What is the best way to protect the structural timber beams underneath balcony decking from moisture and weathering? Thank you :)
Hi @Nanne,
The joist in your photo looks like it has already experienced a fair amount of weathering, so I'd suggest having the structure assessed by a licensed builder before deciding on the best approach. They can check whether the timber is still structurally sound and whether any repairs or replacement are required.
For an exposed structure like this, the framing timber should generally be either naturally durable or appropriately treated for the level of weather exposure it will receive. To me, this looks like an old hardwood joist. Hardwood is naturally weather resistant, but given enough time, water always finds its way in.
Products such as joist protection tape can help prevent water sitting on the tops of joists and entering fixing points. However, this is normally installed during construction before the decking goes down, so it isn't something that can be easily retrofitted to the existing structure.
Given the visible weathering and the fact that these are structural members supporting the balcony, having a builder inspect the framing would be the best next step. They can also advise whether additional protection or changes to the way water is being managed around the decking are needed.
Jacob
Thank you Jacob.
The structural timber beams underneath the balcony decking are still sound and already have joist protection tape along the tops. What type of stain, oil or paint would be best to protect the exposed timber from moisture and weathering? Thank you :)
As long as they are appropriately treated, then there is no real need to coat them with anything, however if you'd like to coat them with something, I'd say 2-3 coats of an exterior paint would be the way to go.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
