I just “tack” up my ledgers in place first, then I do a full joist layout, and finally I’ll come back and place all the ledger bolts so they don’t interfere with the joists and hanger flanges. Thx for the video.
About 90% of deck collapses occurred as a result of the separation of the deck ledger board from the house, allowing the deck to swing away from the house. It is very rare for deck floor joists to break mid-span.
It's not shear stress it's torque that will pull the screws out. That is why the screws need to go all the way through the band joist! Shear force is the perpendicular force acting on the screws that could cut/shear the screw off or bend it!
Most inspectors don't want the ledger screws sucked into the ledger board. They might fail your project. You can use a flat head torque screw and not have to suck it in. Hope this is helpful?
I sure appreciate your insights - Very helpful! Thank You! - Quick question ~ Do you have any insights, or even better, any videos on how to attach a ledger board to a stucco home? Thanks!
Is the stucco over wood frame or a masonry? If it's wood frame it's screwed or bolted into the rim joist. It it's block or concrete it's attached using masonry anchors. Of course flash and install bolts, screws, anchors as per your local code requirements.
@@yourmoiveclub Your floor joists are attached to the rim joist at each end and the rim joist forms a perimeter around your home that your floor and walls sit on. Rim joist is also known as a band board.
So, this tutorial is just "level a board and screw it in." Hopefully, DIYers realize this is skipping over all of the important details & look elsewhere, e.g., siding/WRB removal, installing flashing membrane/tape, rigid flashing & drip edge, residing, drilling pilot holes for lag screws (actually you typically have to pre-drill twice per fastener for the full length and then wider for the shank, yes, I'm aware you don't need to do this with LedgerLok's, but you should mention that with regular lag screws it is required), staggered spacing of fasteners, not overdriving fasteners (you generally can't bury them at all), lateral load devices meeting R507.2.4, etc. This will not pass code virtually anywhere in the USA, and really isn't educational at all as it doesn't address any of the non-immediately obvious details. I'm sure you know better, but people who don't know better are going to watch this, think it really is this simple, and rot out their home's rim joists while their ledgers peel off the wall in a few years. Do better.
I believe it's pretty common practice in areas with high snowfall to have a step down, to account for snow accumulation. Here in the southern US, most of our decks land flush with the bottom of the door.
Great video, thank you for sharing! Out of curiosity, how did you determine the correct height to attach the ledger? This looks to be significantly bellow where I'd expect to see the rim joist for the flooring, did you not try to attach it to the rim joist?
Im using a 2 x 10 ledger and going through a 2 x 12 rimjoist. I have some leftover grk 5/16 x 5 1/8th rss structural screws. Would too long of a screw be an issue or should I just buy some 3 5/8" length instead.
Thanks for all the great videos, Dr. You mentioned using Dexerdry for this install. I’m planning to use it for the first time on an upcoming project. They’re install instructions suggest a 1/8” slope for every 1’. What are your suggestions for a 40’ run and hanging the ledger? That would be a huge drop.
They are incisions to help the lumber accept the chemicals from the pressure treating process better. It is common on the west coast where you'll find more wood that doesn't readily accept the chemicals (e.g., douglas fir). On the east coast, you won't see this often because eastern pine (and other construction lumber) will take the pressure treating without the incisions.
Nope, screwing such large bolts into wood without a pre-drilled hole is catastrophic, guaranteeing a split in the board. Ya lost me after that, not very sound judgement.
First of all, those are screws! Second of all, this is what LedgerLok has to say: "LedgerLOK is the first wood screw engineered to fasten a deck ledger board to the rim joist of a house with no pre-drilling. It is a code-approved deck ledger board fastener that replaces lag screws and through-bolts. Its triple-coating makes it corrosion resistant and perfect to use with pressure treated lumber." Do some research James.
He is taking the cheap and lazy shortcut of a ledger board...You don't think he is going to take the time to drill pilot holes so the don't split , do you... Safe decks need to be built, not hung.
