Deck Waterproofing Everything Building Envelope

About The Everything Building Envelope Podcast: Everything Building Envelope℠ is a dedicated podcast and video forum for understanding the building envelope. Our podcast series discusses current trends and issues that contractors, developers and building owners have to deal with related to pre and post construction. Our series touches on various topics related to water infiltration, litigation and construction methods related to the building envelope.
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Alfonso: Welcome everyone to our Everything Building Envelope podcast. I am Alfonso Alzamora, Vice President and Principal with GCI Consultants and I will be your host today. I am really excited today to have as our guest, one of our engineers that I work with here at GCI Consultants and the guest, Jason Bondurant. We have got a really interesting topic to share with you today, which is all about pool decks and plaza decks waterproofing. So Jason, since you are a repeat guest, let's just jump right into talking about plaza decks and pool decks waterproofing. So why don't you tell us a little bit about the typical components that we find in these types of systems?
Jason: So when we talk about plaza deck waterproofing system, typically what we're referring to is a waterproofing membrane that's installed on the structural deck, typically a concrete deck, and typically these types of systems are installed over occupied space where it's essentially functioning as a roof or occasionally we'll see them installed over parking garages or other types of spaces.
And usually, these types of membranes will be covered by some type of overburden. So, it'll be concealed in the finished assembly. You won't actually see the waterproofing membrane. These areas are somewhat different than roofing systems in that they're also intended for vehicular or pedestrian traffic or used as greenscape or planter areas. And because of that, these types of systems are exposed to some of the harshest conditions. And one of the things that really makes these systems challenging is that they do require a high level of coordination between the waterproofing and the adjacent envelope systems.
So the typical components kind of from top to bottom would be at the top you'd have some type of wearing surface which could be bricks, it could be pavers, precast flab or exposed aggregate. And then beneath that, you'll have some type of fill where it may be a topping slab, it may be sand, or it may be a mortar setting bed. And then beneath that, you would have some type of drainage layer. Typically, these days we would see a prefabricated drainage mat, but it could also be a layer of gravel or some kind of drainage medium that'll allow the water to flow easily. And then beneath that, we would have the waterproofing membrane and the protection, of course, which is on the structural deck.
Alfonso: Right. And I'm sure you agree that, you know, as with any waterproofing system that drainage is a critical part of the assembly. So why don't you tell us a little bit more about the drainage layer?
Jason: Yeah. So the drainage, like you said, with any waterproofing or roofing system, it's the most critical aspect. And for these types of protective membrane waterproofing systems, there are some unique aspects to the drainage that we don't have to be concerned about with a typical roofing system. So, with these protected membrane systems, they need to be designed so that you have the expectation that water is going to get all the way down to the waterproof membrane level, which is beneath the overburden. So, the deck needs to have a bi-level drainage system that'll allow water to enter the drain from the waterproof level wh...
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