Replacing vinyl decking means removing the old membrane, checking and repairing the plywood underneath, correcting slope and drainage, redoing the flashing and door details, then bonding a new membrane with heat-welded seams. Valordek membrane is $3.74 per square foot, and a new Valordek installation carries a 15-year waterproofing warranty.
This guide is for the stage after the decision. If you are still weighing a patch against a full replacement, start with our vinyl deck repair guide, which explains when a repair is enough. Once replacement is the answer, the quality of the result depends far more on what happens underneath and around the edges than on the new vinyl itself. Valordek is installed on clean, dry, smooth 5/8-inch tongue-and-groove plywood or untreated concrete, sloped at least 1/4 inch per foot, so a replacement is really a rebuild of the whole waterproofing layer on your balcony or sundeck. Below is what that rebuild involves, in the order it happens, and what to ask before you sign a quote.
Signs it is time to replace your vinyl deck, not repair it
A vinyl deck needs replacing when the membrane can no longer be trusted as a whole, not just in one spot. Small punctures and a lifted edge on an otherwise sound deck are repair jobs. These signs point to replacement:
- Water is reaching the space below. A ceiling stain, damp drywall or peeling paint under the deck means water has already passed the membrane, and the wood beneath it has been getting wet.
- Soft or spongy spots. A floor that gives underfoot usually means the plywood is rotting. Our guide to rot under a vinyl deck membrane explains how to check.
- Failures in several places at once. Seams opening, edges lifting and cracks appearing across the deck suggest the membrane has reached the end of its service life.
- Repairs that keep coming back. If each patch is followed by another leak, the membrane and its details are failing faster than they can be fixed.
Age alone is not a reason to replace a deck that is dry and sound. Condition is what decides it.
Can new vinyl go over old vinyl decking?
No. Valordek is installed on 5/8-inch tongue-and-groove plywood or untreated concrete that is clean, dry, smooth and free of old adhesive, so the old membrane comes off before the new one goes down. Valordek also lists painted surfaces, treated concrete and treated lumber as surfaces it should not be installed on.
There are practical reasons beyond the specification. An old membrane hides the condition of the plywood, and a deck being replaced is exactly the deck most likely to have wet or rotted wood underneath. Laying new vinyl on top would seal that damage in. It would also raise the surface at the door threshold and leave the old wall, edge and drain details in place, and those details are where many leaks begin.
Tear-off and the plywood check
The tear-off is the moment the real scope of a vinyl deck replacement becomes known. Until the old membrane is off, nobody can see whether the plywood is sound, so a good quote treats plywood repairs as a priced allowance rather than a guess.
The old membrane is cut and peeled away, along with the old sealant and the edge, wall and drain pieces that belonged to it. On a deck over living space, the exposed plywood is the only thing between the weather and the room below, so the work should be planned for a dry stretch and the deck kept covered until the new membrane is down. Here is what the installer is looking for once the surface is bare:
| What the tear-off reveals | What it means | What it adds to the job |
|---|---|---|
| Plywood that is dry, solid and comes clean | The substrate can be reused | Preparation: sanding, filling, refastening and cleaning to a smooth surface |
| Old adhesive that will not come off cleanly | The new membrane cannot bond to a contaminated surface | Replacement of the affected sheets with new 5/8-inch tongue-and-groove plywood |
| Stains, delamination or soft spots in the plywood | Water has been getting into the wood | New plywood in those areas, and a check of what lies beneath them |
| Rot in the joists or framing | The leak has been active for some time | Structural repair by a contractor before any waterproofing goes back |
| Flat spots or water marks showing ponding | The deck does not drain properly | Slope correction to at least 1/4 inch per foot |
This is why two replacement quotes for the same deck can differ widely. One may include an allowance for new plywood and the other may assume the old plywood will do. Ask how plywood will be priced if it is needed, before the work starts.
Slope, drainage and the details that decide whether it leaks
A new membrane will only stay waterproof if water leaves the deck and every edge and opening is detailed properly. Valordek's installation requirements call for a minimum slope of 1/4 inch per foot, and a replacement is the cheapest time to fix a deck that ponds, because the surface is already bare.