Very soon this will will all become a moot point because ledger boards will be outlawed altogether. Ledger boards are a dangerous shortcut for lazy, stupid and cheap builders who don't want to spend the money or the time to build a deck properly. Posts on footings, beams on posts, joists on beams, deck on joists. Anything else is sub par carpentry.
Horse shit. As long as an inspector knows what to look for in a fastening schedule, ledgers are just fine. I hate to see a job you do with all those posts under the deck. Boy, that must look nice!
@@bradeley6409 You really love your cheap lazy shortcuts to building decks, don't you, Brad. Every time the IRC is updated they make it harder and harder for you to take that cheap and lazy shortcut. How much longer do you think you can get away with it before ledger board construction is made illegal, or so costly that digging a few post holes becomes cheaper? Can you say, "LATERAL LOAD HOLD DOWN DEVICE? It's no longer a handful of lag bolts, Brad... I feel much better seeing what is holding up the deck I am standing on than guessing and hoping the contractor didn't take shortcuts with his shortcuts like you do. Now be honest, Brad, you have had problems with ledger board inspections before , haven't you?
@@williardbillmore5713 Nope. The code requires a minimal fastening schedule of the ledger board and I always exceed the requirements. What's a few more GRK's when considering the safety of the folks on the deck. If I were building a commercial application, then I would support at the ledger but not for a home. Way overkill! Also, going back to your comment you made previously, I bet you're the type of builder who puts his posts in the ground...
@@bradeley6409 Never have and never will. Concrete goes in the ground. Overkill? Ha ha ha ha ha What an unfortunate choice of words, Brad Ledger board failure is the leading cause of residential deck related deaths. You attach your ledger boards with screws?...WOW! You need to be made aware that the new codes call for Lateral Load Hold Down Devices that tie the deck joists directly to the house's floor joists with specialized mechanical hardware. Joist hangers and ledger board screws into the rim joist don't cut it with the IRC anymore. Too many ledger hung decks failing. Too many people dead or injured from contractor shortcuts.. Once you realize what is now required by the IRC, opening up ceilings or floors to access house joists suddenly a few more posts and another beam, don't sound so expensive. Wallpaper and pictures are hung... Decks need to be built from the ground up, like any outdoor structure.
@@williardbillmore5713 In Michigan, they haven't required that hardware yet for uncovered decks. When they do, it will be the customer's choice to either set more posts or use the hardware.
I needed to see this video. You must be a professional. I am a DIY carpenter in the backyard.
I just “tack” up my ledgers in place first, then I do a full joist layout, and finally I’ll come back and place all the ledger bolts so they don’t interfere with the joists and hanger flanges. Thx for the video.
About 90% of deck collapses occurred as a result of the separation of the deck ledger board from the house, allowing the deck to swing away from the house. It is very rare for deck floor joists to break mid-span.
It's not shear stress it's torque that will pull the screws out. That is why the screws need to go all the way through the band joist! Shear force is the perpendicular force acting on the screws that could cut/shear the screw off or bend it!
Aren’t ledger screws suppose to be staggered?
LOVE YOUR CHANNEL - I bet you know the answer to this: How do you attach a ledger to an 'already poured' icf foundation? I'm stumped.
Putting the fasteners at a slight upward angle also helps with water intrusion
Not hanging your deck from the side of a dwelling helps with water intrusion too, Mike
@@williardbillmore5713 huh?
I can watch dudes videos all day long and Just realized I have been. Hours of his videos.
Are those dryer vents under the ledger?
Do you use flashing on the top of the ledger? Metal, flashing tape, or other? I saw the tar paper in the background but no other flashing.
Thanks for all videos. How you are getting lumber that has rough finish. Thanks.
Most inspectors don't want the ledger screws sucked into the ledger board. They might fail your project. You can use a flat head torque screw and not have to suck it in. Hope this is helpful?
I sure appreciate your insights - Very helpful! Thank You! - Quick question ~ Do you have any insights, or even better, any videos on how to attach a ledger board to a stucco home? Thanks!
