On the other hand, as the photos below show, when the hydraulic loading ram was lifted from the assembly, the ledger-strip connection had clearly failed. Tell them to stop right now and give you your money back. Depending on the porch load, the diameter of the hole will probably range between 8 and 24 inches. This configuration alone creates an elevated risk of nail corrosion of a section of the nail shank at the face of the ledger/beam, which is the business section of a nail connection supporting a floor joist. Sometimes the area below an elevated deck has siding, so I install the rubber to overlap a siding course and then cover with the last siding course or trim. Every year we hear about decks that collapse under the weight of people or snow load. I am having a deck built & several people have told me that it is not being built to current codes. Joseph Loferski is Professor of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech University. To avoid this, we rip the final three or four boards down 3/4 to an inch and install them. We also like to install protective flashing to the joist tops. How? With a header to the house and the deck was built 6, I'm putting a swim spa into an inground concrete bunker and will build a deck around it. Thus, under the previous IRC editions, contractors were faced with a supply issue. There are no inspectors in our area. As red rust attacks the shank of a steel nail and effectively decreases its diameter, the design load capacity of the nail decreases accordingly. <> After ensuring that the sheathing is structurally sound, we cover the area above and below the ledger board location with self-adhering rubber. Once you have determined your joist size, use this size lumber for all components of the deck frame, ledger, perimeter rim joists and blocking. I have a large deck. Once the footing is cured we install support posts. Joist hangers must meet IBC and IRC code of downward capacity. We snap a chalk lines across the joists to lay out blocking. I prefer to cut our ledger board 3 inches shorter than our final frame width, which allows us to nail rim joists directly to the ledger boards end grain. The horizontal balusters and railing design, surrounding the full length of the staircase, is visually unique when compared to the traditional vertical baluster design of most []. As such, neither the actual measured dimensions nor the dimensions on the treatment tag conformed to the requirements in the 2015 IRC, which specifies a nominal 2x2 that measures 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches (2015 IRC R502.6.2). Adding diagonal bracing to both the parallel and perpendicular side of the deck post is also a good idea to reduce lateral motion and racking of the deck. I start all of my decks by determining the length of the ledger board. Recently, we load-tested 2x2 ledger strips to see how they might perform in service. We used 12-in. Once the ledger board is level and permanently installed, we run additional rubber down the side wall and over the ledger board. You can determine this by using an approved manufacturers product data based on the dimensions of your joists or header. This provision is an alternative to using two 1,500-lb. To reduce cost and material waste I always try to work within readily available pressure-treated lumber lengths, such as 8-, 10-, 12-, 14- and 16-ft. long boards. c|KrKTV o{@mhke%O vf" ZW"$Mv2;4\VAf7whlw\z(J^ h"C1z;`*M#&>Ni8l3]N((gebw!Ir9&Y#Qc:=Y+gHnh_{ vmfz5F"*Ek2Z2(%%}(=nl+&)lu9VP3j#M"HQ3{ipx "2>gPzo>p4[Lgwf20?$0VQ:t=e%$)qf maximum riser height. Whether youre building off a napkin sketch or a detailed architectural drawing, you need to transfer the deck design onto the ground to get started. Like the maximum spacing for balusters, this is intended to prevent small children from getting stuck or falling through. Another way to view the impact of nail shank corrosion is by how it affects occupant design load. The best source of information regarding your frost-line depth is your local building department. Our test assembly consisted of a 2x8 joist fastened to two 2x12s to create two joist-to-framing connections, each sharing 50% of the total applied load from a hydraulic ram. Based on published nail design load values, a 10D (3-in. Stairs, stair stringers and stair guards must meet the IRC design and strength requirements for tread height and opening/spacing requirements. A Dozen Ways to Strengthen Your Remodeling Brand, The Empire Group Plans Large Build-to-Rent Community in North Phoenix, The Most Affordable Places to Retire in America in 2022, Yardi Matrix Reports Institutional Investment in Single-Family Rentals Is Rising, NAHB: Proposed Schumer-Manchin Legislation Could Affect Builders, New Conservation Community Lagoon Valley Materializes in the Bay Area, 7 Ways to Prepare Your Team to Sell in an Uncertain Market. RRA/Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, Building a Deck With a Welded Steel Frame, The Last Word (We Hope) on Vapor Barriers, A Builder's Guide to Breathable Indoor Air, Housing Market Slows as Fed Takes Aggressive Approach to Combat Inflation, When Hidden Defects Complicate a Simple Deck