Deck
ledger boards are a common source of water infiltration, and it can be years before you discover the damage caused by water finding its way behind the ledger and into your home.
Place plastic tile spacers on the
ledger board and countertop.
Otherwise, the hangers can pull loose from the ledger board or rim joist.
Over time, the joists can pull away from the rim joist or ledger board and twist out of their vertical position, which weakens them.
A Start by making an outline on the siding where you want to position the
ledger board Make the outline large enough to include space for the deck boards on top, the ledger and any trim boards on the sides.
Use 16d stainless steel or double-dipped galvanized nails for all of the joist framing and to attach the joist hangers to the
ledger board. Rest one end of each side beam in the double joist hangers and prop them up level with a stack of wood (Photo 1).
You don't need a bolted-on
ledger board for this deck
If you have brick, stucco or block walls, you can skip this step and hang the
ledger board directly against the face of the masonry.
Place the joist hanger around the 2x4 and nail 16d galvanized nails through all the holes into the
ledger board.
The screws are available in a variety of sizes for a variety of applications, from masonry to decking--longer screws can even replace lag screws on deck
ledger boards. The R4 screw countersinks itself with the six "cutting pockets" under its head.
longer than the side pond
ledger boards, then center them on the pond and slide them under the ledger ends.