What is Flashing Tape?
By Dave KilePrevent Deck Rot with Flashing Tape
Consider the timber holding up your deck and the timber connecting your deck to your home. These are two critical spots where water leaking through your deck boards can cause hidden damage unless your bearers and joists are protected.
Using quality flashing tape can protect the top of the joist, rim joist, and ledger board from developing rot and timber decay. A butyl-based tape blocks moisture and helps deck screws hold longer, and is more durable than acrylic or asphalt-based tape. Flashing tape acts as a barrier between the timber and galvanized metal, such as joist hangers. It also helps seal deck fasteners, prevents moisture penetration, eliminates splitting from freeze and thaw, and provides a non-skid surface to make it safer during installation.
Learn more about how choosing the right flashing tape during construction can add years of life to your deck.
Types of Flashing Tape
When choosing a flashing tape, be sure to consider these essential factors:
Acrylic, Butyl, or Bitumen?
You can look at metal flashing tape for some purposes, but for timber, you’ll want to use an adhesive tape that is more rubbery. Flashing tape typically comes in three types: acrylic tape (G Tape), butyl, and bitumen. Bitumen, made from petroleum and asphalt, will dry out over time, reducing flashing effectiveness. That leaves butyl or acrylic. Butyl rubber tape has many advantages over the acrylic-based tape. Butyl tape, such as Trex Protect, is stickier, endures less stain, has less high-temperature oozing, and can be applied in a wide range of temperatures. Butyl tape is also more rubbery than acrylic-based tape, allowing it to flow better around the screws to create a tighter seal.
Easy Installation
Any contractor or DIY homeowner will tell you to buy a butyl tape that is easy to install and requires little trimming. A self-adhesive butyl tape that lies directly on the boards requires minimum cuts with little overlap.
Strength
When applying flashing tape to your bearers and joists, you want to be sure to purchase a tape that is not too thin and not too thick. With thin tape, you risk the long-term durability of the tape. A thicker tape can be challenging to install. You want a tape that will last as long as your beams and joists. Trex Protect is available in two widths 50mm X 20m for joists and 100 mm x 20 m for bearers, and 279.4 mm x 15.24 m for rim joists.
Guaranteed results
Trex Protect is guaranteed to withstand the test of time. It comes with a 25-year warranty, so it lasts as long as the decking it supports. Acrylic tape comes with only a 300-day warranty.
Flashing Tape for Decks
The average deck begins to experience water damage within 8 to 10 years. High-performance Trex Protect fights the rot and guards against costly future water damage — at a low cost. For an average-sized deck, measuring 3.6m x 7.3m, five rolls of Trex Protect Joist Tape and one roll of Trex Protect Bearer Tape will be all you need. For less than a $130 investment, the deck substructure can last as long as the decking it supports. To find out exactly how much Trex Protect Joist and Bearer Tape your project requires, use our Materials Estimator.
Easy-to-install, self-adhesive Trex RainEscape Wall Flash seals the space between your house and ledger board to keep water out. Wall flash is best used when constructing a new deck and is another small investment with significant returns.
Trex RainEscape® Wall Flash comes with a 25-year warranty from Trex, the world’s #1 composite decking brand. See how to Trex RainEscape® Wall Flash protects this video.
How to Install Flashing Tape
Installing self-adhering flashing tape is a relatively simple process, with four main steps.
Begin by preparing your surface. TTrex Protect Joist, Bearer and Rim Tape is applied to horizontal and vertical surfaces. Trex Protect Tape has three widths making it convenient to apply to joists, double bearers and rim joists. Use 50mm x 20m Joist Tape for joists, 100mm x 20m Bearer Tape on all double bearers and 279.4 mm x 15.2 m for rim joists.
When pulling deck boards onto the deck, use a piece of plywood or wafer board to overhang the edge of the deck. This method will prevent the product from rolling up and pulling up from the joist.
- Clean the joist surface, ensuring it is dry and free of debris.
- Open the wrapper and remove the backing while applying the tape directly to the surface. Run your hand over the tape and firmly press it onto the joists.
- After covering the joists and beams with tape, cut the tape to length with a utility knife or scissors.
As you plan your deck build, don’t forget the flashing tape. You have many years ahead to enjoy your deck! Don’t let timber rot become the enemy of your beautiful outdoor living experience.
