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Overview

Tek-Dek has two decking products, both of which are primarily designed to function as exterior, non-slip surfaces for marine applications. They have also been used for some exterior residential decks like patio and pool decks where the non-slip surface adds an element of safety and aesthetics of a strip deck.

The products are Tek-Dek "Flexible", suitable for both DIY and professional installation, and Tek-Dek "Professional". The latter is a rigid extrusion that is targeted for the professional shipwright, teak decking installer, carpenter or DIY installer that has the appropriate carpentry power tools to cut the decking, and PVC heating equipment to bend it.

Both are virgin PVC, tongue and groove extrusions (please see the specifications) with unique dovetailed channels on the underside. These channels not only increase the surface area for chemical adhesion. but provide a mechanical grip to the bedding adhesive.

The "Professional" product is unique. It is made of PVC with real wood fibres mixed in. This allows it to be cut and shaped with power tools e.g. there is no need to specifically extrude strips with rounded over edges like the "Flexible" product. The "Professional" decking strips can be cut with table saws and scroll saws etc. to shape custom margin widths and pieces like the elbows around hatch corners... and then routered with a quarter round bit to finish an edge.

The "Flexible" product can be bent at normal day-time temperatures without special heating equipment to conform to curves e.g. the curves around the side decks, toe rails, bulwarks or coach houses of sailboats, and trawlers yachts etc... Along with the use of hand tools, this is one of the reasons that the "Flexible" decking is suited to some DIY installations.

However, good news !!! DIY installers shouldn't rule out the "Professional" product. When you heat the strips up to 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit) for 10 minutes, the strips can be laid in place and bent to conform to the curve of transoms, bulwarks, toe rails etc... As a strip cools down, it becomes rigid again and memorizes the shape it has been bent to.

Until recently it used to require an expensive, $1,600 "hot box" (a long box with heating elements inside and a thermostat) but in conjunction with a manufacturer of specialized heating equipment, we have recently developed a heating system that is very portable, can be easily used on the boat, and costs about a third the price of the hot box.

Both products are UV and stain resistant and have a 3 year limited factory warranty. In summary, the exclusions or limitations are:

- Marks or stains from Acetone, MEK, acid rain, or similar chemicals that adversely affect PVC will void all warranties including any installation warranties of third party installers.

- UV resistance is related to the PVC's resistance to breaking down from UV exposure and colour fading. Both the "Flexible" and "Professional" colours may darken slightly after long exposure to UV. They will certainly not change colour like real teak does i.e. they will not become grey or faded in colour. A light sanding of the surface with 36 grit will typically bring the colour back close to its original hue.

The full details of the warranty are available on request.

Tek-Dek "Flexible" is available in following standard colour:

Tek-Dek "Professional" is available in the following standard colour:

Custom colours can also be ordered but typically they are only cost justified when ordering large quantities e.g. production boat builders. Here is an example of a distinctive colour ordered to match the hull colour:

Please follow the various links in this website to the respective pages of each product for more specific details and comparisons of their features.

Site updated Aug, 2008