Table of Contents
Definition of ledger board 1 : a horizontal board forming the top rail of a simple fence or the handrail of a balustrade. 2 : a flooring board in scaffolding.
What are ledger boards used for?
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.
What is a ledger board on a house?
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. A poorly installed ledger board risks the integrity and safety of the whole deck.
Is a ledger board necessary?
Yes, the deck needs to be tied to the house. You will want to install a ledge board that’s lag bolted to the structure of the house. And, of course, you should use the appropriate metal hanger to tie the joists of the deck to the ledger board.
Is a ledger a beam?
A ledger is also a board or beam used to attach a new structure onto the frame of an existing wall.
How do you attach a ledger board to a porch roof?
Attach the ledger with 1/2-inch-diameter lag screws or bolts every 16 inches (or as specified by local building codes). Slip stainless-steel washers between the ledger and the siding to allow water to flow behind the ledger. If you can’t get behind the joist to cinch down nuts, use lag screws.
How do I attach a ledger board to vinyl siding?
Snap a chalk line, cut out the siding and tack up the ledger board. Then slip flashing behind the siding, covering the top edge of the ledger. Start by making an outline on the siding where you want to position the ledger board.
Can I attach a ledger board to wall studs?
MiTek’s WSWH Washer Head Structural Wood Screw can be used to attach a ledger to studs directly, through 1/2″ APA rated sheathing or through one or two layers of 5/8″ gypsum wallboard (drywall).
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.
Do I need to attach deck to house?
Without any solid attachment a house, your deck will sway and wobble. It needs bracing, especially if it is high off the ground.
Is a freestanding deck better?
A freestanding deck is better than an attached deck in that water remains away from the house. With no ledger attached to the house, water will not become trapped against the house, possibly rotting the side of the house and deck. A freestanding deck gapped away from the house; water will freely flow off the deck.
Can you put ledger board over siding?
Never install a ledger board over the top of siding no matter what you hear, this can weaken the connection. Wood or concrete siding will have to be cut away using a circular saw. Set the blade depth so you won’t cut into the house sheathing below the siding.
How many lag bolts do you put in a ledger board?
Since 2009, every edition of the IRC (including the anticipated 2021 edition) requires the deck ledger to be connected to the house floor band joist with ½” bolts or lag screws as shown in Table 507.9.
How thick should a ledger board be?
The decking is 1-inch thick, so the top of the ledger is 1 1/8 inch below the bottom of the sill.
Can a ledger board be 2×6?
Trex recommends 16″ OC at most, 12″ if running the boards diagonally. This is fine for 2×6 spacing. For the ledger, it’s worth replacing so it’s the same size. You might not be able to fully secure the larger hangers to the smaller ledger.
Can a ledger board be two pieces?
The ledger board doesn’t have to be one continuous board. It can be a series of broken sections if it is solidly attached. This will require extra bolts and installing a 2x nailer across the top of the vent to secure the decking along the house wall.
Can you attach a beam to a ledger board?
From a more general engineering standpoint, the main concern with attaching a beam or girder to a ledger or a rim joist is the potential for lateral torsional buckling. This is where a long, slender beam with little to no lateral support twists under load, sometimes under its own weight.
Do freestanding decks need footings?
According to the main code provision for footings, the only requirement for building a deck that is freestanding is that it must have a minimum footing depth of 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface. There is no need to extend a footing below the frost line, as is required for standard decks.
Should decking go under siding?
Keep in mind the bottom of the upper siding should be at least two inches above the flashing or the decking that’s near the house. Never put horizontal siding in direct contact with any horizontal material.
How do you attach a ledger board to drywall?
First, use a large ledger with multiple lag screws. Drill pilot holes for the lags through the ledger into the stud (says anyt lag over 1/4″ needs a pilot hole. Then, use the pilot hole to bore a 1″ or so hole through the drywall. Insert washers flushwith the drywall, bore the ledger and install the lag screws.
How do you attach a ledger board to a wall?
Use a wood bit to drill ½” pilot holes through the ledger board. Next, use a concrete bit to drill into the concrete wall. Install two bolts at the end of each ledger board. Hammer the sleeve anchor through the ledger board into the concrete wall.
What size ledger board do I need?
As a general rule, you should use the same size of board for the ledger as you plan to use for the joists. You can use a larger board, however, if it allows for a better connection to the house framing. Calculate the length as 3 inches less than the width of the deck framing.
