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solutions did, so even though they had better crack bridging capabilities than epoxies, the urethane products had to be restored more often. Today, products from companies like BASF and Tremco combine the lexibility of urethane and durability of epoxy. Hamilton explains that the latest offerings employ soft urethane compounds for superior crack bridging, plus harder aromatic or aliphatic polyurethane top coats for a long-lasting wear course. The new systems are easier on the trained applicators employed to apply them. Hamilton points to a parking garage in Toronto that Eagle has been contracted to restore at various times over the years. In the epoxy era – and into the urethane era as well – Hamilton's crew had to don face masks with ilters to work with the earlier waterproo ing materials. "We'd have to make special arrangement for ventilation," he says. "The parking garage fans would be running the whole time. We'd seal the doors, and the buildings were vacated." But now that waterproo ing material has to meet low-VOC guidelines, Hamilton doesn't need to worry about the effect of the solvent fumes on employees, and on nearby residents or on students at the Ontario College of Art and Design, which is close to the parking structure. Parking was the issue for one of John Ogilvie's customers, in an unusual demonstration of the durability of the products that his company offers. President of Duradek Ltd., he represents an organization known for providing a strong vinyl waterproo ing membrane for decks and balconies. In one case, a Duradek customer crashed his car into the support posts of his second- loor deck, and of course, the deck came down. "Part of it is hanging on the house and the other part is touching the ground," Ogilvie recalls. "You can imagine the amount of expansion that had gone on. I thought, 'I'm going to have to redo the deck.' But when the deck was jacked up and put back, everything pulled back into place. It was amazing. The product has the ability to withstand sudden movement." Duradek's latest innovation is Tiledek, a product similar to the standard Duradek membrane but featuring a fabric top designed to attach to thin set, so homeowners can have tile laid on their decks and balconies. Tuff Industries Inc. also offers a waterproof vinyl membrane for decks and balconies located over living areas. Waterproofing p.40-45software_waterproofing.indd 45 Known as Tufdek, the material is the result of 10 years of R&D with lab and ield testing. It's available in a variety of designs from solids to two-colour prints to four-colour print aggregate and plank patterns. It's tested to meet all North American single-ply roo ing standards and it's resistant to mold and mildew. The Tuff-Shield 2-Ply System combines a 66-millimetre top layer with a solvent adhesive and a 50-millimetre base layer designed to separate foot traf ic from the roof membrane, offering a 20-year warranty. Tuff-Shield TX Modular is a single-layer system engineered for the modular building industry. Available in textured white or lat white, it's roo ing approved, and the white re lective colour affords a cooler rooftop – good for warmer climates and summer months across most of Canada. Grant Lawton, head of Prodexs Sales Inc., the agent for Tuff Industries, explains that the product features a patented ScuffGuard process that protects the membrane, so it will withstand foot traf ic. It's also designed to withstand the harsh chemical cleaners that are known to wipe everything – including the decorative pattern – away from other deck and balcony treatments. Situra Inc. specializes in waterproo ing expansion joints. According to Steeven Lapointe, the company's technical director, other solutions have inherent laws that Situra's products can address. For instance, metal lashing on raised curbs can create a dam on the roof, preventing the low of water to the drains. "You can get into situations where the water is ponding," Lapointe says. "It has no way to get off apart from evaporation." Scuppers at the curbs might help, but they aren't always adequate, and over time, "they tend to crack, and water gets in." Waterproo ing expansion joints is challenging because the joints don't run in single, straight lines. "Designers and architects know that expansion joints will zigzag as required, especially if it's an expansion on an existing building," Lapointe says. "Sometimes they transition from a lat roof to a wall, across the parapet, around columns – anything that isn't a straight run becomes a problem for metal lashing and bellows. They need to be spliced together. You're relying on sealants and patches, which are designed to keep water out but not to deal with the movement of the building. They become maintenance items." ■ JUNE 2012 /45 5/25/12 11:51:38 AM

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