Replacement. Based on the issues discussed and our observations, the 2018 IRC code change that prohibits the use of 2x2 ledger strips to support deck joists was a valuable change for property owners and public safety. Mid-span blocking can be used for a variety of purposes in deck building. We anticipated that this would happen, due to the fact that the depth of the nailed 2x2 ledger strip was only 1 3/8 inches, allowing it to rotate because it wasnt laterally restrained by other rows of nails. Either way, the temporary supports will hold the deck in place until we install and connect the deck posts to the footings. High moisture conditions open the door to wood decay, and that outcome alone would weaken ledger-strip nail connections, thus lowering load capacity for occupant live loads. When we measured the cross-section dimensions of the nominal 2x2s with a tape, they averaged 13/8 inches by 13/8 inches (1.375 by 1.375), while the treatment tags on the ends indicated that the 2x2s measured 1.3125 inches by 1.3125 inches. Stress-grading is more than just the number and size of the knots; it also takes into consideration other factors, such as slope of grain. If your posts are notched to hold a beam they should be a minimum of 66 (nominal) and have a corrosion-resistant post-to-footing and post-to-beam connector. fwoeste@vt.edu. As anyone who has ever shattered a baseball bat can tell you, localized grain deviations are hard to detect and can greatly impact strength. `> xX]s8|_1wU*eMvs$A0 hYg@Rr3__hL~lyOwOO+ZggTO?g+X-jjF&4UQq).IYULIM/2rb We let the end of the decking run long, off the deck, and cut it later with a track saw. Because of the impact of salt corrosion on commonly used galvanized nails, a major safety concern has been the use of 2x2 ledger strips in a salt-water environment. sphere can not pass between them. ripped board. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; stream amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "eht1-20"; 1. Also, make sure to install a properly sized nail or fastener into every metal connector hole provided. Once installed the plugs almost disappear. Our objective wasnt to test the capacity of the joist hanger connection. We wanted to test PT ledger-strip connections that were in the wet condition (not kiln-dried after treatment), as might be used by a DIYer or contractor. E CLc=8r6v-86K3k\@1f LB`%leKF 0U The posts should be a minimum 44 size and be solidly anchored to the deck joist and rim joist of the structure. NOTE The latest building codes require decks supported by a house to be built with a positive attachment to resist lateral loads. It's easy to do. But our testing has shown even more compelling reasons to not permit 2x2 ledger strips outdoors. All Rights Reserved. Whatever your reason for building a deckfor entertaining, relaxing or outdoor living, you will need to consider materials for your decking. When planning a deck, one begins with the sizes of the framing material. To measure the load capacity and deflection of a 2x2 ledger connection per the 2015 IRC, the authors assembled this laboratory test. We then add additional temporary support legs and start digging the footings. Roofing nails, screws and box nails have no place in any metal connector system and should be avoided and replaced at all costs. Youve just built your first deck and you might as well start enjoying it. Layout of a deck sometimes starts on that proverbial napkin drawing and needs to be transformed into reality. diameter footings on this deck. Deck support posts should be mechanically fastened both to the footing in the ground and the deck frame or beam. If youve always dreamed of building your own deck but were hesitant to tackle such a large, complicated construction project, well Im here to tell you its not that difficult. Before joist hangers became widely available, ledger strips were commonly used to help support toe-nailed joists, whether the joists were hung from an interior rim joist or flush beam or from an exterior deck ledger. Home Newest Articles How To Build a Code Compliant Deck. 4m'Exom>9X~3m Use washers at the carriage-bolt head and the bolt nut. stream For example, if three 2x2 pieces are made from a 2x6 and regraded by an experienced grader, one 2x2 might be graded as cull, the next as No. I like this method because it allows me to place my footings exactly where I want them and eliminates all the layout work with strings and batter boards thats otherwise required to locate the footings. On the other end of the assembly, the joist was supported by a Simpson Strong-Tie 316 stainless steel LUS28SS joist hanger and ring-shank 316 stainless steel nails (SSA10DD 3-in. Check your local building code to confirm fastener spacing in your area. <> This provides even, consistent and professional looking deck-board spacing. Neither the measured nor the tag dimensions conform to the nominal dimensions of a 2x2 specified in the 2015 IRC. Articles will be published online soon. And, after completion, the dream design can be saved, adding notes or tags, and then shared with friends. For better visualization you can join the spikes with string to show the perimeter of