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What is DEK Drain?
Where does the water go? How does it discharge?
Why would I use DEK Drain?
What is DEK Drain made of?
How was DEK Drain developed?
What is the complete DEK Drain system?
How is DEK Drain packaged?
How long will DEK Drain last?
How is DEK Drain installed? How long does it take?
Can I install the DEK Drain system myself?
Can I get you to install DEK Drain for me?
Is DEK Drain available locally?
What color is the DEK Drain system? Can I get another
color?
My joists are 12" on center.
Can I still install the DEK Drain system?
My deck has one joist which is not standard framing. What
can I do?
I want to use bracing between my joists. Can I still use
DEK Drain?
Who makes DEK Drain?
Will the DEK Drain panels stretch or sag over time?
How can I clean leaves and debris from the DEK Drain panels?
I use a power washer to freshen up my deck from time to
time. Will my power washing machine damage the DEK Drain system?
Is the DEK Drain system warranty protected?
How do I order DEK Drain?
How much does it cost?
What makes DEK Drain better than a competing product?
HOW TO ORDER DEK Drain?
Q: What is DEK Drain?
A: DEK Drain is a revolutionary NEW building product designed
to keep the area under your deck DRY! DEK Drain comes to you as pre-cut,
pre-gauged, pre-measured flexible panels. These panels are installed
over the joists of a new deck after the framing is complete but before
the decking is installed. DEK Drain is designed for installation during
new construction or when re-decking an existing deck.
DEK Drain UNDERSIDE® is designed for installation on existing decks where the
decking is already affixed in place. See section "Frequently Asked
Questions About DEK Drain UNDERSIDE®."
Q: Where does the water go? How does it
discharge?
A. DEK Drain features a precise engineered cut on our
fabricated panels. This unique pattern automatically forms a descending
trough in the belly of the panel when it is installed. There is no
measuring, gauging, cutting or sizing necessary during the installation.
The correct shape of the trough and degree of fall are designed into the
DEK Drain panels and are self-forming. The discharge of the accumulated
water is by gravitational force. DEK Drain is self-draining. Most
installations will have a gutter at the discharge end to further direct
the runoff. The runoff may be allowed to free-fall. A gutter is
optional.
We have found the vinyl gutter system as manufactured by Plastmo to
be of good value and easy to work with. We can ship Plastmo gutter to
you with your DEK Drain system. Click on "Gutter" on our main
page for more details.
Q: Why would I use DEK Drain?
A: DEK Drain is designed to capture and channel away the rain
water which typically runs down the sidewall of a home and through the
deck boards to the ground below. The constant presence of moisture under
the deck usually makes the area unusable. Under certain conditions, the
standing water can cause erosion, splash-back against the house, a
breeding ground for mosquitoes and insects, or create an environment
favorable to mold, mildew and other undesirable organisms.
Further, the dry area under the deck may now be used as a patio,
screened porch, a place to hang a hammock or porch swing, a place to go
when it rains during an entertainment event, or just be used to store
firewood, lawn furniture, children's toys, lawnmowers, garden tools or
other equipment best kept out of the weather. By using DEK Drain, you
can DOUBLE THE USE OF YOUR DECK!
Q: What is DEK Drain
made of?
A: DEK Drain is custom fabricated
from an industrial quality rubber
membrane. We chose to
use this rubber membrane because of its superior performance during our testing. It was
the most expensive material we examined but did the job best so
that is all we use. Many competing products are made from plastics
similar to milk jugs and soda bottles. Our tests with these plastic
materials were NOT acceptable. Our rubber panels remain flexible to -57°
F and will not
expand, contract, shrink, crack, rip, tear, peel, delaminate, stretch or
deteriorate under normal environmental conditions.
DEK Drain carries a limited lifetime warranty! Click on
Warranty section for more details.
Q: How was DEK Drain
developed?
A: Keith and Cindy Risser operated
a contractor oriented lumberyard specializing in quality outdoor
building materials. Home improvement contractors and deck builders were
our major
customers. The need for a product to keep the area under a deck
dry arose continually. Inventor Keith Risser took up the research to find a
product to meet his customers' needs. The Internet was searched, trade
publications reviewed, trade shows visited. But no product was found to
do the job efficiently.
In the fall of 1995, Keith Risser set out to define a new building
product which would keep the area under a deck dry. Many substrates were
examined, many profiles developed, many experiments conducted. Some
worked, some didn't.
But after many years of continual research, development and
experimentation, DEK Drain evolved and is now a reality! Installation
are in place in every location throughout the U.S. DEK Drain's
proven performance assures us that DEK Drain is a high quality, high
performance product.
Q: What is the complete
DEK Drain system?
A: The DEK Drain system is comprised of three primary parts:
The panels which span the joists; a diversion flange (sometimes called a
cap) which covers the overlapping panels on the top edge of the joist;
and a headwater flashing piece which captures water running down the
sidewall of a home and directs the flow into the panel for proper
discharge. The headwater flashing prevents water from getting into the
space between the sidewall of the house and the ledger board of the deck
structure.
Q: How is DEK Drain
packaged?
