Protect your deck from joist rot

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A fiddling diligence and an inexpensive deck flashing tape keep things protected and help prevent deck joist rot.

Grace flashing tape

Last summer, I helped a carpenter buddy tear out a rotten deck. The joists were pressure level-treated lumber, so I was surprised at how badly rust-covered they were. But my friend wasn't. He sees information technology all the time: deck joists rotting from the top edge down because the deck boards and droppings keep them clammy for weeks after rain. So he has two rot-fighting tips for deck owners and builders:

1. Accept a few minutes occasionally to pull out the leaves, twigs and other debris that gathers between deck boards, peculiarly where the decking crosses joists. A drywall saw works great for this.

2. If yous're building a new deck, comprehend the joists with rubbery, agglutinative-backed "flashing tape." This will add $50 or more to the price of your deck, only that's cheap insurance to prevent deck joist rot. Y'all can purchase deck flashing tape or other items through our affiliation with Amazon.com: Grace Deck Protector 45639 Felt Cobblestone Rolls

— Gary Wentz, Senior Editor

Prototype provided by Grace

Related articles from The Family Handyman:
– Rebuild an old deck with new decking and railings
– 7 Deck building tips
– How to build deck stairs
– Low-maintenance decks

Originally Published: February 25, 2019