Schluter Deck Drainage

When it absolutely positively has to drain!

In the southeastern US we typically get more than 60 inches of rain per year.  In extreme environments like this we need extreme solutions. The Aerial Companies uses the Schlüter®-DITRA-DRAIN MAT system to improve drainage of exposed exterior elevated stone and marble deck assemblies. 

Beach Front Estate Home - Naples, Florida

Water Intrusion - The Investigation

This velocity-zone pool and deck and the adjacent elevated deck system was failing.  

Removal of Stone Toppings

We removed all of the stone deck topping at this pool deck and covered lanai to rebuild the stone topping cross section.  We installed new drains, resloped the deck, installed a new waterproofing layer and a drainage mat prior to replacing with new stone.

Observed Condition of Substrate Waterproofing

Structural Sloping Decks with Epoxy and Sand

Pitch for the new slope is calculated using a Transit and then form boards are cut accordingly and laid in a pattern creating multiple rows for troweling on the epoxy / sand mixture. Prior to the application of the Epoxy a clear liquid resins is applied to the surface of the deck for use as a bonding agent. Epoxy and sand are mixed in small batches as the curing process is short.

The mixture is then troweled on at every other row and tapered down to a feather edge.  The form boards are then removed and the edges of the existing rows are used as guides for the remainder of the application. Once all rows are filled in, another coat of epoxy resin is applied to seal off the surface in preparation for the watrproofing application.

Installing the New Drain System

Not to be confused with the "drainage plane", this scope involved removing the existing and insufficient drain assembly and rebuilding a more robust deck draining mechanism within the structural slab. 

Primer - First Step in the Kemper Waterproofing System Process

After the sloped surface has been thoroughly cleaned of all latent particles – we apply a prime coat of EP primer with sand expressed into the surface to provide a bondline for the system elements to follow. 
  

Base Sheet - Kemper's Polyester Fleece

Fully Reinforced Monolithic Membrane

Surface is Waterproofed - Now ready for Schlüter®

Schlüter DITRA-DRAIN is the final layer prior to installing the stone topping.  The DITRA-DRAIN mat allows water to travel beneath the stone surface, through the capillaries to the deck drain mechanism.

Latticrete 3701 - Masonry Overlay

The DITRA-DRAIN is installed using the thin-bed method over a sloped waterproofed assembly.  We use Latticrete 3701 fortified mortar bed (masonry overlay) shown here in preparation for installation.

Schlüter KERDI Strips

KERDI strips are installed and embedded in Latticrete 254 prior to installation of the DITRA Mat. Schlüter-KERDI is a crack bridging waterproof membrane made of soft polyethylene, which has been covered on both sides with a special fleece webbing to anchor the membrane in suitable tile adhesive.  

Schlüter-DITRA-DRAIN is a safe and permanently effective passive capillary drainage system.

The DITRA-DRAIN mat consists of a closed polyethylene mat that on one side features approximately 4 mm high conical studs with a laminated filter fleece fabric. Some of these studs are shaped as approximately 2 mm high inverted truncated pyramids, which form square undercut chambers on the underside. These facilitate the bonding of the thin-bed mortar.

Reduces Movement of the Stone Deck Topping

Schlüter-DITRA-DRAIN uncouples the covering from the substrate and neutralizes the differential movement stresses between the substrate and the tile. The material effectively bridges tension cracks from the substrate and ensures that they are not transferred to the tile covering.

Installing the DITRA DRAIN mat

Expert David Palmer Owner of Palmer Tile, and Marble, Inc. Assists

Palmer Marble & Tile provides its high-end residential and commercial services in Florida's most prestigious locations and at any given time, might be working on three to five estate homes for customers that include movie stars, music celebrities, sports heroes and Wall Street moguls. He is frequently seen on Aerial project sites as we only use the best contractors for our discerning customers.

Extend the Serviceability of Elevated Decks with Proper Sloping, Waterproofing and Drainage