Hey all,
My Local Lumberyard (northeast MA) is pushing a new rigid PVC z flashing for deck ledgers. The price is way more attractive than copper these days, and it seems unlikely to suffer from corrosion, but I wonder about detailing the endsof the ledger and the tops of the joists. Can I bend it with a heat gun? It seems like unwise to have the flashing direct water into Joist/ledger connection, saturating the endgrain of the joist and speeding corrosion of the hanger. Am I overthinking this? Has anyone used it?
Thanks
Eric
Replies
Have no experience with PVC flashing---I know then why am I replying---
Cause--I can and its free. JK You hit on the two reasons I use metal. Detailing the ends and covering the end grain of the joist.
Here I lay the strip on the ledger and walk along and snip the bottom 1/2" flange on each side of the joist and flatten it. Giving the water at least a little kick and run down the face of the joist instead of soaking the end grain.
Also why I put the "factory" end in the hanger and cut end out .
Mike
"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while" Mitremike c. 1990
" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
Good techniques. Allowing a little air space between the end of the joist and the ledger is a good idea.
The guys at the yard looked at me like I was nuts when I asked them about it. "everybody uses it. they just but the joists up against it." They said
I did try bending it with a heat gun and it seems like it will work...
Still hoping for pointers....anyone?....
JLC covered this recently in an article by Gary Katz. I think it was two issues back, and the article was on detailing for siding.
Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
Thanks, do you know If I can get that article online?
I think you can. http://www.jlconline.comAndy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
We use it all the time now. I don't really know why you want to bend it around a corner. All we do is overlap them from each side and put a piece of ice and water shield about 2 ft long over the wall butt seam.
It doesn't bend worth a crap in winter it snaps off into little pieces. Cutting it for each joist can be done but it will probably snap in a few spots. The bends are real weak.
What's wrong with me? I could ask you the exact same thing.
I guess because I was taught to make that little bend when I learned how to flash windows with copper. I've always felt like it was good practice. Small as it is, Id rather not leave a place for water to be driven or wick along the top edge.
I suppose that the water and ice shield would take care of that though.
You must feel okay about it's performance if you use it a lot, eh? Do you do anything where it overlaps? I wondered if I should hit it with PVC cement.
Eric
I feel better using it than using the alternatives, copper, aluminum.
I am used to wrapping and overlapping corners as well but we have to dance with who we brung. ACQ is crap.
As for the PVC cement I haven't used it before, and I am not real sure it's necessary. I have a barrier between the house and the ledger so if anything sneaks in there it won't find it's way into the house. If you want to do it go for it, the can of glue costs a few dollars and a few minutes applying it. What's wrong with me? I could ask you the exact same thing.
I agree that aluminum feels pretty weak, but I've always assumed copper was the best choice, what don't you like about it?
Do you use the PVC elsewhere, like window and doors too?
I like both aluminum and copper, but ACQ treated lumber is eating most of this stuff including the nails. Sorry my last post is kind of confusing.
I wrap my window and door openings with aluminum. No ACQ lumber in those.What's wrong with me? I could ask you the exact same thing.
Copper should last pretty much forever in contact with ACQ. Copper's weakness is cedar. The tannins in cedar can corrode copper in short order. Absent ACQ, I prefer powder-coated aluminum.Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
Thanks for the help. I ended up using the PVC. By softening it with the heat gun I was able to do all of the detailing I wanted to. It came out well and didn't take long to do.