Rolling Ridge Deck and Outdoor Living Company in Evergreen Colorado found a new way to address an old issue. How should natural stone tiles be installed on an exterior deck in cold winter or freeze-thaw climate conditions without it being a maintenance nightmare?

Rolling Ridge is a design-build company creating outdoor rooms such as outdoor kitchens for the growing outdoor living market. With 23 years of experience, they have seen all of the options. This residential application in Conifer Colorado was a redesign and rebuild of an exterior, elevated deck and outdoor living area. The space would include a kitchen, dining with a fireplace and extended living and seating. Natural stone would be used on the fireplace and some surrounding accent walls.

When it came to selecting the flooring surface, Rolling Ridge decided to go for strength from the bottom up. Composite decking was considered but soon passed over for something with greater durability. The designer and customer decided on a 1/2" Brazilian gauged slate. The rugged climate conditions of Colorado required a durable underlayment and attachment system. Through an online search, Rolling Ridge found DexSystems® Outdoor Flooring products. Their GratedeX® Outdoor Flooring System® for elevated decking was a strong solution that addressed all of the failings of old stone tile install methods with new components and methods that flexed with changing temperatures without breaking.

Steel framing was first selected instead of treated wood for the joist framing members. Next, instead of using some of the new and traditional thinset mats and tile setting methods, Rolling Ridge selected the GratedeX® Outdoor Flooring System®. The 48" square structural underlayment panels were fastened to the steel framing with the Bite-Tite® fasteners and a stainless Tex screw. In addition, the panels were bonded together edge-to-edge with the two-part Weld-Tite® adhesive for increased lateral strength. Once the GratedeX® flooring underlayment was in place, the natural stone tiles were placed using the Outdoor Flooring System® Hold-Tite® TA adhesive. This bonding agent was buttered on the back of the stone tile before placing and setting the stone tile with a 1/16"-1/8" open joint.

From the contractors perspective, the installation was smooth. The new technology and construction methods of the DexSystems® Outdoor Flooring ensure durability for the customer and confidence for the contractor. The free draining underlayment, flexible Hold-Tite® adhesive and open grout lines ensure a fail-proof stone and tile setting installation, even in the harshest conditions. As a tribute to the qualities and benefits of the GratedeX® Outdoor Flooring System® and the good work of Rolling Ridge Deck and Outdoor Living Company, this project was awarded the honor of the 2011 North American Decking and Railing "Best Alternative Deck Over 500 Square Feet".

DexSystems was the former entity name for ODF Inc. Early production GRATEDEX® panels were 48”x48”.