Deck

4/10/2011 at 2:28:31 PM

How you attach a deck ledger board to your house depends upon what the existing exterior material is and where it will be attached.

For example, if you have a brick veneer and the deck ledger board will be at the same height as your existing joists/rim board and you can access this from the basement, then full through bolts can be used. I would add blocking inside for additional support as I never trust how the rim board has been installed. The deck ledger board should be set off slightly with spacers to allow for air and drainage. The top of the ledger board should be flashed as well.

If your exterior is siding then the siding should be removed so that you can apply adhesive membrane completely behind the deck ledger board and ensure that the existing house wrap overlaps it. Attach the deck ledger board as outlined above and use flashing over the deck ledger board and again ensure that the existing house wrap over laps this as well. The siding is re-installed. See picture attached.

However, not all decks can be attached to a house properly and I prefer to install a freestanding deck by adding more piers their associated posts and beams.

Hope this helps

Kingsway Construction Inc.

Glenn Rosborough