Not really. Not much stucco in my region
Is the stucco over wood frame or a masonry? If it's wood frame it's screwed or bolted into the rim joist. It it's block or concrete it's attached using masonry anchors. Of course flash and install bolts, screws, anchors as per your local code requirements.
You da man!!!
Curious of what decking material it is you frame with?
Thanks! I’m getting ready to put a lean-to onto my barn and this was really helpful.
What kind of wood is that, thanks for the video
He does good work.
Hi thanks for the videos. It is really helpful for DIY home owner. If the house wall is made of wood, can I put ledger board anywhere I want?
No. You should install into a rim joist if attaching directly to a home.
@@bradeley6409 how do you find the rim joist? Can I use steel ledger board and steel joints ?
@@yourmoiveclub Your floor joists are attached to the rim joist at each end and the rim joist forms a perimeter around your home that your floor and walls sit on. Rim joist is also known as a band board.
Doctor Jason, do you have a video showing attachement to OSB rim joist?
Can you have multiple ledger boards surrounding a box bay
No vycore or metal flashing over the ledger board??
So, this tutorial is just "level a board and screw it in." Hopefully, DIYers realize this is skipping over all of the important details & look elsewhere, e.g., siding/WRB removal, installing flashing membrane/tape, rigid flashing & drip edge, residing, drilling pilot holes for lag screws (actually you typically have to pre-drill twice per fastener for the full length and then wider for the shank, yes, I'm aware you don't need to do this with LedgerLok's, but you should mention that with regular lag screws it is required), staggered spacing of fasteners, not overdriving fasteners (you generally can't bury them at all), lateral load devices meeting R507.2.4, etc. This will not pass code virtually anywhere in the USA, and really isn't educational at all as it doesn't address any of the non-immediately obvious details. I'm sure you know better, but people who don't know better are going to watch this, think it really is this simple, and rot out their home's rim joists while their ledgers peel off the wall in a few years. Do better.
Should the deck elevation be level with door threshold or have a small step down to the deck. Elevated deck with southern exposure in Toronto, Canada.
I believe it's pretty common practice in areas with high snowfall to have a step down, to account for snow accumulation. Here in the southern US, most of our decks land flush with the bottom of the door.
What is the difference between ledger locks .and SDS.?
Do I need to put any special material behind the ledger board for weather proofing if I use pressure treated wood?
I always use a peel and stick waterproof membrane tape of some type behind all members attached to a house. As well as flashing.
Are the screws going into wood or the block foundation?
How would you fix to masonry? Resin anchors or expansion anchors?
dont go all gungadoo on them hahahaha love dr decks
Why do you double up the screws every 4'?
Great video, thank you for sharing! Out of curiosity, how did you determine the correct height to attach the ledger? This looks to be significantly bellow where I'd expect to see the rim joist for the flooring, did you not try to attach it to the rim joist?
We took additional siding off the house because we were adding a waterproof bladder after framing.
Im using a 2 x 10 ledger and going through a 2 x 12 rimjoist. I have some leftover grk 5/16 x 5 1/8th rss structural screws. Would too long of a screw be an issue or should I just buy some 3 5/8" length instead.
For the price you pay for GRK's, buy the right size. Not to mention, screws that are too long are just cuts to the skin waiting to happen.
Awesome vids. What type of pressure treated board do you use for your ledger board & joists?
Home depot ones
What's the purpose of the perforation in the wood ?
Perforations let the copper naphthenate soak into the wood when turning into Treated wood.
Jack Black!
Thanks for all the great videos, Dr. You mentioned using Dexerdry for this install. I’m planning to use it for the first time on an upcoming project. They’re install instructions suggest a 1/8” slope for every 1’. What are your suggestions for a 40’ run and hanging the ledger? That would be a huge drop.
Zona 1 zona
@@wilfredoamill2020 I think there are much better rain water collection systems out there for decks. I'm not impressed with Dexerdry.
