Your nearest location is Little Rock, AR.  Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Little Rock, AR.

Your nearest location is Hartford, CT. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Hartford, CT.

Your nearest location is Jacksonville, FL. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Jacksonville, FL.

Your nearest location is Miami, FL. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Miami, FL.

Your nearest location is Orlando, FL. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Orlando, FL.

Your nearest location is Tampa, FL. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Tampa, FL.

Your nearest location is Atlanta, GA. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Atlanta, GA.

Your nearest location is Chicago, IL. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Chicago, IL.

Your nearest location is Indianapolis, IN. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Indianapolis, IN.

Your nearest location is Louisville, KY. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Louisville, KY.

Your nearest location is Baton Rouge, LA. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store Baton Rouge, LA.

Your nearest location is Boston, MA. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Boston, MA.

Your nearest location is Detroit, MI. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Detroit, MI.

Your nearest location is Minneapolis, MN. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Minneapolis, MN.

Your nearest location is Omaha, NE. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Omaha, NE.

Your nearest location is Newark, NJ. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Newark, NJ.

Your nearest location is Charlotte, NC. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Charlotte, NC.

Your nearest location is Rocky Mount, NC. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Rocky Mount, NC.

Your nearest location is Tulsa, OK. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Tulsa, OK.

Your nearest location is Cleveland, OH. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Cleveland, OH.

Your nearest location is Columbus, OH. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Columbus, OH.

Your nearest location is Allentown, PA. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Allentown, PA.

Your nearest location is Pittsburgh, PA. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Pittsburgh, PA.

Your nearest location is Philadelphia, PA. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Philadelphia, PA.

Your nearest location is Charleston, SC. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Charleston, SC.

Your nearest location is Nashville, TN. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Nashville, TN.

Your nearest location is Austin, TX. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Austin, TX.

Your nearest location is Dallas, TX. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Dallas, TX.

Your nearest location is Houston, TX. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Houston, TX.

Your nearest location is Manassas, VA. Visit this location or find the location closest to your project.

Your store: Manassas, VA.

Why is the white-bottom deck on my job covered with red streaks across the bottom?

Why is the white-bottom deck on my job covered with red streaks across the bottom?

Exposure to the atmosphere for your composite steel deck has caused the uncoated panel ends and edges to rust and moisture has carried that rust-staining to the interior of the bundle.

How does this happen?
It is important to understand that when a metal deck is ordered with a white bottom and no other qualifiers, that means the deck will be supplied with a white primer over bare steel. When the white primer is applied to the deck coil, it does not coat the edges of the coil, nor does any paint cover and protect the cut ends. A bundle of tightly-nested deck sheets draws water inside and traps it, bringing rust stain from the ends and edges into the bundle. As we discussed last month, it does not even have to rain on the bundle for moisture to get inside. Condensation can also spread rust stains and trap moisture inside a bundle of deck.

Uncoated panel of composite deck receiving some rust and damage.

Can I repair it and still use the deck?

Probably not. It’s like spilling ketchup on your white shirt. How can I prevent this in the future?

1. The BEST way to prevent red stains on white bottom deck is to order galvanized AND painted white deck. The ends and edges of the deck will not rust, nor will scratches in the paint. Yes, it is more expensive than deck with white primer only, but it will quickly become more economical if you’re trying to figure out how to get red stains out of 1,000 SQs of roof deck!

2. If for some reason option 1 is simply not an option, at the very least you should:

a. Spray paint the ends and edges of the deck with a white primer.

b. Follow the SDI guidelines for proper jobsite storage (see below).

c. Install the deck as fast as humanly possible.

Steel Deck Institute Guidelines for proper jobsite storage (re-printed from last month for your convenience):

1. Store the deck off the ground.

2. Elevate one end of the bundle to provide drainage.

3. Cover the bundle with a waterproof covering, but allow ventilation at each end of the bundle to avoid condensation.

Recommendation for Protecting Deck Bundles at Job Site