|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Canadian invention doubles deck life
By Steve Maxwell
|
|
|
There are two things that surprise new deck owners more than anything else. The first eye opener is how much it costs to build. You can easily spend $5,000 even on a simple design. Big deck prices routinely extend into five digits. The second surprise is how fast many decks deteriorate. And I’m not just talking about a peeling, flaking finish, either. Worse than that is structural rot. I’ve even seen western red cedar decks reduced to a spongy mess in as little as fifteen years, and that’s a big shame. Neither our forests nor our pocket books can’t take much more of that. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way, and a unique Canadian moisture control invention is behind the progress.
When wood and moisture mix, rot is the natural an unavoidable result. And keeping wood-to-wood contact zones dry is the purpose of a patented system of deck building accessories created by John Shaw. He’s a Canadian inventor and calls his product Rot-Not.
Imagine strips of trough-shaped, heavy-gauge plastic invisibly capping all those hidden areas of any deck that trap and hold moisture. It’s like tiny roofs that shed water from vulnerable places, and this is the Rot-Not philosophy in a nutshell. Wood-to-wood contact zones such as those between deck boards and joists never get wet, so they don’t hold moisture. They can’t rot.
There are three items in the Rot-Not line right now: a single-joist cap strip that snaps over the edge of standard 1 1/2”-thick lumber. A double-joist cap strip (fits over two joists that are spiked together side-by-side), and a post cap that protects the top of an upright 4x4 support post are also part of the system.
Rot-Not caps are crowned on top and made of flexible polyethylene. You simply snap them in place, then drive screws down into the underlying floor joists as usual when fastening deck boards and other deck parts. The plastic is flexible so it doesn’t crack, even when you drive screws without predrilling. The material is supple, too, so it seals tightly around the shanks of screws and nails, keeping water out. In the unlikely event that water does get underneath the Rot-Not strips, interior ventilation ribs preserve a small air space that allows moisture to evaporate from between wood and plastic.
Some building supply outlets currently carry Rot Not products, but you’re better off contacting the manufacturer rather than driving around at random looking for the stuff (www.rotnot.ca; 877- 372- 301). Another issue to consider is cost. If you’re spending $10,000 on a deck, Rot Not strips will probably costs $500 by the time you include taxes. And I’ve got to admit, that seems like a lot of money for a bunch of plastic strips. I know at least a few homeowners who have said no to Rot Not because of the price.
But what would you say if your deck contractor offered the chance to double the working life of your deck by paying 3% to 5% more money up front? That’s forty years of life versus twenty for an additional cost of $25 per year. Who could say no? This is what good design and a little bit more than ordinary deck building materials can provide. Just realize that few professional deck builders take the time and trouble to research and implement all the latest options for enhancing longevity. In fact, your deck builder will probably never have heard of
Rot Not before. Like so many things in the home improvement realm, you need to be your own watchdog – and an informed one -- if you want the very best value for your money.
|
Canadian invention doubles deck life
By Steve Maxwell
|
|
|
There are two things that surprise new deck owners more than anything else. The first eye opener is how much it costs to build. You can easily spend $5,000 even on a simple design. Big deck prices routinely extend into five digits. The second surprise is how fast many decks deteriorate. And I’m not just talking about a peeling, flaking finish, either. Worse than that is structural rot. I’ve even seen western red cedar decks reduced to a spongy mess in as little as fifteen years, and that’s a big shame. Neither our forests nor our pocket books can’t take much more of that. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way, and a unique Canadian moisture control invention is behind the progress.
When wood and moisture mix, rot is the natural an unavoidable result. And keeping wood-to-wood contact zones dry is the purpose of a patented system of deck building accessories created by John Shaw. He’s a Canadian inventor and calls his product Rot-Not.
Imagine strips of trough-shaped, heavy-gauge plastic invisibly capping all those hidden areas of any deck that trap and hold moisture. It’s like tiny roofs that shed water from vulnerable places, and this is the Rot-Not philosophy in a nutshell. Wood-to-wood contact zones such as those between deck boards and joists never get wet, so they don’t hold moisture. They can’t rot.
There are three items in the Rot-Not line right now: a single-joist cap strip that snaps over the edge of standard 1 1/2”-thick lumber. A double-joist cap strip (fits over two joists that are spiked together side-by-side), and a post cap that protects the top of an upright 4x4 support post are also part of the system.
Rot-Not caps are crowned on top and made of flexible polyethylene. You simply snap them in place, then drive screws down into the underlying floor joists as usual when fastening deck boards and other deck parts. The plastic is flexible so it doesn’t crack, even when you drive screws without predrilling. The material is supple, too, so it seals tightly around the shanks of screws and nails, keeping water out. In the unlikely event that water does get underneath the Rot-Not strips, interior ventilation ribs preserve a small air space that allows moisture to evaporate from between wood and plastic.
Some building supply outlets currently carry Rot Not products, but you’re better off contacting the manufacturer rather than driving around at random looking for the stuff (www.rotnot.ca; 877- 372- 301). Another issue to consider is cost. If you’re spending $10,000 on a deck, Rot Not strips will probably costs $500 by the time you include taxes. And I’ve got to admit, that seems like a lot of money for a bunch of plastic strips. I know at least a few homeowners who have said no to Rot Not because of the price.
But what would you say if your deck contractor offered the chance to double the working life of your deck by paying 3% to 5% more money up front? That’s forty years of life versus twenty for an additional cost of $25 per year. Who could say no? This is what good design and a little bit more than ordinary deck building materials can provide. Just realize that few professional deck builders take the time and trouble to research and implement all the latest options for enhancing longevity. In fact, your deck builder will probably never have heard of
Rot Not before. Like so many things in the home improvement realm, you need to be your own watchdog – and an informed one -- if you want the very best value for your money. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