the deck. This is faster than trying to measure each board and get the ends to match up. ledger strips outlast joist hangers. Local codes were created to keep us safe, and many existing decks do not meet current safety codes. -k|mUl4n:-R Install blocking in each joist bay, alternating the block along the chalk line to allow direct nailing. stream Easy Code-Compliant Solution for Attaching Decks to Homes. endobj amzn_assoc_region = "US"; The temporary board gauges our 3/4-in. Before the vertical load was applied to the test assembly, the 2x2 ledger strip was snugly attached to the simulated 2x12 deck ledger. deviation from one another is allowed by code but should be avoided. The rule of thumb says that 15 feet is your maximum allowable span for a generic 210 deck joist. Install the blocking flush with the top of the deck frame. Prior to installing a ledger board you first need to remove existing house siding and trim from the house to expose the sheathing. By not including the detrimental impact of 2x2 rotation on the nail connection load capacity, the residual strength of a nail connection can be calculated by assuming that the diameter of a steel nail shank at the 2x2-to-beam interface is reduced by a certain amount. If your deck is more than 30 inches off the ground it requires guardrails or handrails. If at all possible I install through-bolts through the ledger and house rim board. To learn more about the app, visit www.azek.com. endobj The new Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-Hex HDG screw with an integral washer attaches the tension tie to the supporting structure with a minimum of 3 inches of penetration. Any longer than that and youre dealing with special orders or adding additional footings or beams to support joists that span the distance. In a perfect world a full-width board would drop into place, and the deck would be complete. So it is not at all surprising that 2x2 ledger-strip nail connections to beams have a very limited useful lifetime in an exterior environment. )3!)^xyU?H79e This will only get worse (and more dangerous). If there is space I will run rubber 10 inches up and as far down as necessary to keep water from getting into the house. for a 36-in. AZEK Building Products is making it easier than ever to visualize new deck, railing, paver and trim products on a home. <> The ledger board must be located 4 to 7-3/4 inches below the door sill. Since we did not design a beam in this deck, the outside rim joist is then tripled, and is supported by the deck posts. We went to our local big-box lumberyard and purchased dimensional PT framing lumber and 2x2x8s for our testing. If your deck has wood support posts and a ledger board that is bolted to the house, the deck posts holds up approximately 50 percent of the total weight. On some of our decks we use composite deck boards. I use for building. endobj SV{jAX@t} b%rG*?rMjgD9)-F#F0Xb>sIpm=Jc}z?6AU_)=ZkW*viKV-aVm AT* yjD>E[Erry_:S&85tO/N#I%=~JCNRq J!)v){u mQwFW@dP2$O /r_V D}PYI>& (5DcP3ebE)K=)lD8{3M Jc.>3BBg,\$RY ydyy=fkBI@K-y^U1[mX\_.+Q+%F/7mu 5 0 obj Your deck, therefore, should ideally complement you and your lifestyle. %PDF-1.4 2004-2021 Decksgo.com. amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Next, its time to install the joists. For this reason its always important to install deck and porch footings below the frost line for your area as well as to make sure the installed footing is on soil that will support the footings load. While the 2015 IRC and earlier editions require field-cut ends, notches, and drilled holes of preservative-treated wood to be treated in the field in accordance with AWPA M4 (2015 IRC R317.1.1), the language does not cite edges for field treatment. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; The practical question is, what is the useful lifetime of a 2x2 ledger-strip connection to a deck beam in a coastal environment? Diagonal braces should be installed at a 45-degree angles 24 in. lateral connectors to be fastened to structural framing joists members in the house. Rule of thumb for joist span: Take the depth of the framing member and add half that number to determine a rough footage estimate for the decks joist span limit. \I'KjK4@7$,'e|t3 !tVBIQ9RSDWFQF89Q7 In my experience this rule of thumb always comes in shorter than the building codes allowwhich is a good thing! 7 0 obj mqLL]=*g65;$(u53UA|p%RY5'Ql2K"Q"GT1;mC|&'F\tY%1zX! design load capacity (90 pounds for wet use) would be reduced by 75%, with only 25% capacity remaining (22.5 pounds). Learn more at www.strongtie.com. In a nutshell, a code requirement for a product that is not (apparently) available in at least one region of the country is not a good situation for DIYers and contractors. The average frost line in Massachusetts is between 30 and 35 inches. It should be noted that nail withdrawal design strengths are relatively low, and when smooth-shank nails are installed in green lumber (MC >19%) that subsequently dries, the design value is reduced to only one-fourth of the tabulated design value. Often times scrap materials from your framing lumber may be used for blocking; we often use joist cut-offs. I have been