Deck waterproofing system

Abstract

A deck system includes a first flooring board, a second flooring board, and a water-resistant strip positioned between the first flooring board and the second flooring board. The first flooring board has an upper surface, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side. The second flooring board has an upper surface, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side, the third side of the second flooring board being in spaced apart facing relation with the second side of the first flooring board. The water-resistant strip has a first edge and a second edge. The first edge of the strip is secured to the second side of the first flooring board, and the second edge of the strip is secured to the third side of the second flooring board.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A deck system comprising:
 a first flooring board having an upper surface, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;   a second flooring board having an upper surface, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side, the third side of the second flooring board being in spaced apart facing relation with the second side of the first flooring board; and   a water-resistant strip having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge of the strip being secured to the second side of the first flooring board, and the second edge of the strip being secured to the third side of the second of the second flooring board.   
     
     
         2 . The deck system of  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the first flooring board includes a first recess and the third side of the second flooring board includes a second recess, the first edge of the strip being received within the first recess of the first flooring board, and the second edge of the strip being received within the second recess of the second flooring board. 
     
     
         3 . The deck system of  claim 2 , wherein the first recess of the first flooring board is near a middle portion of a side wall of the first flooring board and the second recess of the second flooring board is in a middle portion of a side wall of the second flooring board. 
     
     
         4 . The deck system of  claim 3 , wherein the strip is secured to the first flooring board by a first fastener and the strip is secured to the second flooring board by a second fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The deck system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener includes an adhesive or another material that makes a watertight seal. 
     
     
         6 . The deck system of  claim 2 , wherein the first recess is at an upper edge of a side wall of the first flooring board and the second recess is at an upper edge of a side wall of the second flooring board. 
     
     
         7 . The deck system of  claim 6 , wherein an upper surface of the first edge of the strip is flush with the upper surface of the first flooring board and an upper surface of the second edge of the strip is flush with the upper surface of the second flooring board, wherein hidden fasteners are optionally used to secure the water-resistant strip to a support structure beneath the deck system. 
     
     
         8 . The deck system of  claim 7 , wherein the strip is secured to the first flooring board by a first fastener and the strip is secured to the second flooring board by a second fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The deck system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener includes an adhesive or another material that makes a watertight seal. 
     
     
         10 . The deck system of  claim 7 , wherein the strip has a U-shaped cross when viewed from an end. 
     
     
         11 . The deck system of  claim 1 , wherein the water-resistant strip is made of plastic, metal, rubber, or a combination thereof or any other material. 
     
     
         12 . The deck system of  claim 1 , wherein the water-resistant strip is water-impermeable. 
     
     
         13 . The deck system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first flooring board and the second flooring board is made of wood or composite material or any other material. 
     
     
         14 . A method of forming a deck, the method comprising:
 positioning a first flooring board having an upper surface, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;   positioning a second flooring board having an upper surface, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side, the third side of the second flooring board being in spaced apart facing relation with the second side of the first flooring board;   positioning a water-resistant strip having a first edge and a second edge between the first flooring board and the second flooring board; and   securing the first edge of the strip to the second side of the first flooring board, and securing the second edge of the strip to the third side of the second flooring board.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second side of the first flooring board includes a first recess and the third side of the second flooring board includes a second recess, the first edge of the strip being received within the first recess of the first flooring board, and the second edge of the strip being received within the second recess of the second flooring board. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first recess of the first flooring board is near a middle portion of a side wall of the first flooring board and the second recess of the second flooring board is in a middle portion of a side wall of the second flooring board. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the strip is secured to the first flooring board by a first fastener and the strip is secured to the second flooring board by a second fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener includes an adhesive or another material that makes a watertight seal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first recess is at an upper edge of a side wall of the first flooring board and the second recess is at an upper edge of a side wall of the second flooring board. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein an upper surface of the first edge of the strip is flush with the upper surface of the first flooring board and an upper surface of the second edge of the strip is flush with the upper surface of the second flooring board.