Installation Manual for the Zick-Zack joint tape

The application of the Zick-Zack air permeable joint tape is super easy. Here you can find all tips and tricks to do it even faster.

1. Preparation and check of decking before application

Zick-Zack joint tape has to be applied in the finished decking of your terrace. Therefore it is perfectly suited for existing terraces. Please consider all relevant norms and rules for the construction of your wood- or WPC-decking. The recommended width of the joints is ~7mm. A cross ventilation of the substructure is always recommended.

The decking has to be dry before application. The humidity of the wood should be around 12 - 15%. The elasticity of the Zick-Zack joint tape covers joints between 5 and 8mm. Locally limited, widths beyond that can be covered up to 12mm by using 2 tapes in the joint.

The length of one element is 100cm. When applying the joint tape in the joints, the length increases to ~110cm at a joint width of 7mm. As the joint width varies over the total length this is just an approximate figure.

2. The installation itself is very easy

No special tools are required, just sturdy scissors for trimming. In addition, needle-nosed pliers are helpful.

Starting at one end of the terrace, the beginning of the joint tape is pushed in so that the clamping effect fixes the tape and the tape can then be pressed in sections (about 20 cm) under tension. The tape should be inserted so deep that the outer prongs touch the entire wooden floorboard. Overstretching is to be avoided, therefore insert in short sections and, if necessary, remove overstretching with needle-nose pliers. Overstretched areas would sag.

The next element is installed in the same way, the connection is made with a notch overlap. Without a friction-locked overlap, the element connection can open by 1 – 2 points if the joint spacing is extremely wide.

Note: We recommend leaving an overhang of a few centimeters at the end of a joint for a few weeks and only then shortening it. Depending on the external boundary conditions, the strip can retract into the joint by this length. If, regardless of this, there is an indentation in the joint, this can easily be compensated for by inserting an appropriate supplementary piece.

 

3. Care

The Zick-Zack tape itself does not require any special care. However, to ensure that the ventilation works and water drainage are always maintained, the joints must be vacuumed occasionally and, if necessary, flushed with a normal jet of water.