Is Joist Tape Worth It? What 30+ Years Around Deck Construction Has Taught Us

Joist tape install

If you’re building a deck with pressure treated wood framing, is joist tape worth the extra money and time? For most decks, probably yes. In fact, I think it usually is. And I’ll admit, years ago, joist tape wasn’t something everyone automatically thought about. You framed the deck, installed the boards, and moved on to …

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Should You Oil Your Hardwood Deck in the Fall or Wait Until Spring?

Ipe Oil with Roller

Every fall, homeowners with Ipe, Cumaru, Tigerwood, Garapa, Teak, and other hardwood decks ask the same question: Should I oil my deck before winter, or should I wait until spring? And I get why people ask. Once the leaves start dropping and the nights get cold, there’s often this feeling that you’ve probably got about …

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Deck Lifespan Calculator – How Long Will Your Deck Last?

ipe pool deck web

A new deck can serve your home for decades, although materials, weather, and construction methods all affect its lifespan. With that in mind, our Decking Lifespan Calculator helps you compare the hardwood, composite, PVC, and framing products we sell at AdvantageLumber.com. How Long Does Hardwood Decking Last? To begin with, dense hardwoods naturally resist rot, …

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Trex Deck Board Calculator: How Much Trex Decking Do You Need?

Trex Picture Frame Deck with Step

Most homeowners start a Trex deck project with one question: How many deck boards do I need? You can measure the deck’s length and width to find its square footage. Though this first step looks simple, square footage tells only part of the story. Board length, deck layout, joist spacing, stairs, picture frames, and cutting …

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Does Composite Decking Get Slippery in the Fall and Winter?

Trex Picture Frame Deck with Step

One of the big selling points of composite decking is simple: you don’t have to stain, paint, or oil it every year. As a result, that’s a big reason homeowners may choose products from Trex, TimberTech, Deckorators, and other major manufacturers. And I get it. Who wants to spend a perfectly good Saturday refinishing a …

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