What is that kind of board with all the punch marks?
They are incisions to help the lumber accept the chemicals from the pressure treating process better. It is common on the west coast where you'll find more wood that doesn't readily accept the chemicals (e.g., douglas fir). On the east coast, you won't see this often because eastern pine (and other construction lumber) will take the pressure treating without the incisions.
I was hoping to see flashing. Darn.
YOU SUPPLY SOUND INFORMATION..THANKS.
I bet you are in Canada
PNW usa
"For all intents AND purposes."
$100 worth of ledger locks in a 4’ board
No quite.
Nope, screwing such large bolts into wood without a pre-drilled hole is catastrophic, guaranteeing a split in the board. Ya lost me after that, not very sound judgement.
Even if it’s a self drill bolt?
So you don’t know that one great thing about Ledgerlock screws is that they DON’T require predrilling. Great engineering isn’t it?
@@ALL4SCUBA05 If I wanted a smart-A, actually a dumb-A answer, I'd have asked for it what, like 4 months ago?
First of all, those are screws! Second of all, this is what LedgerLok has to say:
"LedgerLOK is the first wood screw engineered to fasten a deck ledger board to the rim joist of a house with no pre-drilling. It is a code-approved deck ledger board fastener that replaces lag screws and through-bolts. Its triple-coating makes it corrosion resistant and perfect to use with pressure treated lumber." Do some research James.
He is taking the cheap and lazy shortcut of a ledger board...You don't think he is going to take the time to drill pilot holes so the don't split , do you...
Safe decks need to be built, not hung.
Very soon this will will all become a moot point because ledger boards will be outlawed altogether.
Ledger boards are a dangerous shortcut for lazy, stupid and cheap builders who don't want to spend the money or the time to build a deck properly.
Posts on footings,
beams on posts,
joists on beams,
deck on joists.
Anything else is sub par carpentry.
Horse shit. As long as an inspector knows what to look for in a fastening schedule, ledgers are just fine. I hate to see a job you do with all those posts under the deck. Boy, that must look nice!
@@bradeley6409 You really love your cheap lazy shortcuts to building decks, don't you, Brad.
Every time the IRC is updated they make it harder and harder for you to take that cheap and lazy shortcut. How much longer do you think you can get away with it before ledger board construction is made illegal, or so costly that digging a few post holes becomes cheaper? Can you say, "LATERAL LOAD HOLD DOWN DEVICE?
It's no longer a handful of lag bolts, Brad...
I feel much better seeing what is holding up the deck I am standing on than guessing and hoping the contractor didn't take shortcuts with his shortcuts like you do.
Now be honest, Brad, you have had problems with ledger board inspections before , haven't you?
@@williardbillmore5713 Nope. The code requires a minimal fastening schedule of the ledger board and I always exceed the requirements. What's a few more GRK's when considering the safety of the folks on the deck. If I were building a commercial application, then I would support at the ledger but not for a home. Way overkill! Also, going back to your comment you made previously, I bet you're the type of builder who puts his posts in the ground...
@@bradeley6409 Never have and never will. Concrete goes in the ground.
Overkill? Ha ha ha ha ha
What an unfortunate choice of words, Brad
Ledger board failure is the leading cause of residential deck related deaths.
You attach your ledger boards with screws?...WOW!
You need to be made aware that the new codes call for Lateral Load Hold Down Devices that tie the deck joists directly to the house's floor joists with specialized mechanical hardware.
Joist hangers and ledger board screws into the rim joist don't cut it with the IRC anymore. Too many ledger hung decks failing. Too many people dead or injured from contractor shortcuts..
Once you realize what is now required by the IRC, opening up ceilings or floors to access house joists suddenly a few more posts and another beam, don't sound so expensive.
Wallpaper and pictures are hung... Decks need to be built from the ground up, like any outdoor structure.
@@williardbillmore5713 In Michigan, they haven't required that hardware yet for uncovered decks. When they do, it will be the customer's choice to either set more posts or use the hardware.