Q. Dan asks: Is there something we can do with a three-quarter-inch plywood deck to preserve it besides continually painting and water sealing? A neighbor put roofing material with gravel on his deck, but we wouldn't want that. It doesn't look very appealing and is not at all nice to walk on. Someone mentioned outdoor carpet, but wouldn't the plywood get moldy and rot under the carpet? Heavens, what would we do with our flowerpots?
A: Exterior grade plywood is typically used as a substrate for decks or balconies that are above living space where weather protection is a must. The protection is not only important to the dwelling below, but will also maintain the integrity of the plywood and keep it from rotting.
Needless to say, carpet will not offer any kind of weather protection and when soaked with water will speed the deterioration of the plywood. Rolled roofing or other built-up roofing systems are not designed for traffic. Furthermore, roofing products in general don't offer the kind of appearance that one would typically prefer for a deck.
What you're looking for is an elastomeric waterproofing system. In simple terms, it's a seamless and skid-resistant synthetic rubber coating system that is designed to be installed directly over exterior plywood or concrete decks. It cures in place to provide an attractive finish for surfaces that are both floors and roofs.
One of the most positive aspects of the elastomeric system is that it expands and contracts with the substrate avoiding cracks and other damage resulting from movement. An added bonus is that many of these systems are available in a variety of colors and textures and with slip resistant surfaces. Due to the complexity of installation, this is a project that should probably be reserved for a professional.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.