Attaching a New Deck to a House: The Right Method

Build a deck that will concluding

Introduction

With proper flashing, a wood deck will final many years; without it, the deck and the ledger information technology's attached to will quickly rot. Detailed photos in this article show the difference.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Acrylic caulk
  • Drip cap
  • Galvanized flashing
  • Galvanized joist hangers
  • Galvanized lag screws
  • Galvanized nails and screws
  • Pressure-treated wood
  • Z-flashing

Rotted deck? Here's the right way to install the new one

Later yous annihilate the old deck just before you get-go piece of work on the new one, yous'll need to make sure the wood on and in the business firm is still in adept shape. Water leaking effectually an former deck ledger can cause pregnant damage to the house framing. The existing house rim and the lower support walls need to be solid enough to support the multi-ton weight of a deck filled with people. Later the old deck is removed, you'll be able to tell if you can still use the firm rim. If the wall sheathing behind the rim looks expert, yous're okay. Only if the sheathing is rotten, investigate further by removing the rotted areas, and check the business firm'southward rim joist and wall framing to see if they're rotten too. Don't be likewise eager to rip apart and supercede moist or discolored wood; it may still be intact below the surface. Jam a screwdriver into the woods in several places. If the screwdriver penetrates more than 1/four in. or so, it's replacement time.

Replacing rotted-out rim joists and lower wooden support walls can exist a huge job. You lot may want to have an experienced carpenter on hand to help walk you through that gauntlet. To properly adhere a deck ledger, follow these guidelines:

  1. Drop the level of the new ledger enough to allow at least a two-in. gap between the bottom of any doors and the top of the deck boards. That style, water and snow cook won't be able to accumulate and seep under doorsills to ruin interior floors, and tempest doors will swing by ice, snow and leaf deposits.
  2. Install metal flashing (baste cap) over the unabridged length of the top of the ledger. Custom cutting and fit another strip of flashing over this drip cap and under doors to cover and protect remaining unflashed areas under doorsills. Caulk the gap between the flashing and the bottom of door thresholds. Install Z-flashing behind the bottom of the ledger and over the siding below. This keeps h2o from wicking along the bottom of the ledger and getting behind the siding. Get out a 1/8-in. gap between the end of the ledger and the ends of siding and fill up it with high-quality outside caulk to continue h2o from leaking behind the ends of the ledger.
  3. Anchor deck joists to the ledger with joist hangers, filling each hole with galvanized joist hanger nails rated for pressure-treated forest.
  4. Predrill and sink ane/two-in. dia., galvanized or stainless steel lag screws in every other joist infinite, alternating up and down positions to keep the ledger from splitting. Select lag screws specifically rated for treated wood, in lengths that will penetrate the ledger, exterior sheathing and the 1-1/2 in. thickness of the house rim joist (4 in. is ordinarily the right length).

Use only treated wood intended for soil contact for all the structural members of the deck, including the ledger, joists, beams and posts.

Project footstep-by-step (two)