![]() Think of the deck ledger like a beam for the joist on one side fo the deck. The rest of the weight is supported by the deck structure, replacing the beams, posts, and footings. The attached ledger board receives structural support from the foundation of the adjoining home while distributing the weight of the deck on the house. Your house wall by itself is not designed to support this type of weight. Including 10 lbs of deadweight ( the deck material itself) and 40 lbs of live weight (everything on the deck like furniture and people the important stuff) per square foot. The International Residential Building Code (IRS) requires that all decks be built to support 50 lbs per square foot. Approximately half of the weight of the deck and then the live load is supported by the ledger board attached to the house’s frame. In most decking building cases, a ledger board is paramount in providing the deck with rigidity and stability. Where I go into much more detail about constructing a detached deck without a ledger board. If you do not want to use a ledger board, please read my article Building a Deck Beside the House but NOT Connected to the House. If you are connecting the deck to an adjoining home, then regulations and building code state you will need to include a ledger board. The hangers nailed directing to the house’s rim board, but this is not good construction practice, which we will get into. I have seen decks built without ledger boards. ![]() ![]() But an attached deck will be attached to the house using a ledger board. A freestanding deck will not require a deck ledger, even beside your house. The simple answer depends if you are building a freestanding or attached deck beside your house. The ledger board is typically bolted or screwed into the structural frame of the adjoining home, and the joists are attached to the exposed area of the leger board. Often the deck joist will be attached to the ledge board using joists hangers. A ledger board is a pressure-treated piece of dimensional lumber that attaches a deck to the frame of a house. Let’s quickly look at the ledger board to determine when you may or may not need one. When do you need a ledger board, and when do you not? Why is it so important? Can it be left off decks attached to a house? How necessary is it really? This article answers all these questions and gives you insight into deck ledger boards.īefore going into more details let’s define a few terms. Supporting half the decks weight using the house’s foundation to support the joists replacing the beam, post and footing required with a freestanding deck. The ledger is fastened to your adjoining home, distributing half of the deck weight and live load (forces applied to the deck such as furniture, people, etc. Do you need a deck ledger on your deck?Ī deck ledger board is needed to support one end of the deck joists with a deck beside a house. Planning on building your deck but still figuring out what is needed.
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