want to have the area checked by a plumber.

With any leak, water can build up and put a heavy amount of weight on your ceiling.  If you see a bulge in the sheet rock or paint of the affected area, you will want to drain the water to prevent the sheet rock from collapsing and causing more damage to your home.  Simply put a bucket under the affected area and poke a hole in the sheet rock with a 16 penny nail to drain the water.  

How to Locate a Leak
Once you are confident that your roof is leaking, you can call a certified roofing contractor to locate and repair the leak.  If you would like to find the source of the leak yourself, we have provided a step by step guide.

Throughout this process, remember that water runs downhill.  If moisture penetrates the roof, it sometimes travels down and even diagonally in both directions before finding it’s way through the underlayment.  Once through the underlayment, it needs to find a seam in the roofs sheathing.  Then, the water will either drop to the ceiling’s insulation or travel down a rafter.  Once the moisture is on the ceiling, it will usually soak up some insulation before finding it’s way to the sheet rock or plaster ceiling material.  About 90% of the time, the leak will manifest itself in a joint in the sheet rock.

To find a leak:
  1. Determine how many roof layers is on your home.  If your pitched roof has only one layer, it is much easier to find the source of the leak.  
  2. Locate the area where the leak is manifesting itself inside your home.
  3. Transfer this area up to the roof.  Is it coming through a penetration such as a pipe, ventilation, swamp cooler, chimney, or skylight?  The majority of roof leaks come in around penetrations.  Look within 5 feet uphill of the affected area, though it can be as far as 10.
  4. If you locate a penetration within this area, look for problems with the flashing.  These are usually very simple repairs.
  5. If there are no penetrations within this area, look for blown off shingles, torn shingles, and nails coming through.  Also, pay close attention to valleys, as these areas tend to leak as well.  

If you are able to locate a leak in the flashing, you may be able to repair this yourself if you have some knowledge in roofing and can secure the necessary materials.  More complicated leaks should be repaired by experienced professionals.  Brady Roofing is able to both locate leaks and effectively repair them.  We install a large majority of roofing products.  We also offer free estimates.  For more information, contact us today.  
 
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A gutter and drainage system can easily be taken for granted, until it begins to have problems.  Without the gutter system properly distributing water, your home, lawn and garden are all at risk. These problems are easily prevented if gutters are properly installed by experienced and knowledgeable professionals.  For example, simply the way a gutter system is secured to a roof can make a world of difference to it’s potential lifetime.

One method of fastening gutter systems is the spike and ferrule system.  A spike is driven through the face of the gutter and into the wood fascia behind it.  With this technique, the fasteners are visible on the face of the gutters.  Not only is does this system look less clean, but it has been proven to cause future problems for your gutters.  As snow sits in the gutters, it applies an outward and downward pressure that works the gutter spikes loose over time.  For this reason, we avoid this fastening technique.  

Our preferred fastening technique is a hidden hanging system.  To fasten, a zip hanger screw is fastened at an angle into the fascia, but is not visible from the face of the gutter.  Because it is a screw instead of a spike, it has the resistance not to slide out of the wood over time.  This system is stronger, it will last longer, and it looks great.  

Another viable option includes fastening a strap to the sheathing underneath your roof.  The strap wraps around the underside of the gutter, holding it firmly in place.  The roofing material covers the strap completely, giving a clean and inconspicuous look.  Strap hung gutters are usually installed with a reinforcing bar that holds the straps in place.  This bar strengthens gutters under heavy weight of snow and ice.  

In addition to considering the installation method that is best for you and your home, be sure to take into account some other important factors.  When looking for a roofing and gutter contractor, be sure to have your roofing contractor finish the roof before the gutters are installed.  There should be one downspout for every 40 ft, with your gutters installed at a pitch of at least 1/8” per foot.  This allows for water, mud, snow and leaves to have somewhere to go instead of sitting stagnant and causing problems down the line.  

On a commercial building, a 6 inch case style or box style gutter is best.  Both of these gutters will be able to handle the volume of water that accompanies a large commercial building.  This will help prevent future problems with overflowing or inadequate gutters.

Brady Roofing and it’s sister company, Brady Gutters, are knowledgeable of the most effective gutter installation methods and products.  After spending more than 20 years on various roofs, we have consistently seen both successful and unsuccessful gutter installations.  If you choose Brady Gutters as your gutter specialist, we will help you to experience peace of mind with your gutter installation.  
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