Travis Brungardt revisits a practice that's been standard for over a decade but still catches newer tradespeople off guard: taping the top edge of deck joists before laying decking. The core issue is moisture — trapped between decking and framing, it works into fastener splits, freezes, expands, and accelerates wood rot. Low decks with poor airflow are especially vulnerable. Brungardt walks through the mechanics of why joist tape works, covering adhesion, repositionability, and the logic behind wider tape for doubled rim joists. He also touches on alternative paint-on products, though he favors tape for keeping the workflow clean and consistent across a crew.

Check out more of Travis' videos on The Build Show and follow him on Instagram at the links below.
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