Creating gardens that feel like a natural extension of your home – versatile, inviting, and easy to look after – is one of the smartest investments you can make in your property. And nothing ties it all together quite like a great deck. Whether it’s for weekend barbecues, entertaining friends, or just relaxing outdoors, a well-designed deck can transform your backyard into a true Aussie living space.
Whether you build with timber or with one of today’s high-performance composite deck boards, such as Trex®, it’s important to properly protect the decking substructure to ensure it stays structurally sound. In most cases, foundational posts and bearers are made of timber and, therefore, highly susceptible to moisture penetration and deterioration over time. In fact, research has shown that timber can show signs of splitting, rotting or decay in as little as eight years.*
Fortunately, there’s a simple and affordable solution for protecting your work and your clients’ garden investments. Using a good deck flashing tape is an easy and cost-effective way to build a quality deck that is guaranteed to last for decades.
There are two primary options for protective flashing tapes – asphalt-based and butyl tapes. Although asphalt-based tape is generally less expensive, it tends to dry out more quickly and can curl up and hold water. It can also take up to 72 hours to fully bond. Since acrylic tapes don’t withstand water as well, they typically come with short-term warranties or no warranty at all. Acrylic tape can also be slippery, whereas butyl tape, such as Trex® Protect™ Joist, Bearer & Rim Tape, is skid-proof and offers better protection from slips and falls during installation. Butyl tape also applies faster because its sealant secures immediately.
Designed specifically for use on decks, Trex Protect works as a waterproof barrier to effectively shield the tops of joists, rim joists, bearers and the ledger board from moisture that can lead to the development of rot and timber decay. Available in three widths – 50 mm x 20 m for joists, 100 mm x 20 m for bearers and 279.4mm x 15.24m for rim joists – it works on horizontal and vertical surfaces and is applied as a ‘cap’ (vs. wrapping) directly on top of joists and bearers, which allows the timber to breathe.
The peel-and-stick application is simple and requires almost no trimming. Furthermore, the butyl adhesive is super sticky, yet pliable, which allows it to create a tight seal around fasteners to prevent water from infiltrating screw holes and defend against splitting that can result from seasonal freezing and thawing. It doesn’t dry out or curl up like other construction tapes and performs extremely well in a wide range of temperatures. Plus, it comes with a 20-year warranty.
“Moisture is any deck’s worst enemy, making it critical to educate homeowners about the importance of protecting their deck’s substructure at the outset of a build—something they may not always think about since the substructure isn’t the focal point of a deck,” said Dave Kile, Sales Manager for Trex Protect. “By recommending and using protective flashing tape on all of your deck builds, you’re not only helping to ensure the quality and long-term safety of your projects, but you’re also protecting your customers’ investments by ensuring they won’t have to worry about premature wood rot, decay, or deck failure.”
For more comprehensive waterproofing, consider installing Trex RainEscape®, a deck drainage system designed for use on elevated decks. Applied above the joists during a deck build, this system uses a flexible membrane material to create a network of troughs and downspouts that captures and diverts water away from a deck to protect the substructure from moisture and create dry, usable space beneath a deck. The system acts like shingles on a roof to shield the wooden foundation from moisture penetration and damage and can extend the life of a deck and its framing for decades.
Once protected, the area below the deck surface can be used like any room inside a house. Homeowners can add electricity, water and gas lines, as well as furniture, lighting and ceiling fans to create the ultimate outdoor living space – perfect as we head into summer. This area also is ideal for use as bonus storage space for stowing anything from lawn and garden equipment, pool gear, or the kids’ bikes and boards. With a deck drainage system in place, the possibilities are limitless for how the space below a deck can be used.
“Happy customers give referrals that can lead to more business, so it’s important to provide a quality end product and service they will rave about to their friends and family,” noted Kile. “Protecting the substructure with flashing tape or a full deck drainage system exponentially improves the structural integrity and longevity of a deck to ensure customer satisfaction and peace of mind for many years to come.”
For more information about Trex Protect deck flashing tape, visit https://trexprotect.com/au/. To learn more about the Trex RainEscape system, go to https://au.trex.com/products/decking/
*Based on a survey of 100+ builders conducted by IBP, LLC.
