Do you need a ledger board for a deck?
A freestanding deck will not require a deck ledger, even beside your house. But an attached deck will be attached to the house using a ledger board. I have seen decks built without ledger boards. The hangers nailed directing to the house’s rim board, but this is not good construction practice, which we will get into.
What size should a deck ledger board be?
Ledger shall be a minimum of 2×8 nominal. Where guards are required, outside joists and rim joists shall be a minimum of 2×8 nominal.
What is a ledger board on a deck?
The deck ledger is the deck floor rim board attached to the house, and it should be positively connected to the floor structure of the main building with bolts or lag screws, not nails. The main objective of this article is to alert property owners and code officials to decks with “nailed-only” deck ledger connections.
Can I use 2×6 for ledger board?
2×6 P. Treated bolted as / the size of your deck. It should be 6-8 inches above grade ideally, but you can get ground contact PT that can be placed closer. You want a flashing that won’t react with the larger copper content of the treatment.
How much weight can a ledger board hold?
The ledger is 10′ long so every foot of ledger must be designed to carry at least 200 lbs of load.
Can I use a 2×8 for a ledger board?
placing a 2×10 ledger board against a 2×8 rim joist is irrelevant and should not compromise the safety of the structure at all under most conditions. Check with your local code enforcement agency and local structural engineers to be sure.
What is behind a ledger board?
A ledger board is a horizontal lumber beam attached to an existing wall and used to tie in construction elements such as porch roofs and decks. A deck ledger is installed as part of the deck frame construction. The frame is then attached at either end, with the deck joists butting up to it.
How many lag bolts do you put in a ledger board?
The International Residential Code lists two fasteners for directly attaching ledgers to a house: 1/2-inch-diameter hot-dip-galvanized hex-head machine bolts and 1/2-inch-diameter hot-dip-galvanized lag screws.
How far apart should lag bolts be on a ledger board?
The fasteners must be compatible with pressure-treated lumber to prevent corrosion. Typically, you will need to install your bolts alternating high and low 2″ from the top and bottom of the ledger board. As a rule of thumb, bolts can be spaced 16″ on center for supporting joist span up to 12′ in length.