Getting Your Deck Attached To House: What You Should Know?

Deck construction is a popular home improvement project that quickly increases the quality of your life at home.

Building a deck and attaching it to your main structure adds immense value to your home and provides a great space for outdoor entertaining. Family gatherings will feel better on a spacious deck where everyone can enjoy the sweet smell of steak you cook.

However, if you’re planning to have your deck attached to house, there are a few things you need to know to make it safe for your loved ones.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the basics of attaching decking to your house. You’ll learn what materials you’ll need and how professionals do it properly.

Keep reading and discover how attaching your decking to the house will make life easier for you and your family!

A multi level deck in a yard with a big lawn

Why A Correctly Attached Decking Is Crucial

No matter if you’re installing a brand new deck or an existing one, the secret to a deck attached to house that will last for many years to come is rather simple.

For the deck frame, including the ledger board, rim joists, and posts, you’ll have to make sure you use pressure-treated wood. Pressure-treated lumber makes your decking material withstand rot and water damage.

Tools You'll Need For A Succesful Deck Attached To House Project

No matter if you’re installing a brand new deck or an existing one, the secret to attaching a deck that will last for many years to come is rather simple.

If You're Installing A New Deck

For increased stability and firmness, use an impact wrench to drive ½-inch-diameter galvanized lag screws with washers through the ledger and into the house.
Attaching decking to a house with a ledger board

If You're Reattaching An Existing Deck

Attaching The Ledger Board

The ledger board is the most important aspect of attaching a deck. This element is fastened on the side of your home and will determine the height of your deck. The deck will be attached to this ledger board, so installing it is necessary.

Install The Waterproofing Flashing

The proper use of waterproofing flashing is also key to the structural soundness of a deck attached to another structure. Without flashing, water can get into places where it can’t dry, making the wood vulnerable to decay.

Set The Board In Place

Because a ledger board is heavy and hard to work with, you need to drive framing nails (16 penny) or screws every two feet to attach the ledger temporarily.

Do not drive the structural lag screws at this time because you do not want them to get in the way of the joists you will install later. DO NOT install the joists until the ledger is bolted in place.

Measure Siding For A Cutout

After properly installing the flashing, install the siding above the ledger as needed. Make sure the bottom of the siding will be at the desired height to the decking.

If, for example, you want the bottom of the siding to be 1/4 inch above the decking, which will be 1-inch thick, you’ll rip-cut a spacer board to 1 1/4-inches thick.

Slip The Siding Board Behind Siding

Slip the siding up under the siding board above. You may need to pry the upper board out a bit, and you may need to remove some nails. Use the 1-1/4″ spacer board to position the siding correctly and drive nails to fasten it.

Now it’s time to lay out the joists on the ledger.

Attaching Decking With The Ledger Board

After the ledger has been laid out with the locations of the joists, drive the final structural fasteners.

In the past, deck builders used thick 1/2-inch lag screws into the solid house band. Now, 1/4-inch structural lag screws are better. The metal they are made of holds firmer and has a greater shear resistance than larger screws.

Besides, there is no need to predrill pilot holes.

The spacing of your structural screws depends on the type of house rim you are attaching your deck to and the entire length of the joists. Never install a ledger board with nails, as these are not designed for this purpose and withdraw over time.

An elevated deck with stairs and railing

Block Joists From Inside The House

This is crucial to properly attach a ledger board, especially in homes with engineered trusses.

The problem with engineered trusses used as rim joists is that they do not provide a solid surface to bolt the ledger into dimensional lumber. So you must install extra blocking yourself between each joist.

Go down into the basement and get the exact measurement between joists, cut some 2×8, and fit it into place between the joists to rest on top of the sill plate.

Screw the 2x8s into the top and bottom edges of the rim joist. This is crucial because all the force of the wood deck will transfer to these points.

Attaching Decking Problems

Making sure the ledger board is not held in place just by nails is crucial, but it’s not the only thing you’ll need to do to ensure your deck is safe.

A professional evaluation of an existing deck’s ledger connection to the structure is strongly recommended, especially for elevated decks. Even if the deck ledger is connected with bolts or lag screws, they need to be installed correctly to the house floor band joist.

Attaching Decking With A Professional

The most important part of having a contractor attach your deck is that they will do it properly.

This means making sure the ledger board is attached securely to the house and that the joists are spaced correctly. Professionals install the metal flashing properly and ensure the deck joists are blocked from the inside of the house.

If the deck and the deck boards are elevated above ground level, it is essential to have a professional evaluation of the ledger connection to make sure it is done correctly. An evaluation ensures your outdoor space is safe for your loved ones and ready to host the best gatherings.

Besides, hiring a professional builder means you won’t have to deal with obtaining the building permit and going back and forth building inspections.

Conclusion

If you’re considering having your deck attached to house, it’s important to remember that this is not a DIY project.

It requires a good amount of skill and expertise to install everything correctly.

If the deck’s connection with the house is made improperly, it could lead to serious injuries and costly mistakes.

Have a qualified contractor work on this project, and it’ll save you a lot of stress and worry. A professional deck builder has the right tools and experience to ensure your project turns out exactly as you envisioned it.

Here at DeckBros, our experts are always ready to step in and lend a hand. Dedication makes our work top-notch, and it’s what recommends us all over Omaha. We strive to exceed every expectation about our craft and ensure a long-lasting deck that will create the best stories to tell!

Get in touch today and make your outdoor space part of your home with a safe and easy installation!