Can Liquid Flashing Replace Tape?
Residential builders are beginning to experiment with fluid flashing products developed for commercial jobs.
Synopsis: This article is an introduction to a new class of window and door flashing that is applied as a liquid instead of a tape. Product details from several manufacturers of these liquid-applied flashings are included.
By now, conscientious builders know that window and door openings need to be flashed carefully to keep out water. For residential builders, the most common way to flash openings is with peel-and-stick membrane.
However, a growing number of builders are looking at liquid-applied flashings (LAFs). Common in commercial construction, LAFs haven’t been seen much in residential work. Their advertised advantages—a small learning curve and fast installation—seem to warrant a closer look. LAFs come in various forms from eight different manufacturers. (Two others, Dryvit and Vapro Shield, make LAFs but require them to be used only as part of a proprietary WRB system. A third, Dow Corning, says that its product “isn’t designed for use…
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