Deck Building Ledger - The Secrets To Successful Deck Construction
|
The Deck Building Ledger holds all the secrets to successful deck construction because it is the essential piece of wood that connects your deck to your home and from which all other measurements are taken.
Choose the piece of lumber for your ledger carefully, hold it up and look down the side of the wood to check for irregularities like warping and twisting.
Choosing your Lumber
The ideal deck building ledger should be free of ingrown knots and flaws, or at least only have very small knots.
The best flat board to pick out for the prestigious job of becoming a ledger is a vertical grain board - this is the wood which comes from the center of the tree and will show the center circles.
Boards with an arc grain, known as a flat grain board, are from the outer sides of the tree and are more prone to warping or cupping over time.
If you are building a top quality deck made out of only redwood or cedar then this doesn't apply to you, but otherwise, please make sure that you are only using pressure treated lumber.
Many people who opt for a more expensive option in lumber still use regular pressure treated wood for the deck building ledger and the joists because these are parts of the support of a deck that will NOT be visible.
If this is the case, do remember to use the Redwood or Cedar for the Outer Joists and End Beam, because although they form part of the under support frame they are visible when looking back at your deck from the garden.
Once you have selected and seperated the best lumber you should have choice pieces for both your ledger and for your beams.
Positioning your Ledger
The first step in building a sucessful deck is finding the right height at which to secure your deck building ledger.
It is really important that you allow for a couple of inches step down onto your deck from your door, this is to help prevent rain water from running off the deck and into your home.
Remember also, in the final part of construction, your surface decking boards will be secured on top of the side surface of your ledger and joists, so:
- Leave a 1" -- 2" drop from your door
- Allow for the size of your decking boards - that will be another 2"
- So, measure 3" -- 4" down from your indoor floor level
- And mark the wall showing the highest point of the ledger
A spirit level and a pencil are your next best friends, you shouldn't try to place a deck building ledger without them.
Measure and mark along the wall, the full horizontal length of exactly where you are going to place your ledger.
Fitting your Deck Building Ledger
If your house is covered in siding you have to cut out the exact size of siding to insert the deck building ledger AND include enough at the sides to also insert the outer joists.
Flashing should be inserted up under the siding and onto the top of the ledger, the join should be closed with sealant.
If your home doesn't have siding you don't need to use flashing but you should still use sealant to close any gap between the ledger and the wall.
Galvanised four inch lag screws will secure your ledger into the wall and give you a level and firm foundation to build your deck design onto.
Admire Your Work
You can now stand back and admire the ledger attached to your house -- if attached at the right level and perfectly horizontal -- you have the beginnings of a great deck design for your home and it all starts with your deck building ledger.
Arpad Nyikos has written numerous articles with illustrations - dedicated to home improvement trends to add value to your home or simply add quality to your home life, plus improvement projects and different ways that you can finance them. You can read more about deck design here at home-improvement-and-financing.com A great way to keep ahead with your home improvement project is a FREE subscription to Home Improve E-zine
|
|
|
Patios: The New Trend In Home Remodels
In years past a patio was sort of a throw on to a home. It was typically a concrete slab to keep your feet clean on your way in or out. Then you'd plunk down a couple of chairs and a table and enjoy your patio when the sun went down. More recently, covered patios have become very popular. Adding a patio or "outdoor living area" to your home is both a great inves...(related: Home Improvement)
The Secret To Your Home?s Interior Design
The secret to your home's interior design is Love.If you love yourself, you create a home for your happiness.If you love your family and friends, you create a home for their happiness.The next step of love is to be grateful for your home. Gratitude lays the foundation for creating glorious spaces to share your love.The final aspect of love is joy. Homes designed for joyful living are not decorated for prestige and show; homes designed for gracious living are decorated for happiness and the joy of life!Interior Design Psychology Tips for Decorating Your Home with Love1. Don't clutter your home with too much decorating. The important accessory in your home is you and your family or friends. Select quality furnishi...(related: Home Improvement)
Deck Building Ledger - The Secrets To Successful Deck Construction
The Deck Building Ledger holds all the secrets to successful deck construction because it is the essential piece of wood that connects your deck to your home and from which all other measurements are taken.Choose the piece of lumber for your ledger carefully, hold it up and look down the side of the wood to check for irregularities like warping and twisting.Choosing your LumberThe ideal deck building ledger should be free of ingrown knots and flaws, or at least only have very small knots.The best flat board to pick out for the prestigious job of becoming a ledger is a vertical grain board - this is the wood which comes from the center of the tree and will show the center circles.Boards with a...(related: Home Improvement)
Add Value To Your Home With A Home Improvement Loan
Buying a home is a big and important investment for most people, and understandably property owners want to keep their home in good condition and looking great. However, carrying out home improvements can be difficult if finances are tight and this is where a home improvement loan could really help. You can get some really good deals and rates on loans for ...(related: Home Improvement)
Building Or Decorating Your Home Requires House Plans
There are some things to consider when creating plans for your home. There are two situations that call for plans or blue prints, either you are building a new home or decorating your present home. The types of pla...(related: Home Improvement)
Why Hardwood Flooring Is A Good Investment
Hardwood flooring has a timeless air of qualityHardwood floors have decorated some of the most exclusive mansions and estates in history and still exude a feeling of permanence and classic quality compared to manufactured floors.Hardwood floors are naturalHardwood floors bring the natural outdoo...(related: Home Improvement)
Planning Permission Tips Uk - Trees And How They Can Affect Development When Applying For Planning
Like most folk, I believe that more can be achieved in life by open & transparent negotiation - laying ones cards on the table for a reciprocal arrangement & courtesy. Unfortunately, like most things in life, there will be times when one side will try & gain the advantage at the detriment of the other party using this method. Nothing is more relevant to this fact in Planning issues than TREES on or near a site that you want to develop or extend.I had an historic situation where a prime site ripe for an infill p...(related: Home Improvement)
Fire Hazard Alert - Is Your Dryer Ready To Ignite
In recent years there has been many stories about dryers catching on fire. Should we be concerned? Yes of course. We should take seriously anything that may put our family at risk.Was the problem the dryer? Rarely. After investigating it is usually determined to have been the venting within the home catching on fire, and not the dryer.Obviously appliance manufacturers are concerned about the possibility of any dryer related fire...(related: Home Improvement)
Log Wall Characteristics
Looking at all the beautiful full-color glossy photos of log home in magazines gives us an idealized vision of the perfect wooden house. Like a supermodel, we can't imagine wrinkles and imperfections, but like any natural product, log walls are full of traits that are an integral part of their character.CHECKING: The new visitor to any log home is invariably struck by the cracks in the logs, sometimes stretching for several feet. Initially they might look alarming, but these cracks, or checks, are a natural pr...(related: Home Improvement)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Home Improvement