The details that matter most in a replacement are the ones where the membrane stops or something passes through it:
- The wall. The membrane turns up the wall and is flashed so water cannot get behind it. It is one of the most common places vinyl decks leak, covered in our guide to leaks where the deck meets the wall.
- The door threshold. A sliding or swing door needs a proper pan underneath it. If the old deck leaked at the door, read about balcony leaks at the sliding door before the new membrane goes down.
- Open edges. Drip flashing carries water off the edge and away from the fascia. On an open deck, Valordek's 60 mil Smooth-Back membrane requires PVC flashing.
- Drains and scuppers. These are reset to the new surface so water reaches them instead of pooling around them.
- Railing posts. Every fastener that passes through the deck is a penetration that has to be sealed.
Valordek supplies the drainage and trim parts for these details, including scuppers, deck drains, wall and drip flashing and sealant, listed on the accessories page.
Choosing the new membrane
Valordek makes two membranes, and the right one for a replacement depends on where the deck is. Both are bonded with contact adhesive, have heat-welded seams and carry the same warranty: 15 years on waterproofing and 5 years on appearance.
| Fuzzy-Back (68 mil) | Smooth-Back (60 mil) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Balconies and sundecks | Rooftop decks and patios |
| Waterproofing | Full membrane, heat-welded seams | Full membrane, heat-welded seams |
| Testing | Tested by CCMC; exceeds code 37.54.95 | Tested by Intertek; exceeds code 37.54.95; Class A and C fire rating |
| Adhesive | Contact adhesive (VD 0295, or VD 0220 winter grade) | Contact adhesive (Sika 2170-R) |
| Open-deck edges | PVC flashing not required | PVC flashing required |
| Who installs | Can be a DIY project with proper preparation | Professional installation |
| Warranty | 15-year waterproofing, 5-year appearance | 15-year waterproofing, 5-year appearance |
| Temperature range | -40°C to 80°C | -40°C to 80°C |
| Maintenance | Regular cleaning and an annual sealant check | Regular cleaning and an annual sealant check |
A replacement is also a good time to change the look of the deck. Valordek comes in Wood Look, Stone Look and Classic styles, and the deck visualizer lets you see colours on a photo of your own deck before you choose.
A note on DIY: Fuzzy-Back can be installed by a capable homeowner, but the Valordek warranty applies only when a certified installer does the work with Valordek-approved adhesives and system components. On a replacement, where the tear-off and plywood work carry most of the risk, that condition matters.
Patch, overlay or replace: how the options compare
A full replacement costs more than another patch, but it is the only option that inspects the substrate and resets the warranty. The table compares the three things people consider when an old vinyl deck starts to fail.
| Patch the old membrane | New vinyl over old vinyl | Tear off and replace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterproofing | Fixes one spot; the rest of the aging membrane stays in service | Relies on a bond to a surface Valordek is not specified for | A continuous new membrane with heat-welded seams |
| Substrate | Not inspected | Hidden, including any rot | Inspected and repaired where needed |
| Edge and door details | Unchanged | Old details left in place | Rebuilt |
| Valordek warranty | Whatever coverage remains | Outside Valordek's installation specification | 15-year waterproofing, 5-year appearance, subject to its conditions |
| Material cost | Repair materials only | Not recommended | Membrane at $3.74 per square foot, plus adhesive, accessories and any plywood |
| Best for | Isolated damage on a sound deck | Not recommended | Failing membranes, recurring leaks and soft spots |
How long does replacing a vinyl deck take?
Laying the new membrane is often the short part of the job. The tear-off, any plywood repairs and the weather set the schedule. The substrate has to be dry before the membrane goes down, so wet weather after the tear-off can add days, and the extent of plywood work is unknown until the old vinyl is off.
Size and detail count matter too. A plain rectangular balcony with one door goes faster than a deck with several doors, a staircase, railing posts and drains. For cooler-season work on balconies, Valordek's VD 0220 winter-grade adhesive is made for lower temperatures. Ask your installer for a timeline that includes a plywood allowance, and expect them to confirm it once the tear-off is done.
