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Joist Tape
Joist tape is a self adhesive strip that covers the top of wooden deck joists to keep rain and standing water out of the timber, where rot tends to start. We stock FixGard bitumen cover tape in a 75 mm wide, 10 m roll, flexible enough to follow your timber and applied without special tools. Tape the frame before the boards go down, stocked in our warehouse and delivered across Ireland.
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Joist tape for timber decking frames
The top face of a wooden joist is the part of a deck frame that takes the most water. Rain runs down between the boards and sits on it, and because it is hidden under the decking it never dries out properly. That is where rot tends to start. Joist tape is a self adhesive strip that covers the top of each joist and keeps that water out, protecting the frame you are about to cover for good.
It is a small job at build time that is impossible to do later, once the boards are fixed down.
FixGard bitumen joist tape
We stock FixGard bitumen cover tape, made for wooden joists under decking and raised platforms:
- Size (75 mm wide, 10 m roll): sized to run along the top face of a wooden joist.
- Material (self adhesive bitumen): resists water and bends easily to follow your timber, in a discreet black finish that disappears under the boards.
- Application (no special tools): peel the backing and press it down along the joist.
Why tape your joists
Water that soaks into the exposed top of a beam is one of the most common causes of early decay in outdoor structures, and the joists are the one part of a deck you cannot easily replace. Taping them seals that face against rain and standing water. It suits any deck built on wooden joists, whether the boards are timber decking or composite decking.
How to apply joist tape
Tape the frame once it is built and before the first board goes down:
- Prepare: make sure the tops of the joists are dry and free of dust and sawdust.
- Apply: run the tape along the top of each joist, pressing it down firmly as you go.
- Cover the joins: tape over any joints where two joists meet and any noggins or bearers under board ends.
- Fix the boards: lay the decking and fix straight through the tape.
To work out how much you need, add up the total length of all your joists and divide by the 10 m roll length.
Joist tape in Dublin and across Ireland
FixGard joist tape is stocked in our Dublin warehouse with our decking substructures, so frame, tape and boards arrive together, delivered across Ireland. For screws, clips, trims and balustrades, see all our decking accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joist Tape
Do I need joist tape on a composite deck?
If the deck is built on wooden joists, yes, it is worth it. Composite boards resist rot, but the timber frame under them does, and the top face of each joist is where water sits. Taping it before the boards go down protects the part of the deck that is hardest to reach later.
How much joist tape do I need?
Add up the total length of every joist in your frame, plus any bearers or noggins under board ends, and divide by 10 m, the length of one roll. Round up and allow a little extra for overlaps at the joins.
When should I apply joist tape?
Once the frame is built and before the first board goes down. Make sure the tops of the joists are dry and free of dust, press the tape down firmly along each one, then fix the decking straight through it.