How do I prevent water infiltration around my railing posts?

This is one of the questions that people ask most regularly when considering the use of PVC membrane to cover their patio. The fact that the ramp and the posts are placed on top of the surface can cause concerns about the sealing of the material in a medium or short term.

Here are the reasons why water infiltration could occur.

Improper installation

The main reason that can allow water to get under the membrane is that it was installed by unqualified installers. The PVC membrane is a specialized product that requires specific qualifications in order to obtain a durable and quality installation. Before calling on an installer, make sure you can consult his past achievements and obtain certain guarantees from him. BestDeck offers a 10-year warranty on membrane waterproofing and a 10-year warranty on manufacturing defects.

The fact that a person, who does not have the necessary qualifications and knowledge, himself installs a membrane that he would have obtained from a dealer can also cause waterproofing problems in many cases.

Improper ramp installation

It is strongly recommended to let the installers install the ramp after the membrane installation work on your exterior surface. Our workers have the experience of reinstalling railings and posts at the end of such a project, and have the necessary equipment and products that allow maximum impermeability of the product in the long term.

It is not recommended to reinstall the ramp yourself in order to avoid unnecessary damage to the membrane and poor protection of the places most susceptible to water infiltration.

How to prevent infiltration around the posts?

Take a regular look around the posts to notice any water accumulation or cracks in the caulking installed around them. Also look at the joints and note if it has thinned considerably in certain places.

If ever a seal appears damaged or the silicone appears to be punctured, cover the crack as soon as possible and contact your membrane installer, who will advise you on what to do next. In most cases, this will only require the addition of caulking or a small weld.

Author: Lawrence Labbé

Posted on April 20th, 2022