Using a 2×12 for the ledger, bolted into the 4×8 top plate with staggered lag bolts. With 2×6 studs to fur out the wall and support the ledger. The 4 top plates are not plumb with eachother. The bottom top plate sticks out more than the top top-plate.
How should I plumb the ledger? Can I just strategically add shims?
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(4) 4x8 plates? Looks like (4) full-size rough-sawn 2x4s to me.
What is the purpose of the ledger?
Yes, that is correct. I was just calling it that since that was it's overall size.
The purpose of the ledger is to place joist hangers and run the 2x10 to sit on top of a beam on the other side of the room. They need to be 2x10, because I plan on raising the roof of my home in the future, and it will be a floor joist, not only ceiling joist.
Sounds like you'll be sistering 2x6 studs onto the existing 2x4 studs - correct?
If so, then:
- Your ledger can bear on top of the 1.5"-2" projection of the sistered 2x6 studs.
- The studs become the primary load carrying element for your future floor joists.
- The ledger can be shimmed as it's fastened to the quad plate. This prevents the ledger from buckling but really carries little gravity load.
- Your joist hangers will then work as they should.
Just be very anal about how exact your 2x6s will be cut to fit to insure firm bearing of the ledger onto the studs.
That's how I see it if my assumption is correct.
Just be very anal about how exact your 2x6s will be cut to fit to insure firm bearing of the ledger onto the studs.