I would like to build a bigger deck on my house. I have deconstructed the deck except for the ledger board. I will need a bigger ledger board so that I can move from 2×6 joist to 2×8 joist.
Can I leave the original ledger board since it is in good shape and attach a new 2×10 ledger board?
Thanks
Jon
Replies
I think you need a new ledger. But, why are you putting on a 2x10 ledger for 2x8 joists? Your ledger doesn't need to be larger than your joists. If you had a 2x8 on there for your 2x6 joists you should be good to go, assuming the existing ledger has the required rot resistance.
Your first post about this said you were going to use 2x10 joists.
Now you're down to 2x8?
Have you checked any span charts to see what you should use?
And I would still replace the ledger and flashing.
the long and short of it is a 2x10 over a 2x6 ledger is a 2x6 ledger. nothing gained.
I have no problem with using that 2x6 with 2x8 joist hangers for the ledger if you plan to add an additional set of footers and another carrying beam
by itself that 2x6 will not provide enough nailing support for the bigger/longer joists
I would only go through all that trouble if I really did not want to disturb the siding on the house
Hypothetically, you would have two headers carrying a 10 or 12 foot floor joist, something that would be accomplished with the proper sized ledger and one carrying beam
Based upon what I have seen, ledgers are rarely done right. Unless yours is an exception, it would be better to redo it. The recommendations for ledgers have changed based upon analysis of a series of catastrophic failures.
One of many articles on the subject:
http://www.nadra.org/consumers/deck_inspections.html
These look interesting:
http://www.deck-lok.com/
I'd skip the ledger all together if it's off the first floor. Just seal up the existing one and float your new deck. Of course this will require a few more post holes for the front of your beams. If you do install ledger, check out archived Fine Homebuilding articles on ledger/flashing. You sure want it right.
good luck, Carl