I’ve got a situation where I’ll be attaching a 2×12 deck ledger to a 2×10 band at the house. I’m planning on building the deck approximately 3-4″ below the floor level of the house and attaching the ledger with Simpson SDWS screws. With the deck at this lower elevation, it only allows for the top half of the 2×12 deck ledger to be attached into the existing 2×10 band at the house. What is the correct method for attaching the ledger? Do I only tie into the 2×10 band and allow the bottom half of the 2×12 deck ledger to hang freely? Or should the lower half of the 2×12 deck ledger be anchored into the wall studs below the 2×10 band?
I appreciate the help!
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Is this new construction or a remodel/addition? Is the deck more that 30" above the ground level, (permits??). The newer codes are very restrictive as far as ledger attachment, flashings, etc. Put up a little more info for more input.
More Info...
This project falls into the remodel/addition category. The existing wall is constructed with a 2x10 rim joist on a 2x4 top plate with 2x4 wall studs at 16" on center. The wall picks up 2x10 floor joists from the interior. The existing wall studs were doubled up (now being 2-2x4 at 16" on center) and the orginal wall sheating was replaced with new Zip wall sheathing. The deck will be about 9 feet above ground level with a walk-out basement beneath. I will be flashing the entire ledger with grace vycor (behind and above the ledger). Probably will also add vinyl ledger flashing over the grace for appearance.
I was planning on attaching the 2x12 ledger to the house with either 4" Simpson SDWS screws or 3-5/8" LedgerLok screws. Spacing would be staggered at 6" on center. I also plan on installing Simpson hardware to tie the ledger back into the interior floor joists to prevent the deck from pulling away from the house.
Deck joists will be 2x10 connected to the ledger with Simpon joist hangers (LUS210).
Think about the various possible failure modes, and pick an attachment scheme that you're confident prevents them. I can think of:
Deck tilts away from the house and pulls the fasteners out of whatever they're fastened to.
Fasteners fail through shear force (possibly because the deck is loaded with 200 teenagers). This can be either the fasteners shearing off, or they may deform and "slide" out of their anchorages.
Ledger splits, separating from the fasteners.
Deck joists separate from the ledger.
Belt-and-suspenders is a good idea.
Ledger
Sounds like you have done your homework and are on the right track. Here is a pic of an "approved" installation, very similiar to your applicaton.
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Check out our website for a wide variety of fasteners, brackets, etc.
Hey Gary,
Thanks for your contributions here - that was a nice post!