Cloak - Vinyl Decks and Aluminum Railings

Looking to save some money on your vinyl deck costs?  This tip could get you a cheaper price.  Vinyl comes (for the most part) in 6 foot wide pieces. If your deck is, for example, 8 feet wide as many are, the one piece is going to fall 2 feet and a bit short from covering the entire deck. What often happens is that the contractor will order 2 pieces and trim the excess off and use it somewhere else or toss it, in this case that is 4 ft of waste. Depending on the length of your deck this cost of waste can really add up.      What you can do is ask you installer to utilize a 'T-Seam', as seen in the picture above. Essentially one 6 foot piece is cut straight down the centre to make 2, 3 foot pieces with the ends heat welded together to double the length. This technique can often save you a couple hundred dollars off the price tag and if its combined with the 'flushed seam' approach, the final look is very discrete. I hope this information is of ...

So, you're researching decking options or have just had a new vinyl membrane installed on your deck. These maintenance tips will help you to keep your deck looking new for many years to come. The only regular maintenance of your vinyl deck, other than general cleaning, is an  annual inspection. - Check all areas where sealants have been applied to areas where the decking membrane is in junction with the building, posts, columns, vents and drains. Often the areas where this sealant is applied will expand/contract, shrink or shift causing the sealant to crack, thereby breaking the seal. - Check all seams to make sure there are no openings. Although unusual, seams can open allowing water to penetrate the vinyl deck. When discovered early, repairing seams is an easy repair. Contact us to have these repairs done quickly. General Cleaning Your vinyl deck should be cleaned a minimum of four times per year. More often if acid rain or airborne pollution are a problem in your area....