A: DEK Drain is a flexible
material, easy to handle with affordable shipping. The
pre-fabricated panels are rolled and packaged in boxes of about 12"
x 12" x 24" with a weight of only 60 lbs. DEK Drain can be
shipped by UPS or air-freighted
for time-sensitive jobs. The number of boxes will vary depending on the size of the job.
Q: How long will DEK Drain
last?
A: It is anticipated that DEK Drain
will last indefinitely.
Our rubber panels are UV resistant, ozone resistant, stay pliable in all weather,
and are
tough and resilient. DEK Drain has proven to be unaffected by acid rain,
leaf-decay acid, ice, snow, freezing rain and salt spray (in coastal
areas). The two elements which have proven to degrade our rubber
membrane are direct
sunlight and grease (petroleum or organic). In direct sunlight our
rubber membrane has an expected life of thirty years
in commercial installations. In the DEK Drain application, direct
sunlight is not a factor.
Newer arsenic-free pressure treated
lumber can be highly corrosive to some standard building materials.
Note that DEK Drain products are fully compatible with all tested wood
treating processes!
DEK Drain
COMES TO YOU WITH A LIMITED LIFETIME
WARRANTY!
Q: How is DEK Drain
installed? How long does it
take?
A: DEK Drain is easy to install! In new construction,
DEK Drain is installed after the framing is complete but before the deck
surface is put down. The DEK Drain panels are affixed to the top edge of
the joists with staples such as a T-50 type. A simple hammer-tacker tool
works well, although any type stapler will work just fine. (If you do
not have a hammer-tacker tool available to you, you may purchase one
from us and we will ship it together with your DEK Drain system.) The
staples are used to hold the panels in place until the decking is
installed. The fasteners for the decking pass through the decking piece,
through the diversion flange, through both courses of panel material,
and enter the joist.
The DEK Drain panels are fabricated in a trapezoidal shape, with a
narrow end and a wide end. The narrow end always goes toward the
building. The wide end will always be at the discharge end. There is a
label on each panel which clearly indicates on the narrow end "Head
End (Toward Building)" or "Discharge End (Toward Gutter)" on the wide end. There is an arrow on the label
which shows the direction of flow. It is this precise engineered cut to
the fabricated panel which automatically calculates the form of the
trough and the degree of fall. Complete installation instructions are
included in each shipment.
A typical 250 square foot deck should take only several hours to
complete the DEK Drain installation. Subsequent applications take less
time as the installer becomes more familiar working with the system.
Q: Can I install the
DEK Drain system myself?
A: Yes!
DEK Drain is easy
to install and goes up fast! Complete installation instructions are
shipped with each order. If you are not engaged in the construction
business on a daily basis, it may take you a little longer than a
skilled craftsman. But it should still take you only a few well-invested
hours to do the complete installation.
Q: Can I get you to install
DEK Drain for me?
A: Installation is simple and
easy. Each order is accompanied by a complete set of instructions. No
special skills or tools are necessary. We will discuss with you or your
contractor the installation process to make sure installation goes well.
We provide unlimited telephone support (toll free).
Q: Is DEK Drain available locally?
A: DEK Drain is manufactured in
Columbia, Maryland. We can ship to any part of the
country. Freight is billed at actual cost. If you have an account with a
shipping company and wish to bill the freight charges to your account,
we are pleased to accommodate your request. Just give us the details.
Q: What color is the
DEK Drain system? Can I
get another color?
A: DEK Drain system is custom fabricated from an
industrial quality black or white rubber membrane. White is slightly
more expensive. The substrate is not visible from the top side of the deck. From the
underside, the DEK Drain panels are tucked up in the area between the
joists and are visible only if you look directly up while standing
beneath the deck. From the outside of the deck the DEK Drain system
cannot be seen.
Q: My joists are 12"
on center. Can I
still install the DEK Drain system?
A: Yes!
DEK Drain is
designed for both 24" o.c., 16" o.c. and 12" o.c. framing.
Q: My deck has one joist which is not standard
framing. What can I do?
A: This is a regular occurrence. Most decks have one or more
joists which do not fall exactly 12", 16" or 24" center-to-center.
There are several options for accommodating this situation. Because the
panels are flexible and easy to work with, the panel can be installed as
manufactured. On a narrow bay (less than 9-1/2", 14-1/2 or 22
1/2 inside-to-inside measure) the panel will droop slightly lower than the
other panels mounted between standard-measure joists. In most cases the
panel will not suspend below the bottom edge of the joists.
If a bay is cut wider than standard 12",
16" or 24" off center framing, a custom panel can be provided for about
$25 per panel.
If desired, the panel may be trimmed back equally on both long edges to
suspend more evenly with the other panels. Complete installation
instructions are shipped with each order.
Q: I want to use bracing between my joists.
Can I still use the DEK Drain system?
A: The DEK Drain panels will form a tapered trough between the
joists. The panels will suspend down into the bay formed between the
joists about one inch at the head end and about three inches at the
discharge end. If the bracing is installed below the suspension line of
the panels they should pose no problem.
