Moisture and air are common issues in our house. Keeping our windows and subfloors protected from moisture and air is necessary.
Otherwise, it will cause decay, mold, and corrosion issues. But choosing the right solution is important.
Sill pan and flashing tape are two top protective materials many people use. However, we often feel confused about picking between sill pan vs. flashing tape.
Let’s learn their differences and ideal usage to select the best option.
A Quick Comparison Table
Want to have a quick overview? Go through the comparison table to get a brief idea about both protective materials.
| Specifications | Sill Pan | Flashing Tape |
| Materials | Copper, stainless steel, aluminum, or lead-coated copper | Thin continuous impervious materials |
| Where to use | Door and windows | Various wood surfaces, including doors, windows, and roofs |
| Installability | Slightly complicated to install | Simple to install |
| Sizing options | Comes in a standard size | 5 cm to 60 cm |
| Color options | Black, gray, brown, etc. | Red, blue, silver, white, etc. |
| Flexibility | Less flexible | More flexible |
| Durability | More durable | Less durable |
| Price | Higher than Flashing Tape | Lower than Sill Pan |
Primary Differences Between Sill Pan And Flashing Tape
So, you learned brief details about both protective materials. But it may not seem enough for making a better decision. Below are some in-depth details about sill pans and flashing tapes properly.
- Materials
Sill Pans are available in different materials such as copper, stainless steel, aluminum, or lead-coated copper.
This type of material has a hard surface, so they are pretty stiff and merely affected by external environmental conditions.
On the contrary, flashing tapes are one type of pressure-sensitive adhesive that is made of thin continuous impervious materials. They are relatively softer.
Generally, thin aluminum or other similar substances are used to make them.
- Where To Use
Before choosing a particular protective material, you must know the ideal usage area of a particular item. Sill Pan is ideal to use anywhere in subfloor or wall areas where doors or windows are installed.
Using this high-quality safeguarding object, you can effectively prevent moisture and air from entering your house.
On the other hand, flashing tapes are effective on various doors, windows, and roofs to seal them. People generally use it on skylights, chimneys, vents, and many other outside house areas.
- Installability
Choosing particular moisture and air-resistant object requires you consider its installability. Compared to sill pans, flashing tapes are easier to install. You just remove the back part and add it to your desired area.
In contrast, installing a sill pan on your preferred spot requires some preparation. Since they are available in standard or limited sizing options, choosing a perfect size is important.
If you don’t have the right tool to cut it, purchasing it will be necessary. However, newbies struggle to cut sill pans precisely.
In such as case, hiring a professional seems necessary. But this will increase your cost too.
- Sizing Options
Sill pans mainly come in standard sizes. Two or three sizing options might be there. Hence, you may need to cut or join several sill pans together if your door, window, or other installation object is too small or big.
Contrastly, flagship tapes are available from 5 cm to 60 cm. Getting your desired size is relatively easier. You don’t need to crawl up much.
- Color options
Choosing the right color is important since you don’t want to have an odd appearance after installations.
Sill pans are mainly available in black, gray, brown, and a few other color options.
On the contrary, flashing tapes are available in various colors such as red, blue, silver, white, black, and many unique colors.
Selecting a compatible color is necessary if the sill pan or flashing tape is visible from the outside.
- Flexibility
We want items to be as versatile as possible for house construction projects. Compared to sill pans, flashing tapes are flexible to use.
You can create any instant seal to prevent air and moisture from coming inside your house through the roof, doors, or windows.
Using sill pans is not possible in all areas. Since they are pretty stiff, you can not alter their shapes.
- Durability
Hard sealing like sill pans creates permanent protection from air and moisture. External conditions like excessive hot temperature will not cause any harm to the seal of sill pans.
They can last for decades. But make sure to install them correctly.
In contrast, flashing tapes are only for short-term protective seals. They will be highly affected because of the outside environment.
Continuous sunlight exposure will degrade the seal quality over time and let moisture and air come inside the house.
- Price
It is common to expect sill pans to have a higher price since they are of higher quality and hard materials. Long-lasting durability means an additional price.
For instance, a single piece of 2-inch by 36-inch sill pan has a price of $13.64. On the other hand, the price of a 4 in x 75 ft. roll of flagship tape is around $41.85.
Hence, you have to spend more than $4 for installing one foot of sill pans, while the cost is less than $1 for flashing tape.
Which One To Choose For Your House?
If you are looking for a versatile and affordable option, flashing tapes appear a good choice. Besides, it is simple to install. You can set it up easily, even if you are a beginner.
On the contrary, a sill pan is a great choice when you prefer a highly durable protective material that can keep moisture and air out of your home for an extended time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If your house is prone to have a lot of moisture and bad air from the outside environment, installing door sill pans is necessary.
Sill pan flashing is mainly used for outside doors or window frames to prevent air and moisture from entering your home.
Yes, heavy-duty and high-quality materials are used for making sill pans; they are more durable than flashing tapes.
Sill pan is better in terms of durability, but flashing tapes are a top choice for flexibility and affordability.
Conclusion
So, which option have you decided to pick between sill pan vs. flashing tape? Both have their pros and cons.
To choose a particular option, you first need to decide whether you need durability or flexibility.
Hopefully, we got your back covering all precise details about these protective materials. Select any option that seems convenient. But make sure it is compatible and suitable for the area you want to use.