What Should I Know Before Replacing an Aging Terrace Deck?
If you live in a condo or townhome in the D.C. metro area, there’s a good chance you inherited a Duradek walkable roof-deck system from your building’s original construction—it’s everywhere in Arlington and surrounding communities. Most homeowners, building owners and property managers don’t think about it until something goes wrong, but it’s worth understanding a few basics so you’re ready if and when it does.
Duradek is a durable, waterproof vinyl membrane that creates a usable terrace above while protecting the living space below. It’s a great product that provides a strong barrier against weather, is low-maintenance, comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, has a slip-resistant surface and is environmentally friendly. But like every exterior material, it has a lifespan. When it eventually starts to degrade and lose its waterproofing integrity—usually around 15 years—replacement becomes a specialized project, and the sticker shock catches many homeowners off guard.
A typical replacement takes 1-2 days. To access and properly replace the whole system, we usually have to remove the railing, siding, trim and sometimes even the entry door. If an HVAC unit is present, a licensed contractor will have to disconnect it and set it aside. Those elements must then be reinstalled or, depending on their condition, replaced, adding significant cost to the project.
My advice: don’t wait for a leak to tell you the condition of your roof deck. If your Duradek is nearing that 15-year mark, get it inspected now so you have time to budget and explore your options instead of facing an emergency repair. As a highly trained and authorized Duradek dealer and installer, Potomac Exteriors does these evaluations every day, and we can walk you through exactly what your home needs and where costs can realistically be trimmed.
Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Adam grew up in a family of roofing contractors. While attending East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, he worked for a local roofer, repairing storm damage to commercial properties and homes along the North Carolina coast. He founded Potomac Exteriors in 2016 to bring that same hands-on expertise to the Washington Metropolitan region, delivering premium, comprehensive exterior building services to help both residential and commercial clients improve their properties from top to bottom.