| The Deck Building Ledger holds all the secrets to | | | | inches step down onto your deck from your door, |
| successful deck construction because it is the | | | | this is |
| essential | | | | to help prevent rain water from running off the |
| piece of wood that connects your deck to your | | | | deck and |
| home and | | | | into your home.Remember also, in the final part of |
| from which all other measurements are | | | | construction, your |
| taken.Choose the piece of lumber for your ledger | | | | surface decking boards will be secured on top of the |
| carefully, | | | | |
| hold it up and look down the side of the wood to | | | | side surface of your ledger and joists, so: |
| check | | | | Leave a 1" -- 2" drop from your doorAllow for the |
| for irregularities like warping and twisting.Choosing | | | | size of your decking boards - that |
| your LumberThe ideal deck building ledger should be | | | | will be another 2"So, measure 3" -- 4" down from |
| free of ingrown | | | | your indoor floor |
| knots and flaws, or at least only have very small | | | | levelAnd mark the wall showing the highest point of |
| knots.The best flat board to pick out for the | | | | the |
| prestigious job | | | | ledgerA spirit level and a pencil are your next best |
| of becoming a ledger is a vertical grain board - this is | | | | friends, |
| | | | you shouldn't try to place a deck building ledger |
| the wood which comes from the center of the tree | | | | without them.Measure and mark along the wall, the |
| and | | | | full horizontal |
| will show the center circles.Boards with an arc grain, | | | | length of exactly where you are going to place |
| known as a flat grain board, | | | | your ledger.Fitting your Deck Building LedgerIf your |
| are from the outer sides of the tree and are more | | | | house is covered in siding you have to cut out |
| prone | | | | the exact size of siding to insert the deck building |
| to warping or cupping over time.If you are building a | | | | ledger AND |
| top quality deck made out of | | | | include enough at the sides to also insert the outer |
| only redwood or cedar then this doesn't apply to | | | | joists.Flashing should be inserted up under the siding |
| you, but otherwise, please make sure that you are | | | | and onto |
| only | | | | the top of the ledger, the join should be closed with |
| using pressure treated lumber.Many people who opt | | | | |
| for a more expensive option in | | | | sealant.If your home doesn't have siding you don't |
| lumber still use regular pressure treated wood for | | | | need to use |
| the | | | | flashing but you should still use sealant to close any |
| deck building ledger and the joists because these are | | | | gap |
| | | | between the ledger and the wall.Galvanised four inch |
| parts of the support of a deck that will NOT be | | | | lag screws will secure your ledger into the wall and |
| visible.If this is the case, do remember to use the | | | | give you a level and firm foundation to build |
| Redwood or | | | | your deck design onto.Admire Your WorkYou can |
| Cedar for the Outer Joists and End Beam, because | | | | now stand back and admire the ledger attached to |
| although they form part of the under support frame | | | | your house -- if attached at the right level and |
| they | | | | perfectly horizontal -- you have the beginnings of a |
| are visible when looking back at your deck from the | | | | great deck design for your home and it all starts |
| | | | with |
| garden.Once you have selected and seperated the | | | | your deck building ledger.Arpad Nyikos has written |
| best lumber you | | | | numerous articles with |
| should have choice pieces for both your ledger and | | | | illustrations - dedicated to home improvement trends |
| for | | | | to |
| your beams.Positioning your LedgerThe first step in | | | | add value to your home or simply add quality to |
| building a sucessful deck is finding | | | | your |
| the right height at which to secure your deck | | | | home life, plus improvement projects and different |
| building | | | | ways |
| ledger.It is really important that you allow for a | | | | that you can finance them. |
| couple of | | | | |