News & Articles Archives - Sublime Sundecks

Reasons Why Vinyl Decks Fail: Insights from a Pro on Vancouver Island

Vinyl decking represents a significant investment in your outdoor living space. Done right, it provides a waterproof, low-maintenance surface that lasts for decades. But like any home improvement, it comes with its own set of challenges.

Drawing on years of hands-on experience replacing and inspecting vinyl decks across Nanaimo, Parksville, Ladysmith, and the rest of Vancouver Island, this guide reveals the most common reasons vinyl decks fail — and how to avoid costly mistakes.

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How Long Does Vinyl Decking Last Before It Needs Replacement?

Sometimes, the vinyl itself hasn’t failed — it’s just showing its age. If your vinyl deck is 20+ years old and the surface looks faded or dated, that’s the best-case scenario for replacement. A fresh membrane vastly improves the look and gives you peace of mind for another two decades.

Learn about our vinyl membrane installation services

Should You Replace Railings When Upgrading Your Vinyl Deck?

Upgrading old top-mounted railings to side-mounted or frameless glass is a great improvement. But it leaves screw holes in your vinyl membrane — a weak spot for leaks. While patching is sometimes possible, it’s rarely the best long-term solution.

If you’re replacing your vinyl deck, it often makes sense to replace or upgrade your railings at the same time for a cleaner, longer-lasting result.

Why Do Vinyl Deck Seams Fail?

Seams are a common failure point, especially with non-reinforced vinyl that uses fuzzy or fabric backings. These materials can shrink over time, pulling at seams and compromising the weld.

Tufdek vinyl membranes (installed by Sublime Sundecks) use reinforced material with PVC backing. This eliminates shrinkage, creates stronger seams, and provides superior long-term performance.

Request a free quote for vinyl decking that lasts

What’s Wrong With Plastic Clips on Deck Edges?

Plastic clips are a common way to terminate vinyl around the deck perimeter, but they shrink, fall off, and lead to water infiltration. Once that happens, the vinyl can curl, water soaks in, and you’re looking at rusted flashing, leaks, and rot.

Sublime Sundecks uses PVC-coated flashing, heat-welded to the vinyl, eliminating the need for plastic clips and the problems that come with them.

What Causes Pooling and Staining on Vinyl Decks?

Pooling water along the front edge of the deck causes fading and staining over time. Poor slope, uneven plywood, or raised flashing can all contribute.

Sublime Sundecks takes extra care to ensure flashing sits flat and deck edges are prepped properly to prevent ponding issues.

See examples of clean, well-installed vinyl decks

What Damages Vinyl Deck Surfaces?

Rips and tears: Allow water to enter, leading to rot
Burn holes: From hot pans, BBQ embers, or careless smoking
Metal shovels: Can cut into the vinyl
Exacto knives: Don’t use them directly on the deck surface

Pro tip: Put a scrap piece of vinyl under your BBQ or grill area to protect from burns and stains.

Are Outdoor Carpets and Mats Safe on Vinyl Decks?

Carpets, mats, and potted plants often cause staining or pattern damage on vinyl. If you must use a doormat, accept that you’re committing to having one permanently in that spot.

Do South-Facing Decks Have Special Risks?

Yes — more UV exposure means faster fading, heat buildup, and stress on components like plastic clips.

Solutions:

Choose light-coloured vinyl to reflect heat
Opt for Tufdek’s UV-resistant inks and polycarbonate top coat
Use reinforced vinyl that won’t shrink
Eliminate plastic clips in favour of welded flashing

How Should Posts Be Installed to Prevent Leaks?

Cutting vinyl flush and caulking around posts is not reliable long-term. Instead, wrap the vinyl up the post, then cover that with siding, metal, or a collar for extra protection.

Contact us to inspect or upgrade your vinyl deck

Are Top-Mounted Railing Posts Always a Problem?

Not always — if installed right, they can last. Key tips:

Dip screws in polyurethane caulk before driving
Use gaskets where possible
Check for soft spots around posts — a sign of leaks

Conclusion: How to Extend the Life of Your Vinyl Deck

Maintaining a vinyl deck is about more than fixing problems as they pop up — it’s about prevention.

Clean regularly
Avoid damage from furniture, plants, and tools
Choose premium vinyl membranes like Tufdek and Weatherdek
Work with pros who install it right the first time

Get a free quote for vinyl decking in Nanaimo, Parksville, and beyond

See our gallery of vinyl deck projects

May 5, 2025/by Vinyl Decking, Nanaimo

News & Articles

Sublime Sundecks: A Testament to Excellence in Vinyl Decking

At Sublime Sundecks, we take pride in our work, but don’t just take our word for it. Our customers’ experiences speak volumes about our commitment to quality, professionalism, and customer satisfaction. Here’s what our clients are saying about us:

Exceptional Craftsmanship

Many reviewers praised the high quality of our work. One customer described our craftsmanship as “exemplary,” calling us “masters of our craft.” Another mentioned that their deck now looks “brand new and better than ever.” Our attention to detail and commitment to excellence consistently shine through in our projects.

