How To Waterproof A Deck (With EPDM Pond Liner) || Dr Decks 

Dude, your pencil holder is insane! Love it.

Hey @drdecks, just wondering if you have a video of the gutter system you use for this. Thanks man, Keep pushing the bar!

Thanks for paying Calvin to take such good videos. He is doing a good job! You have a good crew.

What mil EPDM are you using? What size liner do you typically order?

Thank You for the Great Video! I'm wondering if you run into issues keeping your decking flat when applied over the membrane? I have a deck that I'm thinking about doing this to, however I would only apply the membrane to half of the deck for dry space below. With the membrane doubled up on each joist along with the GTape, I would guess the total thickness would be close to 1/8" or so? Would you see or notice any waving on the decking boards from the transition of dry space to no dry space or would I most likely have to shim the boards over the non dry space to get rid of wavy board issues in my field?

Thank you for this informative waterproof deck system. Will you please provide a link on how to build a gutter system from deck below.

Hey Doc! I’m finishing installing EPDM membrane and I’m facing a difficulty flashing external corner of the house (wrap-around deck). How do you resolve external corners situations? Do you use G-tape or some other product? You always come up with the most elegant solutions, so I‘m sure you have a corner flashing hack. Please please share!

Hey there. I hsve been looking for that video for about 2 weeks. Very helpful information, real great. Thank you, thank you. I never imagined it was like that. Thank you for your pretty good explanation

Can you explain or show how it drains into the gutter? Just curious how this system compares to Trex rain escape

Supper helpful! Do you put the hidden fastener deck clips for the decking straight through the membrane?

If the deck was straight, could you leave the pond liner one piece and staple on top of the joists after creating troughs in each one?

Have you ever tried getting a monster piece of EPDM, stretch it tight across the ledger with extra hanging off at both ends, and then start in the middle (troughing the slope) and work your way out on both sides? I figure it would save you a shit ton of time and no need for caulk. Just a thought cuz I’m about to do this exact same thing on my deck to cover my monster 3’x8’ under deck drawers I wanna keep dry.

Really nice work! Very detailed video and very helpful even for us contractors that are experienced with decks. Where do you get the epdm membrane? What thickness is it?

Very inventive and informing. I’m in the process of building my own deck (not in your area!) and I’ve found your videos helpful. Question not related to the membrane, but weather related: do you find it’s a problem to install, level, plumb, and back fill the cardboard concrete sonotubes but it might rain for a few days before you’re able to actually pour the concrete?

Very simple yet effective. I’ll be putting this down on my deck when I begin my build. Thanks

would this work with a wood deck or just trex? you mentioned water sits on top of the bladder, would that rot out wood?

So I've talked to people that use this kind of trough for a second story deck and several of them complained about how sediment and such (like leaves, etc) builds up after a while and can clogs some of it.

How do you combine this with blocking on the deck? Use blocking shorter than the joists so the drainage can still sink?

Starting my bladder this week - can you detail the wall/joist bladder connection? thanks

hey dr decks, how did you make measurements for the "pie shaped" bladders? any tips?

I am doing this method to waterproof my deck. EPDM is not cheap. How do I calculate material accurately? I have 12" centers over a 12' span. I am using 2x10s and would be ideal to have at least 1/4" fall per ft. It Looks like I want 2" min per side extra to overlap. so at the top maybe 15" and at the end for 3" fall about what, 21"? If correct I should need about 30'x12' of liner for a 20'x12' deck?

How wil lyou allow cleaning of debris build up? Even gutters get plugged with build up and need to be cleaned twice annually.

Does this have the potential to reduce the decking lifeapan? Seems like this system would greatly reduce airflow under the deck.

Maybe I missed it but I’m assuming you’re doing this because you’ve got another patio under the deck you’re trying to keep dry or is there another reason you would do this?

Good morning. Thank you for your videos. They have proven to be very helpful and inspiring. I am about to waterproof my deck with EPDM liner this weekend and I am wondering if I should ad a bead of caulk on each floor joist before I lay down the liner. I plan on doing four bays in one piece. Also, what do you use to fasten the baffle. Thank you for your assistance.

How do you use a track saw to make nice cuts when there are picture frames in the deck? I'm afraid to cur the rubber.

setting up this system from underneath of an existing deck ? i was thinking staple up same way and add strips of wood to support weight

Thanks for this video. Trex Rainscapes is outlandishly expensive. This is a better option for me.

Wooow !!! Awesome, just perfect for what I needed !! I’m so happy I found your video

For a deck on the ground i imagine you wouldn’t want to do this because you’d be trapping dampness under the deck and the joists would stay wet all the time. Am i right on that?

What about winter and freezing water? Any issues that can happen?

Hey @Drdecks what did you use for the the gutter system?

Looks like there are various spots with one, two, and three layers of pond liner. Is level decking ever a concern where there are two or more overlapping layers or is it not noticeable after the decking is in place?

the returns are genius brother

Thanks for all the awesome videos. Any tip on using the pool liner system with fortress steel beams? The stapler obviously wont work! Thanks

Can I use TyPar house wrap instead of expensive rubber?

