Waterproof decking method and apparatus

Abstract

A waterproof deck includes a deck subflooring supported on joists adjacent a building, a flashing adjacent a building, and a drip edge attached along the edge of a subflooring where the water runs off the deck. An elastomeric waterproofing material covers the subflooring and a strip of T-bar edging is attached along the edge of the subfloor and has a portion extending over the elastomeric waterproofing material and over the drip edge and another portion extending above the subfloor to form a raised edge therealong. Concrete covers the elastomeric waterproofing material and subfloor to the top edge of the T-bar raised edge so that water on the concrete flooring runs off the deck over the T-bar drip edge and drains from beneath the concrete floor over the drip edge to prevent collection of water over the concrete flooring.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a waterproof deck and to a method of making a waterproof deck and especially to an apparatus and method which prevents the accumulation of water between a concrete floor and the waterproof membrane on the subfloor.[0002]In the past, it has been common to make concrete decks for apartment buildings and the like in which the deck is placed between walls on three sides and open on the fourth side. Decks are typically made with joists mounted between the walls and a plywood subfloor attached to the joists. Typically, a waterproof membrane, such as building paper, coated felt roofing material, roofing asphalt or the like, is used to coat a subfloor and then a concrete flooring is poured on top of the waterproof coating to form the floor. A drip edge is commonly used along the open edge of the deck. The deck may have a slight slope so that rain or water falling onto the deck drains off the concrete and over the drip edge. P...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]A method of making a waterproof deck includes the steps of applying a metal drip edge strip to one edge of a deck subfloor and then applying an elastomeric waterproofing material over the subfloor. A strip of T-bar material is selected and attached to the edge of a deck subfloor over some spacing strips of the elastomeric material with one portion of the T-bar strip extending over the drip edge and a second portion forming an upright raised edge and then pouring concrete over the elastomeric waterproofing material covering the subfloor to a level approximately to the top edge of the T-bar strip so that a concrete deck is provided with water runoff over a T-bar and water under the concrete floor drains over the drip edge under the T-bar. The selected T-bar has a second drip edge formed thereon and is spaced with additional elastomeric waterproofing material. A waterproof deck includes a deck subflooring supported on joists adjacent a building, a flashing adjacent a building, and a drip edge attached along the edge of a subflooring where the water runs off the deck. An elastomeric waterproofing material covers the subflooring and a strip of T-bar edging is attached along the edge of the subfloor and has a portion extending over the elastomeric waterproofing material and over the drip edge and another portion extending above the subfloor to form a raised edge therealong. Concrete covers the elastomeric waterproofing material and subfloor to the top edge of the T-bar raised edge so that water on the concrete flooring runs off the deck over the T-bar drip edge and drain from beneath the concrete floor over the drip edge to prevent collection of water over the concrete flooring.

Problems solved by technology

Prior art decks of this type have tended to have the subflooring and joist rot out in a fairly short period of time as a result of the accumulation of moisture from the concrete below the concrete flooring.

This happens because the sheathing is sometimes not fully watertight and at other times tends to get damaged, such as with minute holes that allow the seepage of water therethrough.

The water that accumulates under the concrete floor has no where to run off and thereby tends to accumulate and build up until any leak or spacing around the flashing allows the seepage to make its way to the wooden subfloor and joists which then very quickly rot out and causes extensive damage.

The problem results because concrete does not provide a total barrier to the passage of moisture and water tends to accumulate beneath the concrete surface where the concrete surface is frequently covered with water.

This, however, has not been effective in preventing the wood structure which supports a concrete deck from being damaged by the accumulation of moisture which finds its way through or around the waterproof membrane.

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