Need Outside the BOX Solutions for a Leaky Outside Ceramic Tile Roof Deck. Also,some tiles can give slightly
Question:I'm not sure what to do here but I'm open to all types of atypical solutions to this problem. My priorities are cost and ease of installation with hopes of it looking good afterwards too.
Roof Deck is 450sq/ft, 15 years old, and has many cracked grout lines with several voids beneath the tiles where water goes into the house during hard rains. I will enclose this deck as a full room addition a couple of years so I prefer not to spend too much on a long term or expensive fix. I just want to stop the leaking and not have it look like crap afterwards. I am open to anything but here are some of the options I thought of.
1. Coat the grout lines with a true elastomeric coating. Can you get this stuff in different colors to match the tile??
2. Coat grout lines with an elastomeric coating and then paint another coat of this liquid granite stuff.
http://www.amesresearch.com/liquid-grani...
Know any other coatings?
3. Concrete on top and seal & stain it?
4. Put 2nd tile layer on top?
Answers:
Best thing for flat roof-decks is single membrane EPDM rubber with a ballast covering.
- remove all the ceramic tiles, they will all crack eventually - guaranteed. adhered tiles in freeze-thaw conditions DO NOT last.
- clean the surface and make sure it's even. any dips where water can pond should be leveled using cement, roof patch cement, or some sort of epoxy. no dust or loose grout should be left.
- apply a generous coat of cold apply roofing asphalt on the substrate (i'm you have guessing plywood or something underneath). this will add extra layer of protection and smooth out imperfections. let it dry/cure as long as directed on the product.
- Get 450 sq ft. of EPDM rubber (pond liner) and adhere to the surface using the proper adhesive (lap cement, EPDM adhesive). You can find more about howto to this on the web. Roofers can also come out and adhere for you using hot asphalt.
- Most important part will be properly sealing the seams and edges and flashings so you do not get water underneath the EPDM. Any seams you need to use EPDM seam tape.
- Loose-lay (no grout or tile adhesive) any type of flat paving blocks on top of the EPDM as you would with any deck. You can get as creative as you want with the design, color, and type. Do not use porcealin or ceramic tiles or pavers with sharp or pointy nature that may puncture the EPDM (e.g. do not use marble chips). You can use flagstone or slate tiles if you have loads of money. You can also loose-lay a layer of roofing felt between the EPDM and the pavers to prevent damage to the EPDM.
The EPDM membrane will prevent any water from leaking if you do it right. It does not matter if the water seeps between and under the pavers. The pavers will not crack or raise up since they are "loose" as they will move, shrink, and expand with freezing water. You can't walk on EPDM so adding pavers acts as a protective barrier and also as a ballast to keep down the rubber layer. This method will also allow you to change the design or make any future repairs with ease. You can always use the pavers in your yard if you ever get rid of the deck.
Before you do any of that, make sure your deck is structurally sound and replace any beams or plywood while you have everything up.
All the materials are available at lowe's, home depot, etc.
We had Dura Deck installed on our roof of the garage that is used as a terrace I can assure you that this product is fantastic , I just hope that you can find it where you live ,it's a very thick vinyl that comes into a multiples of colours.
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