How do I attach a ledger board if I have no interior access? [solved]
I would like to build a small, 24" high deck, for a new entry door to the house. I have the deck plans all laid out, and am in need of a 2x10 ledger board under the door to attach the deck to. Most of what I have read on attaching a ledger board, suggests using large carriage-bolts through the ledger board and rim joist, with a nut/washer on the back side. Unfortunately, this section of the house has a finished basement, and it would be quite difficult if not impossible to access the back side of the rim joist.
What other options do I have? Would some hefty lag-screws work?
Lag screws should be fine. If possible, have them go into the ends of the floor joists as well. You can probably see where they are from the outside by looking at where the nails are in the rim joist.
DANGER DANGER DANGER.... As we speak, I am replacing an entire 5 foot knee wall 20 feet long, jacking the floor joists, new studs, mold remediation, new sills, new top plates, new insulation, floor joist sisters, a very expensive 6 foot slider is in jeopardy. This fix is gonna cost my customer over $3,000 minimum Ants and rot everywhere, all the way to the concrete. Why you ask? The deck ledger was lag bolted to the the house through the vinyl siding!!!! no flashing or Grace ice and water shield under the door or around the ledger, not to speak about invading the water tite integrity of the siding itself. Water seeped in the wall for the last 10 years. everything in the wall was wet and mold was starting to show on the interior sheetrock. 24 inches is not high. Consider a plan where the deck is free standing and stands a 1/2 inch away from the building, and you will avoid all these potential problems. Seriously, if you don't know how to place a ledger and water proof it completely and then reinstall vinyl siding under the deck and adjacent to it etc., then seek a bit of professional advise or go to a self supporting deck. simple cross bracing will make a very stable deck not attached to house.
Do yourself a favor. Yes, you can bolt things to the joists. Heavy lag bolts are probably ok. Through bolts are better, but if it is not an option, then you do what you can.
The issue is, if you do just bolt this to the wall of your house, use flashing. Keep the water from getting into your house.
By way of example, we have a deck on our house that wraps around part of the house. The person who did the deck just bolted a treated 2x10 to the wall, though the rim joists, right through the vertical cedar siding. Then they ran joists and a deck on top.
Of course, this creates a place for water to collect. The crevice collects leaves, acorns, small sticks, seeds, etc. That is a breeding ground for carpenter ants. Worse, the deck actually wicks water to the house. So I must go around twice a year with an air hose, blasting the junk out. Then I spray for ants. One day, I'll get tired of this and tear the deck surface off, adding proper flashing to prevent these problems.
Do the job right the first time.
Use these LedgerLOK fasteners. They're like lag screws but smaller diameter, and are engineered just for this purpose.
3/8" or 1/2" lag screws spaced to code specs. Definitely pre-drill a pilot hole of appropriate size. Also, try to at least fasten a metal drip edge between the top of your ledger board and the next piece of siding and then caulk it well with silicone.
And also take a good look at construction guidelines for attached decks because the bigger they are and the more they are deflected by walking or wind, the more force will be transfered into the framing of your home. I am not a builder but I've learned the hard way that energy only changes forms.
** p.s. - this is with the assumption you've taken off the hardboard siding or whatever is covering the framing you are attaching to, although I think that is covered. I simply added my voice to this conversation because I just did this same project very recently. **
DIY Deck (Part 3): How to install code approved ROT FREE Ledger Board brick veneer without flashing?
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