The Deck Professor

Every number here is a working estimate to check with your building authority. Whoever prints this page takes responsibility for what is in it.

Lessons

Ledger and attachment

Attaching safely to the house. 6 lessons.

  1. Ledger or freestanding. Change it. Decide how this deck meets this house.
  2. Bolting the ledger. Click the fault. Click what would let go at this ledger, then fasten it properly.
  3. Flashing over the ledger. Watch it happen. Make it rain, then keep the water out of the house.
  4. Metals that corrode each other. Guess first. Guess what happens where these metals meet, then try each flashing.
  5. How a ledger fails. Watch it happen. Move time forward, then build it so it holds.
  6. Tying the deck to the house floor. Change it. Pull on the deck, then tie it in so it cannot leave the wall.