Do you have an old shabby patio deck that embarrasses you every time you have company over?
If you do, you have undoubtedly thought about tearing out the old deck.
If the deck surface is made up of wood planks or plywood, the tearing out is not really that difficult. You merely hope after completing the process that the frame structure is sound.
Maybe you’re just sick and tired of re-staining the wood deck every two or three years.
If you’re plagued with deck problems, why not consider a new deck surface known as Duragrid. It is a 12-by-12-inch interlocking tile made of polypropylene copolymer.
Duragrid tile and floor tile used in the home are both 12 inches square, but that’s where the resemblance ends. Duragrid tiles have an open grid surface with a pleasant geometric design. The bottom of the tiles have tiny “legs” to hold it up off the surface to allow water and air to go right through the surface of the tiles and then drain away.
Duragrid tiles can be installed as a cover over chipped and cracked concrete patios and weather-beaten wooden decks. It is also a good alternative to wet, stained outdoor carpeting. It is ideal around pools and spas, since it is self-draining and eliminates puddles. Because it is not hard, solid concrete or quarry tile, the chances of slipping and falling are reduced. Also, objects accidentally dropped are less likely to break.
Duragrid tiles are available in a number of decorator colours: grey, taupe, white, brick red, chocolate, light green, navy, light blue and tan. Your surface can be one solid colour, or you can create a pattern by using a number of colours in combination.
Duragrid tiles simply snap together. If you make a mistake, don’t panic, unlock the tiles and snap them back in place in the way you originally wanted. The narrow, beveled edges are snapped into the last tile on the open edges of your deck or patio. The tiles are easily cut or trimmed to any configuration.
Prepare your deck by making it as level as possible. If there are loose planks, boards or plywood, nail them down with hot-dipped galvanized nails. Any part of the deck that has rotted should be replaced with material of an equal thickness.
Preparation of concrete patio slabs consists of removing all loose debris. Sharp edges should be chiseled off. Any 77sharp dips or dives should be filled in with an appropriate concrete surface.
Upkeep is virtually nil. The tiles will not support bacteria or fungi. It is almost indestructible.
Dust filters right through and is washed out by water. The expression is “when it’s raining. Duragrid is draining.”
In the winter, you can flood the concrete patio tile surface and turn it into a skating rink for your children. Make sure the ice is at least a couple of inches thick before you allow your children to skate on it.
In the spring, your skating rink automatically turns back into a patio deck.
Duragrid tiles are used in showers, locker room areas, laundry areas, basement floors and behind bars. They can also be used in areas where workers stand for prolonged periods, since they provide a resilient barrier between feet and concrete.
In addition, they are used as a surface for such sports as world-class tennis and basketball.
Duragrid tiles are manufactured in Saskatchewan and are available right across Canada.