The ledger board must be fastened to the adjoining building’s lumber frame. The board should ideally be straight, with as few defects as possible like an excessive number of knots and splits. The depth (height) of the ledger board must be equal to or taller than the lumber used for the deck joists-usually this is 2×6 or larger. A ledger board must also be able to withstand the elements.Ī ledger board is made of pressure-treated or naturally rot-resistant dimensional or engineered lumber. The choice between the freestanding or attached deck style is informed by factors such as suitability of the adjoining building to support a deck ledger, location of the deck, and builder preference.Ĭhoosing the right ledger board for a deckĪn attached deck is only as good as the ledger board that supports the deck joists, and the ledger board is only as good as its materials. The weight of the deck and the live load are borne by its beams, posts, and footings, so there’s no need for a ledger board. The two main reasons for structural weakness and deck collapses are improper fastening and water damage to the house structure that the ledger is attached to.įreestanding decks, as the name implies, are self-supporting. If a deck ledger fails to adequately support its share of the deck loads the deck can collapse. The other half of the deck loads are supported by a beam, posts, and footings along the outside edge of the deck. The ledger board transfers roughly half of the weight of the deck and the live load on the deck to the framing of the adjoining building that is supported by the building’s foundation. The deck joists are attached to the exposed face of the ledger board using metal joist hangers. What is a ledger board?Īttached decks, or ledger decks, are fastened to a building’s wall using a piece of naturally decay-resistant lumber, pressure-treated dimensional lumber, or engineered lumber known as a ledger board often simply referred to as a “ledger.” It’s usually bolted or screwed to the structural framing inside the adjoining building. For successful deck construction, it’s worth learning a bit more about ledger boards and how they’re installed. A poorly installed ledger board risks the integrity and safety of the whole deck. A ledger board is the most critical part of an attached deck-it’s what fastens the deck frame to the house or other building, after all.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |