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Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Decks

Guide Home
  • Design & Planning
  • Tools & Materials
  • Footings & Foundations
  • Framing a Deck
  • Installing Decking
  • Installing Railings
  • Deck Stairs
  • Custom Details
  • Finishes, Repairs, and Maintenance
  • Complete Deck Builds
How-To

Installing Deck Joists

With joist hangers, it’s all about placement, flange style, and proper fastening.

By Mike Guertin
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      Joist hangers straddle the ends of the joists at the ledger and along a rim beam at the outside of a deck if one is used instead of a dropped beam.  Joist hangers and their fasteners transfer the vertical load on the joists to the ledger and rim beam, keep the joists from rolling over sideways, resist uplift load at the ledger when there is a cantilevered portion at the other end, and the diagonal fasteners help resist withdrawal of the joist from the hanger.

      Because of their importance to the stability and safety of a deck, joist hangers and their fasteners have to be installed according to the manufacturers’ instructions.

      Joist-hanger sizing

      Select the right sized hanger for the joists you’re installing.  Manufacturers make hangers for common dimensional lumber sizes – 2×4, 2×6, 2×8….  Joist hangers are sized about 1 in. shorter than the dimensional lumber depth – a 2×10 is about 9-1/4 in. tall when dry and a 2×10 joist hanger is about 8 in. tall.  You can also use shorter hangers – say a 2×6 hanger on a 2×8 joist.  This is permitted as long as the sides of the hanger straddle 60% of the joist height and the dead plus live loads on the deck don’t exceed the hanger capacity. Manufacturers sometimes label hangers to fit two size joists (2×6 – 2×8 and 2×10 – 2×12).

      Use concealed flange / inverted flange hangers to support the end joists on a deck.  Since the flanges are turned inward and the fasteners driven in the joist pocket the joists will have to be cut shorter than the joists installed with regular flange hangers.

      Joist-hanger fastener selection

      Use the right fasteners – type and diameter, length and metal.  Only framing type common nails are permitted to be used. Roofing, drywall, concrete and siding nails are not permitted.  Shank diameter – generally 10d (0.148 in.) is required for joist hangers.  Don’t use nails with smaller (0.133) diameter like sinkers or box nails .  Length is important and will be dictated by the manufacturer and location of the nail.  The face nails driven square into the ledger are generally 1-1/2 in. long.  The diagonal nails must be at least  3 in. long (full 10d) in order to penetrate deep enough into the ledger or rim beam to provide the full uplift and gravity load capacities for the hanger.  And don’t mix metals.  Galvanized hardware must be installed with galvanized fasteners and stainless steel with stainless fasteners.

      Screws can be used to install joist hangers but they have to be the right structural connector screws.  Decking screws, drywall screws and wood screws are not permitted.  Connector screws are relatively new and can be handy especially in hard to access area where it’s hard to swing a hammer or fit a nailer in.  And since structural connector screws are brand-specific, make sure to use those supplied by the maker of the joist hangers or other metal hardware you are using.

      Pneumatic or cordless nailers designed for installing metal connector nails can be used.  Just make sure the indexing tip is positioned in the hanger hole before firing.  Nails driven through the hardware will damage it.

      The rim joist can be fastened to the ends of the joists with 3 – 10d galvanized nails but the nails can pull out over time and the joists can then twist.  A more secure alternative is to use structural screws – like the ones used to attach a ledger to the house.  There’s no prescriptive length guide for screwing rather than nailing on the rim joist.  But if you will be mounting guardrail posts to the rim board using screw and blocking details, check with the screw manufacturer’s instructions for screw length for joists adjacent to the posts.

      The IRC calls for joists to be fastened to the beam with 4 – 8d galvanized nails or metal connectors.  Building departments in seismic, high wind and flood zones may require metal connectors to secure the joists to the beam.

      Fastener corrosion resistance

      Make sure all metal hardware used on decks are galvanized to the level required for outdoor use with pressure treated lumber (G-185) or stainless steel to resist corrosion.

      Deck-joist articles and videos

      • How to Install a Joist Hanger
      • What type of joist hangers should I use with pressure treated wood?
      • Get Your Deck Joists Right
      • Critical Deck Connections

      Joist-fastener product information

      MiTek/USP product information

      • Hurricane Ties
      • Joist hangers
      • Hex Head Structural Screws
      • Washer Head Structural Screws

      Simpson Strong-Tie Product Information

      • Hurricane Ties
      • Joist Hangers
      • Structural Screws
      • Structural Hex Screws

      Videos in the Series

      • How to Install and Flash a Deck Ledger, Start to Finish

        Follow the complete deck ledger installation process from prep to fastening to flashing.

      • Options for Fastening a Deck Ledger

        Learn the pros, cons, and proper placement of ledger bolts, lags, and structural screws.

      • Attach a Deck Ledger Over Brick, Foam, and Other Thick Claddings

        A trio of hardware options for installing a ledger-supported deck over non-structural claddings.

      • Deck Footing Options

        Mike Guertin provides a comprehensive overview of code-approved solutions for supporting the structure and loads of a deck.

      • Options for Fastening Deck Posts to Footings

        These hardware and fastener options are as much about lateral loads and uplift as they are about solid bearing surfaces.

      • Options for Fastening Beams to Deck Posts

        Get an overview of post-to-beam hardware choices for single, double, and triple beams.

      • Installing Deck Joists

        With joist hangers, it’s all about placement, flange style, and proper fastening.

      • Lateral Load Deck Connector Options

        Get to know the options for this structural insurance policy, meant to tie the deck to the house without relying on the ledger.

      • Options for Fastening Deck Guardrails

        See all the fastening options for rock-solid deck railings: inside the rim, outside the rim, and surface mounted.

      • Building Strong Deck Stairs

        Learn several fool-proof methods for supporting and connecting stringers and guardrails when building an outdoor staircase.

      Previous: Adding Blocking Between Deck Joists Next: Build an Elevated Deck Series: Installing Joists

      Guide

      Decks

      Chapter

      Framing a Deck

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      Design & Planning
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      • Framing Overview
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