I’m debating how to attach a ledger to my house with an inside and an outside corner to deal with. It’s vinyl siding, and my concern is water if I chop out the inside and outside corners to make room for the ledger board. I’m thinking if I attach the board to the main side of the house (Side A), frame at the inside corner as if I were simply bringing the deck out from the house (Side B), then jog back across…clearing the outside corner… and adding some 1x material to get me back up against the house to attach as normal (Side C)…that I can make this happen. A crude drawing is attached…hoping it illustrates my thoughts.
Any ideas if this is a wise decision? Or are there better ways of handling the issue?
Replies
You could do it, but I don't really see the point. The normal "best practice" would be to cut back the siding to a point above the ledger, flash out over the ledger, then finish the bottom edge of the siding with the appropriate channel. Flashing the corners takes a small amount of thought, but it's not rocket science.
I don't see a problem with what you are proposing but I agree with Dan H, I would definitely flash between your deck band and your house band, then flash over the horizontal edge of your deck band where it attaches to the house and where the deck flooring will rest. Building code in NC (2000 International Residential Code) requires one 5/8" hot dipped galv. bolt every 3'-6" or two 12d hot dipped galve. 8" on center(o.c.) for 8' max. joist span and one 5/8" galv. bolt every 1'-8" or three 12d hot dipped galv. 6" O.C. for 16' max joist span.
I agree with the first two responses. The key here is to flash the ledger boards properly. The method of fastening the boards to the house is of little importance to water.
Sorry...I kinda figured flashing was a given. But hey, as long as the subject of flashing has come up, what's everyone's opinion on the method I've seen in some of FHB's books... of sliding the flashing up under the shingles/siding (this should be done anyway), putting it BEHIND the ledger (with the ledger spaced away from the ribbon band on the house using washers) and finally lapping over the top of the siding that is below the ledger?
I think it gets mixed reviews. The spacers need to be fairly robust, and you need to upgrade the bolts a bit since you're putting more lateral stress on them. The bolt holes aren't naturally waterproofed by the flashing and need to be sealed somehow.
Of all the potential liabilities that exist when adding a deck, water intrusion is my biggest fear.
For waht it's worth, the current issue of FHB has a great article on building a deck onto a house. The method for attaching and flashing the ledger seems to be excellent.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
You do not need a ledger. Put your foundation away from the walls and cantilever over it. All of the decks I've built over the years sat on piers, I keep the piers 12' or more away from the house and the joists cantilever over the beam that sits on the piers. The decking is started 1" from the siding, this eliminates your problem.
mike
I would dearly love to build the deck away from the house, Mike, but I need 36" deep post holes in my neck of the woods, and there's 16' of deck that would place the post holes too close to the house's footings/perimeter drainage (and at pretty much the same depth as the house's footings) for my liking....even cantelievering.
Given the choice between the two evils, I think I'd rather mess with water intrusion ABOVE the ground rather than underground, lol.