What drives the cost of a vinyl deck replacement
The membrane is the most predictable part of the price. At $3.74 per square foot, the Valordek membrane for a 200-square-foot balcony comes to $748 before adhesive, accessories, plywood or labour. The rest of the price depends on the deck, and these are the lines to expect on an itemized quote:
| Cost line | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Membrane | Deck area at $3.74 per square foot for Valordek membrane |
| Adhesive | Deck area and the adhesive the membrane requires; sold by the pail |
| Accessories | Number of edges, walls, doors, drains and scuppers to detail |
| Tear-off and disposal | Deck size, access and how well the old membrane releases |
| Plywood | How many sheets need replacing once the tear-off reveals the substrate |
| Slope correction | Whether the deck ponds and needs to be re-sloped |
| Labour | Preparation, installation and the number of details |
For a material estimate on your own deck, use the Valordek cost calculator. Our vinyl decking cost guide covers the full cost picture, including how membrane pricing compares with other surfaces.
The warranty on a replacement vinyl deck
A new Valordek membrane comes with its own warranty: 15 years on waterproofing and 5 years on appearance, the same on both product lines. It covers manufacturing defects that cause leaks and the waterproofing integrity of the membrane. It is valid only when a certified installer uses Valordek-approved adhesives and system components.
Some things sit outside it, and they matter on a replacement:
- Installation workmanship is the independent contractor's liability, so ask your installer what workmanship warranty they give.
- Sub-structure problems such as settling, warping or subfloor issues are not covered, which is one more reason to fix the plywood properly during the tear-off.
- Sealant needs an annual inspection and resealing as part of normal maintenance.
Keep your invoice. A claim is made in writing with your proof of purchase and a description of the problem. The full terms are on the Valordek warranty page.
Questions to ask before you sign a replacement quote
An itemized quote is the best protection against surprises halfway through a vinyl deck replacement. Before you sign, ask:
- Are the tear-off and disposal of the old membrane included?
- How will plywood repairs be priced if the tear-off finds damage?
- Will the slope be checked, and corrected to at least 1/4 inch per foot if needed?
- Which details will be rebuilt: wall flashing, drip edge, door pan, railing posts, drains and scuppers?
- Which membrane and which approved adhesive will you use?
- Are you a certified installer, so the Valordek warranty applies?
- What warranty do you give on your own workmanship?
If you live in a strata, check who is responsible for the balcony before you book anything. Our guide to strata balcony waterproofing in BC explains how that usually works. For the installation steps themselves, see how vinyl decking is installed, and for an overview of the product, visit the Valordek vinyl decking page.
Frequently asked questions about replacing vinyl decking
How do you remove old vinyl decking?
Old vinyl decking is cut into manageable strips and peeled off the plywood, then the old sealant, flashing and drain pieces are removed. Any adhesive that will not come off cleanly means the plywood under it is replaced, because Valordek must bond to a clean, smooth surface. Keep the bare deck covered from rain until the new membrane is down.
How much does it cost to replace a vinyl deck?
The membrane is the predictable part: Valordek is $3.74 per square foot, so 200 square feet of membrane costs $748. The total also includes adhesive, flashing and drains, tear-off and disposal, labour and any plywood the tear-off shows needs replacing. Ask for an itemized quote with a priced plywood allowance.
How long does vinyl decking last?
How long vinyl decking lasts depends on installation quality, sun exposure, drainage and maintenance. Valordek carries a 15-year waterproofing warranty and a 5-year appearance warranty on both product lines, subject to its terms. Keeping drains clear, cleaning gently and inspecting the sealant every year all help a membrane reach and pass that coverage period.
Do you have to replace the plywood when you replace a vinyl deck?
Not always. Plywood that is dry, solid and comes clean after the tear-off can be prepared and reused. Sheets that are soft, stained, delaminated or still covered in old adhesive are replaced with new 5/8-inch tongue-and-groove plywood. Because nobody can see the plywood until the old vinyl is off, a good quote prices that work as an allowance.
Does a new vinyl deck come with a new warranty?
Yes. A new Valordek membrane carries its own 15-year waterproofing and 5-year appearance warranty, on either product line. It is valid only when a certified installer uses Valordek-approved adhesives and system components. Workmanship is covered separately by your installer, so ask what they offer, and keep your invoice as proof of purchase.
