When designing a new deck, it’s enjoyable to spend time selecting colors and designs for the deck boards and handrails. It’s exciting to imagine how your patio will look when completed. When you build an additional deck on your property, flashing between the home and the Deck is required.
If you do not install deck flashing, water and insect damage may occur when the runoff infiltrates beneath the deck ledger board and against your home. Flashing is a vital secret ingredient that protects your Deck from decay and water damage.
If you haven’t already installed deck flashing and want to prevent your yard from water damage, read this article about how to install Deck Flashing on Existing Deck.
What Is Deck Flashing? An Overview:
Deck flashing is not particularly pricey on its own, and it’s available in various widths and may be found at any home improvement store. A Z-shaped deck flashing is also employed occasionally, but you should utilize the rolled Deck flashing since it is bigger and will allow you to spread it out farther behind the side of the house.
If you have a pressure-treated deck, add copper-based Deck flashing to keep it from corroding. Pressure-treated wood is now injected with copper in larger doses than previously.
Over time, the flashing on a deck constructed of old aluminum or galvanized metal will corrode and react with today’s treated wood, causing it to decay. Installing deck flashing is not difficult, even if the Deck has already been built. If the deck boards run parallel to the deck ledger board, you’ll need to remove a board or part of
Steps To Install Deck Flashing:
When you install a new deck or replace an existing one, flashing is one of the components of the flashing system that ensures your wood stays safe. When trimming vinyl siding to fit a deck ledger board, ensure no moisture comes in touch with the wood where your Deck and home meet.
- Use Tin Snips To Cut Flashing:
Snips are the quickest and safest way to remove vinyl flashing. Both left-handed and right-handed tin snips are available. Using a razor knife is always dangerous, and clamp a straight edge to the surface to ensure a straight line.
This isn’t a cut; it’s a rating. It’s not a smart idea to split the flashing at this point. If you cut it halfway through,
- Slide The Flashing Underneath Siding Layer:
The house is joined to the ledger board on the patio, and the deck joists connected to the deck planks support them. The first layer of siding closest to the deck surface will need to be removed from certain portions of the decking boards near the home, and the deck flashing will need to be slid up underneath it.
- Attach The Flashing On The Ledger Board:
Secure your vinyl Z flashing to the house using roofing nails. Nails should not be tightly fastened to the flashing. The slotted hole allows the flashing to move across the joist line. Do not cut the flashing around joists.
The top of the ledger should be covered in vinyl to provide a unique look. If necessary, place it under the moldings. Rather than flowing down behind the ledger board, water that accumulates below the deck boards closest to the house drips onto the ground.
- Use A Caulk Gun For Flash Caulking:
Connections that do not overlap should be sealed with a squirt of gutter caulk or silicone sealant. At this point, caulk the inside corner of the ledger as well. Slowly and carefully insert the siding above it. Tuck the bottom piece of siding underneath the following-to-lowest piece of siding.
It’s often necessary to notch or pull-out nails to raise the item high enough. Also, ensure no nails are driven through the deck flashing, which will be useless. To nail back up the deck boards, you’ll need another joist to serve as a hammer for the newly installed deck boards.
How To Waterproof The Deck?
Protecting your foundation while constructing your new Deck and waterproofing between the home and the Deck is critical. The joists and beams that support your deck planks are part of the structure and use a joist and beam tape to cover the timber and keep it dry.
Conclusion:
The most dangerous foe of wood begins with ensuring that your Deck and all of the wood in it are safe throughout construction. Even if you don’t realize it, a little expenditure on flashing will pay off for years.
Hopefully, reading this article will help you install Deck flashing on your own. If you don’t want to do it yourself, getting the job done by professionals is the best option.
