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How to protect yellow tongue from exposure longer than 3 months?

LeahH
Just Starting Out

How to protect yellow tongue from exposure longer than 3 months?

We are building on an Island and it is so hard to get trades people to turn up.

The yellow tongue has been down for 7 weeks, it is still fine.

However we are having trouble finding someone who can put the roof on in a reasonable timeframe.

How can we protect the yellowtongue from the elements? Another builder suggested painting it. Has anyone done this? 

Looking for product recommendations. 

We had builders plastic on it, but the water pools with heavy rain.

MitchellMc
Bunnings Team Member
Bunnings Team Member

Re: How to protect yellow tongue from exposure longer than 3 months?

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @LeahH. It's fabulous to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about protecting structural flooring.

 

What sort of time frame will you be looking at? Our STRUCTAflor can be exposed to the elements for up to five months. 

 

Is the pooling on the plastic causing more of an issue than having to broom the water off after a rain event? These floor squeegees are fantastic for clearing water. 

 

Are the walls and roof framed up, and if so, could you tarp over the top of it? That way, the water would fall outside the flooring and onto the surrounding area.

Coating the flooring would not be the best option and could accelerate deterioration. If you paint the surface, water will still find its way into the core of the boards through gaps and edges that you can't access. If this occurs, the coating will inhibit the boards' ability to dry out, which is the worst thing that can happen.

 

At this point, your best bet is to keep the plastic on the floor to prevent water from contacting it. If pooling is an issue, you should look to place buckets in the middle area, creating a high spot that allows water to drain to the edge of the building and fall away. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

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