told that current codes require joist hangers to be used. 3 0 obj amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; Fastening two lengths of strapping from the outer rim joists center diagonally to the side rim joists helps to hold the deck square. <> nail load-rated for 90 pounds in southern pine in a deck application would be rated at 22.5 pounds when the nail shank diameter was reduced by half at the 2x2-to-beam interface. If the stairs have an open riser they should not allow a 4-in. Fill them with concrete, using a shovel to work out air pockets. Probably the most commonly used technique is to install small pieces of material in between the joists to help prevent deck bounce and also to increases the strength of the rail post attachment. :F(6}BS|W+RW`??zD*PCke We cut all our joists at the same time, toe-nail them to the ledger and direct-nail them through our single outside rim joist. Typical of commercially available stress-rated pressure-treated 2x2 southern pine, this nominal 2x2 purchased at a lumberyard measures 13/8 inches by 13/8 inches, while the treatment tag reads 1.3125 inches by 1.3125 inches. /Contents 8 0 R>> /Group <> /7_9V gaZqxaVEv[jIeXmEon[%n OnK|ZVR+ G[I: polymer-coated smooth-shank nails. Reimagine Outdoor Spaces with the 3D iPad App from AZEK. If you calculate the weight of the entire deck, the furniture placed on it and the combined weight of a large group of people who might be standing on it, you will be shocked at the number. How? As an interesting aside, we did not observe any perceptible movement or deflection of the joist hanger used on the other end of the test assembly during and at the completion of each test. But according to information from three SP lumber inspection agenciesSouthern Pine Inspection Bureau, Timber Products, and RRA/Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Associationas well as our own observations at big-box lumber outlets, stress-rated nominal 2x2 pressure-treated (PT) lumber has not been available in the marketplace for a number of years. I have been advised to keep the deck joists a minimum of 6 inches. On the other end, the joist was supported by a stainless steel joist hanger. out from the post. Join in and write your own page! /Contents 4 0 R>> lateral connections from the deck to the floor joists within the house. My general rule is to use 16d galvanized nails everywhere I can. It also allows for me to install ledger flashing. We start left to right and mark out the ledger and outside rim joist 16-inches on center in a square line. Use two through-bolts and ametal tension tie for theupper bolt connection. When choosing deck lumber based on joist span, I use the following easy-to-remember rule of thumb that works for most of the treated wood species that. To achieve a 3/4-in. The frost line depth is not consistent around the nation because there is such a dramatic difference in climate from state to state. JLC Online: Best practices for professional builders and remodelers. A ledger board is the part that attaches the deck to the house. endstream On one end, the joist was supported by a 2x2 ledger nailed to the 2x12. Editors Note: Robert Robillard is a remodeling contractor based in Concord, MA. amzn_assoc_linkid = "e64acee35ad75623b63a20b5b7748419"; /Contents 6 0 R>> Apply the J-bolt and allow the concrete to cure for one week. This rule is not a substitute for a proper table of spans and sizes of framing lumber, but is helpful in over-designing my joists during the early phase. In the 3D experience, a user will scan what is known as a visualization marker, such as the cover of any AZEK catalog or a downloadable image from www.azek.com/iPad, to enter the exciting world of Augmented Reality (AR). Joists typically extend from the ledger-board connected to the house. n"Fl2E``OF>HhL)- ])=`EwFp@PhMyEAdjL/Urx+'fQ!~Ez:j7s"F4RF@cdNp;H=Ras%tUVmeX+3JZ~]{>Nl{I?3{]DO)ij-@N0qY@mt3^Sdo>X0aT&FG'f=}F?Z$XK=q.{Qye0*GgXn>k/Xn#$@@aRz*,p`6Tk+sW9d^^+@4%*xU20 The ledger board attachment supports one end of the deck and bears about half the weight of the deck, the other half borne by the posts and footings. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; One solution is to rip larger sizes of treated 2-by stress-rated material (such as PT No. Larger diameter footings spread the weight out over more soil area. The first problem is that the grade of a piece of lumber, such as a 2x6 No. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; We then install all of our perimeter trim on the rim boards prior to applying decking. When poured in place most folks use footing forms from Bigfoot Systems, Sonotube or an equivalent concrete form. 4 0 obj Instead, it is fastened from outside the house. Between the loss of nail withdrawal strength due to moisture cycling, and the combined bending and withdrawal of the nails allowed by the shallow depth of the 2x2, even a full-size (1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches) 2x2 ledger-strip connection may not be reliable in a typical outdoor deck application. @r8:UEc+^jpF2b8.Ib( mFbzGe/-CL\M`{/T?6\m,F5F*

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are joist hangers required by code