Q: Will the DEK Drain
panels stretch or sag
over time?
A: NO! The
DEK Drain panels are
flexible and resilient. The panels are engineered and fabricated such
that they automatically form the pre-determined trough and slope
necessary for proper drainage. One of the many positive attributes of
the rubber membrane substrate is its ability to "remember" its shape and
retain the prescribed form. If an unusual event should occur which would
stretch the panel, the rubber membrane substrate will return to its original shape
and size when the unusual condition is corrected.
Q: How can I clean leaves and debris from the
DEK Drain panels?
A: Although there is usually less than 3/8" of space
between the deck boards, some debris and leaf residue will find its way
through the decking surface and be deposited in the DEK Drain panels. An
accumulation can interfere with the proper drainage of the panels. One
of the recommendations contained in the application instructions is to
use screws to affix a few deck boards near the head end of the DEK Drain
system (nearest the house). These boards can be taken up easily once or
twice a year to allow a hose to be used to cleanse the panels.
Q: I use a power washer to freshen up my deck
from time to time. Will my power washing machine damage the DEK Drain system?
A: NO! The
rubber membrane substrate
is tough stuff and should suffer no damage. Of course the usual and
customary cautions associated with the use of power washers is
recommended. Prolonged concentration of the power stream on a given
point is not advised. Common sense is encouraged with the use of all
power devices.
Q: Is the DEK Drain system warranty protected?
A: YES! The
DEK Drain system comes to you with a LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY! We use the finest
materials available in the construction industry and we stand behind our
product. The DEK Drain system is warranted not to rot, crack, split,
stretch, shrink, separate, delaminate, or deteriorate for as long as you
own your deck. Click on "Warranty" to view the warranty in
detail. Any claims should be sent to K/C International, Inc., Warranty
Dept., DEK Drain
6470 Freetown Road, Suite 200-19
Columbia, MD 21044
Q: How do I order
DEK Drain?
A: Ordering DEK Drain is easy! We can ship your order to your
home, your job site, your work address - anywhere it is convenient for
you to receive packages. Click on "How
to Order" for full details.
If your deck is unusual in any way, we
encourage you to fax (1-888-819--3232) a drawing of your deck (scale not
required). Include your framing information and which product you are
interested in. We will get back to you with a design proposal.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: The DEK Drain system is sold on a square foot basis,
measured by the dimensions of the deck surface. For instance, if your
deck is 10' by 20', this would be 200 sf (square feet). The complete DEK Drain
system for standard 24" o.c. framing sells for $3.89/square foot, 16" o.c. framing sells for $3.89/square
foot. and 12"o.c. framing the price is $4.25/square foot. Sales taxes (where
applicable) and shipping charges are additional.
Click on "How To Order." The DEK Drain system will include all
the panels, diversion cap and headwater flashing you will need to
complete your job. This is approximately one-third the cost of building
a roof. By using DEK Drain you can get DOUBLE THE USE OF YOUR DECK!
Q: What makes DEK Drain better than a
competing product?
A: DEK Drain was developed to be user friendly and to endure.
There are a few other products on the market which profess to keep the
area under your deck dry. DEK Drain installs quickly and easily without
the use of any caulk, adhesive, glue or solvent of any sort. DEK Drain can be installed in any weather, including wet or below-freezing
weather. Another of the many advantages of the DEK Drain system is the
lack of joints. We fabricate panels up to 24' in length with no breaks
or joints in the run of the panels. All during our trials, whenever we
experimented with a joint detail, the panels would leak. DEK Drain HAS
NO JOINTS! Competing products either require one or more joints or
simply limit your choice to one finite length with no allowance for
increasing the length of run. Further, most competing products are
available in limited parts of the United States only and are priced much
higher than the DEK Drain system. Additionally, they are more difficult
to install. Some require that only their own contractors may do the
installation.
HOW TO ORDER
DEK Drain
Ordering DEK Drain is easy!
There are only four dimensions needed to place your order. You need
to know:
- The length of the ledger board for calculating the amount of
headwater flashing needed to flash your job. If there is more than one
run (such as where the deck meets the house at more than one contact
point) we would need to know that. A simple sketch of the deck layout
with dimensions is helpful. Please indicate the location of the house on
the drawing and the direction in which the joists are oriented.
- The number of bays in the deck. A bay is the area between 2
joists.
For 24" o.c. framing, the bay will measure 22-1/2" inside to
inside.
For 16" o.c. framing, the bay will measure 14-1/2" inside to
inside.
For 12" o.c. framing, the bay will measure 10-1/2" inside to
inside.
- The length of the joists in each bay rounded to the nearest foot
(round UP only). If one joist is longer than the other due to the shape
of the deck, take the measurement from the longer joist.
- Indicate if the framing of your deck is 12",
16" or 24" on center.
- Again, if your deck is unusual and
doesn't fit into the above categories, feel free to fax a simple
drawing to our toll free fax (1-888-819--3232).
Once we have the information as described above, we will put together
the materials necessary to complete your individual job. We will ship
the materials to you already pre-cut, sized and ready for your speedy
installation!
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