Thread: Deck to structure attachment

Ok, 5000 sf custom home built in '82. Rear deck, large, attached to the rim joist through siding and sheathing via nails, thru the joist hangers. No ledger, wrong!.......right?

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It is very wrong, and could be dangerous.

Originally Posted by Geoff Stewart

Ok, 5000 sf custom home built in '82. Rear deck, large, attached to the rim joist through siding and sheathing via nails, thru the joist hangers. No ledger, wrong!.......right?

I would not even say "attached to the rim joist through siding".
You really cannot see if it's attached to anything.

The deck is unsafe.
Possibility that the deck will collapse.

was it engineered, inspected and approved by the ahj?

Originally Posted by Geoff Stewart

Ok, 5000 sf custom home built in '82. Rear deck, large, attached to the rim joist through siding and sheathing via nails, thru the joist hangers. No ledger, wrong!.......right?

Siding should have been removed in that area and a ledger board bolted to the house with flashing going up uner the siding and over the ledger board to prevent water damage. the joist hangers are great but not as they are used in that photo.

Had a similar situation and this is what it looked like underneath.

Ditto the other comments; chances are those joist hanger nails are barely biting into the framing under the siding.

This brings up a question. How often do any of you see a deck actually constructed correctly?

I have yet to see more than a very very few done right. I always find ledger, flashing, railing, stairs issues etc...

I am beginning to think decks take a rocket scientist to construct.

Here is an interesting video on ledger bolting patterns ( that assuming you have a ledger )

IRC Ledger Bolting Pattern - YouTube

Originally Posted by Don Hester

This brings up a question. How often do any of you see a deck actually constructed correctly?

I have yet to see more than a very very few done right. I always find ledger, flashing, railing, stairs issues etc...

I am beginning to think decks take a rocket scientist to construct.

Here is an interesting video on ledger bolting patterns ( that assuming you have a ledger )

IRC Ledger Bolting Pattern - YouTube

the problem with decks being built unproperly is either home owner training by videos, not knowing the properway or the reasons why certain things are done and think they are un needed. the other is contractors, most sates require license for plumbers electricians etc but carpenters? normally just a registration fee. so you got a pick up truck and a hammer you can be a contractor.

Incidentally, on a slightly different note............on my own deck, I had dry rot in several of the joists including the ledger board. So, I did a total tear off. The flashing on the ledger board was completely rusted in places and gone. I surmise that my dogs (four males) have been peeing on the wall for the last seven years and the acidity of their urine had dissolved the galvanized flashing.

Since, I deemed it unlikely that the dogs would see the error of their ways and stop using the wall as a urinal, I decided to try something a little different. On top of the new flashing, I placed a strip of 15lb. roofing felt to deflect the urine past the flashing. The flashing and felt are now hidden by the deck planking so I really don't know how well it is working. In a few years, I'll pull the first plank and see if this has worked, but maybe one of you guys has a much better idea.

Lon, you actually have a flashing... good job .

Micheal, you are correct, but I also know contractors that botch it all the time.

I had on contractor tell me how he does it (completely non compliant) and I corrected him on a few points and then he stated well that's a coast thing. I'm thinking really????

This seems to be an area of construction that gets taken way too lightly.

Originally Posted by Michael Derrick

. . . .. so you got a pick up truck and a hammer you can be a contractor.

Actually, it's much more stringent than that. Having a dog is also a requirement.

Deck on house today was just about perfect. Flashing, blocking, bolts, stairs, the works. It was a 1 in a 1000 I see. Most "contractor" built decks are not much better than the typical DIYer.

I was finally able to make out the outline of the painted joist hangers on one or two hangers. Maybe they used 3 inch spiral nails but that won't get it? A ledger board with thru bolts, spacers and flashing is kosher now.

Yesterday.....ledger board nailed, no screws or lags, just nailed to.......a cantilever overhang (hopefully, 16p. 2X10 joists secured to ledger board with 2X4 joist hangers (already trying to pull out). Major dry rot in joists, so of course, as everyone knows, all you have to do is just scab some 2X10 pieces over the rotted areas..........the stairs shaking like soft set jelly was barely worth mentioning.