Efficiency and Timeliness

We understand the value of your time. Multiple reviews highlighted our ability to complete projects quickly without compromising quality. One customer was amazed that we completed their 700 square foot deck in just one day! Another appreciated our ability to work around challenging weather conditions, even installing vinyl in late November.

Professional and Communicative

Communication is key in any successful project. Our customers repeatedly mentioned our excellent communication skills, keeping them informed throughout the process. We’re described as “professional,” “organized,” and “a pleasure to work with.”

Flexibility and Going Above and Beyond

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and we’re here to help when unexpected situations arise. One customer shared how we stepped up when they faced a medical emergency, completing additional work to ensure their project was finished despite the setback.

Fair Pricing and Sticking to Quotes

While we may not always be the cheapest option, our customers find our pricing fair and appreciate that we stick to our quotes, even when unexpected extra work is required.

Comprehensive Services

From vinyl installations to railing work, we offer a range of services to meet all your decking needs. Customers appreciate our ability to handle multiple aspects of their projects, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality result.

Highly Recommended

The overwhelming sentiment across our reviews is one of high recommendation. Our customers consistently express their satisfaction and willingness to recommend us to others.

At Sublime Sundecks, we’re not just installing decks; we’re creating outdoor spaces for you to enjoy for years to come. We’re grateful for the trust our customers place in us and remain committed to delivering exceptional results on every project.

Ready to transform your outdoor space? Contact Sublime Sundecks today for a free consultation and experience the difference for yourself!

March 10, 2025/by Vinyl Decking, Nanaimo

News & Articles

Let’s talk about color.

These days’ houses basically come in two colors, grey and beige. There is plenty of variation in these basic pallets from black to white, brown, taupe, cream and light silver to deep charcoal. Vinyl decking for the most part only comes in these basic colors as well. The first decision customers usually make when deciding on a vinyl color is Grey or Beige? After that the next question is light or dark?

The light VS the dark

Personally I really like the darker vinyl colors. But they are not for everyone, let me explain. Decks that get a lot of sun are not great candidates for dark colored vinyl. Lighter colors in both the grey and beige families reflect more solar radiation, which offers a several benefits:

Reduced heat absorption, keeping your deck cooler underfoot
Slower color fading, maintaining the deck’s appearance for longer
Decreased material degradation, extending the lifespan of your deck

This is particularly important for south-facing decks, which receive intense sun exposure. In these high-sun areas, opting for a lighter shade can prevent accelerated fading and wear.

If your deck does not get pounded by the sun all day, then you might be able to get away with a darker vinyl. Dark vinyl looks great and hides dirt better. When I help customers choose colors, I explain the balance of wanting light colors for UV reflection and dark colors hiding dirt.

Matching my siding

When I show customers physical samples the first thing they usually do is hold the material up against their siding looking for a match. This is a good idea, but I wouldn’t limit myself to “matching the siding”. I usually wouldn’t choose a grey vinyl to go with taupe siding but I wouldn’t get to caught up on trying to match the shade. Sometimes contrast looks great! A light vinyl and dark siding, or vice versa can look sharp. Also when people sit on their deck they are rarely looking at the house, they are looking into their back yard or at the view if they have one. Same goes for looking at the deck through the windows of the house, when you are looking out you are not looking at your siding most of the time.

Wood plank patterns, seam direction and recessed seams

The wood plank patterns are my favorite but some people can’t stand them. For some the faux look is a real turn off. I really like them for homes with ocean views, mountain views, acreages, and homes with other wood details. Although you can over do the wood!

When we install a wood plank pattern on a deck we like to run the material lengthwise. This is so the plank pattern runs across the full length of the deck, mimicking how a traditional wood deck would be built. This does run into a technical problem though. When we run the material lengthwise the seams in-between each piece of material goes against the slope of the deck. Water can pool behind the bump in the seam leaving a bit of standing water on your deck which will attract dirt and can result in premature fading. The way we deal with this by doing “recessed seams”. We router a channel in the plywood of the deck prior to installing the vinyl where the seams are going to sit. This eliminates the bump, preventing water pooling and obscuring the seam. This in combination with the natural lines the vinyl’s pattern makes the seams very difficult to see. That way we get our planks running in the right direction and we mitigate water pooling.

Conclusion:

When choosing your vinyl deck color, consider these key points:

Think about sun exposure – lighter colors work better for sunny decks
Balance aesthetics with practicality – darker colors hide dirt but absorb more heat
Don’t stress too much about matching your siding exactly
Consider wood plank patterns for certain home styles
Think about seam direction and ask about recessed seams for a cleaner look

Remember, the right color choice can make your deck look great and last longer. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to ask your friends, family or a pro for advice.