Hi, I’m planning on building a wooden deck in Atlanta over an existing 8″ thick (at least at the edge)X25’X12′ concrete patio sloped 1/8″ away from a 50’s brick ranch.  In the corner of the existing patio there are 2 concrete steps leading up to a back entrance door of the house with a sill height of 18″ from the patio.  The challenge is to build the 25’X16′ deck over the patio keeping the concrete steps and slab in place.  I would like to build the deck level with the top concrete step (15″  from concrete patio) to allow an easy transition from the house and for some air space between the patio and deck.  Am I right in thinking that the best way to do this is to attach a 2X8 ledger board to the brick veneered house (real brick)/ rim joist behind the brick with 1/2 through bolts and carry 2X8 joists to rest on a doubled up flush beam at the edge of existing 12′ patio w/ the appropriate concrete footings etc?  Is this engineering overkill or could the patio support the the weight of the deck instead?  The house has a 4′ soffit to cover any potential influx of water through the ledger board and flashing. 

Thanks