Great job.was looking forward to the blatter

What Mill EPDM pond liner are you using? Maybe you can add links in the future so you get affiliate links???

Whats the thickness of the pond liner you use? I rather do this than buy the trex system. Thanks!

How wide do you make strips if it’s a square 16” centre? Extra 4 inches?

Hi Dr. Deck, do you have the final product of this work. Just wondering how the final deck looks.

I saw at the store a 45 mil rubber roof membrane. Is that the same as pond liner?

My roof supplier said epdm leaves a objectionable oder like an inner tubes smell in his deck area that his wife hates. Ever have this issue?

Is there a cheaper 3" or 4" rubberized bytul tape that I can use on trex rainescape? Trex bytul tape is like $65 for 50'... ouch!

Thanks, I am going to give it a try today

What type of caulk being used on epdm between layers

Thank you so much to share your knowledge

Quick clarifying question. On flat blocking do you put down the G-Tape before the EPDM or after? Or both?

Hi, great job

Subscribing, first time watching any of your videos, so do you always do one bay at a time? I recently did a small deck and used this method ( never done it before) I did 10' sections what a pain in the ass that was, my deck didn't have to be 100% water proof just needed to keep the water away from the house, any how nice to see a pro do it, looking forward to more of your videos.

Can you share how you cut each trough for the rolls?

Thank you gave me great ideas, and stay up to code

Can you use rubber roofing membrane instead of pond liner?

how do u collect the water into gutters

What kind of caulk do you use? And what are the baffles made of?

Is there an outside caulk and inside caulk?

Great video! I'm looking for waterproofing my deck so that I can use the space underneath. It is going to be 9-12 ft off the ground. Before I came across this video I was thinking of putting a metal roof underneath and draining that into the gutter. But wondering what is the life of the rubber material. I live in Texas where the temperatures can go very high beyond 110F in the summers and below -10F in the winters. And also sometimes 30F fluctuations in a day. Wondering if the rubber material would become brittle and deteriorate in few years. Any comments on this?

Is that a special caulk you use?

In watching some of your other deck builds, you did a deck using Dexter Dry a while back. Did you not use that system on this build because of all of the curves? Good job!

Hi there DrDecks, If I use EPDM can I install the decking with a Camo tool? Screws would be installed hidden from the edge.

what exactly the name the materials? some the call traw or EPDM POND LINER?

How much drop do you run over 20 foot?

Is 6 inches really enough to go up under the siding where it meets the house?

Did you say you’re also using dexerdry? Can you use hidden fasteners still?

love your videos

I would think that stuff would trap a ton of heat in that lumbar no? Trapping moisture? Idk

How do you make the baffles that you installed?

How would you flash a stone home

Are you in Maryland?

Always flash with alluminum to prevent future damage of rubber membrane or from melting from cigarette and sharp objects or animals

Thanks!

caulk or glue?

Wondering if you guys are still going to be able to work with the stay home order in place ?

The only quandary I have run into is.... if we have a leaking penetrative atop, thru the epdm, and the water gets thru and gets caught up, it's gunna permanently make the PT wet, especially those fall areas. And wet wood that can't dry out will rot. It's just a matter of time. PT or not. The only solution I can think of is a nice paint on waterproof ahead of these systems, to protect the wood. But I have struggler with straggler leakers.that I can't pinpoint to service or seal. Such a pain in the butt, these waterproof systems. I've done several and always seem to have some issue.

where can buy your hammer ?

Can you do this with simple plastic sheets?

What brand G-Tape do you use?

doesn't that system make the area under deck to be counted as impervious then?

But the deck boards will still rot sitting on the rubber, just as if they were sitting on the deck supports.

You can just buy corrugated roofing and install it underneath. It's made in many different colors to match decks and doesn't look like trash bags hanging from the deck.

This in Tacoma?

What mil thickness is the edpm?

What is the thickness of the blatter?

Does it look like the Doctor is always decking in cold weather.

The prior homeowner where I live did something similar to this - HORRIBLE idea if you live in the woods. Horrible…

Why wouldn't you use one continuous piece?

Never leave rubber as the revail

Why did you overlap the material so much? Looks like you could have saved a lot of material...

I don't RECOMMENDED for snow and freezing water.

I'm not sure when you need a waterproof deck. Maybe if you want a dry space below.

everyone reply with your favorite EPMD song ....

Mosquitoes love this one trick!

Why does he keep saying “cauLk”?

custom decking comes more than 20' long on special order. Just sayin.

I can see those in like 5 years being chock full of dirt, plantlife, and algae.

I see sitting water puddles....looking like mosquito nesting

Go aluminum much better.

Hey, next time show what you're describing, don't just talk about it. Frames, dams, blocking, bridges, gutters, etc. We need to see, not just hear about them.

Am I the only one thinking, he looks like hes on the third story deck, with no railing.... he's a licensed contractor, and no safety equipment on, shooting a youtube video..... ummmm. great idea, but darwin awards 101?

Can you use PVC or polypropylene pond liner?