I’m upgrading a deck that has 2×8 joists with 2×6 joist hangers that are screwed in with bugle-head decking screws. Are the 2×6 hangers OK, or should they be replaced with 2×8 hangers? Also, is it OK to remove the decking screws and use regular hanger nails to refasten the hangers?
— John Heneghan, via email
Mike Guertin: The capacity of 2×6 hangers is pretty high. The only way to know for sure is to calculate how much load is on each hanger. Determine the load by measuring the tributary area: half the distance between the ledger to the beam multiplied by the joist spacing. (For example, the tributary area of a deck with a 12-ft. span and joists at 16 in. on center would be 6 ft. by 1.3 ft., or 7.8 sq. ft.) Then multiply this area by the deck load required by your jurisdiction’s building code (typically 50 lb. per sq. ft.) The example would be 390 lb. I checked the capacity of a Simpson Strong-Tie LUS26 hanger, and it looks like it would have more than enough capacity to handle the example load.
Nails driven into the holes that were left by the old screws may not grab securely. Rather than using nails to refasten the hangers, you can use structural-connector screws such as Simpson’s Strong-Drive SD Connector screws.
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View Comments
1. Deck screws are NOT permitted for use with hangers. Use nails or approved structural screws only. This was not specifically addressed in the Mike's reply.
2. All openings for nails/screws must be used--NOT as shown in the picture.
The weak spot of this deck are the screws, not the hangers themselves. Shame on Fine Homebuilding for allowing these errors to pass. It simply would not pass an inspection.
Wonderful!!!
Reply to Suburbanguy : You're right about the image - bad practice. I think someone at FHB grabbed a photo to put with the online version of the article. I asked for it to be replaced.
And you are correct - decking screws and bugle headed screws are not permited to be used with hangers.
I've updated this post with a new photo. Thanks for the feedback!