How big does a ledger board need to be?

Asked by: James Burgess

As a general rule, you should use the same size of board for the ledger as you plan to use for the joists. You can use a larger board, however, if it allows for a better connection to the house framing. Calculate the length as 3 inches less than the width of the deck framing.

Can a 2×6 be used as a ledger board?

2×6 P. Treated bolted as / the size of your deck. It should be 6-8 inches above grade ideally, but you can get ground contact PT that can be placed closer.

Can I use a 2×8 for a ledger board?

placing a 2×10 ledger board against a 2×8 rim joist is irrelevant and should not compromise the safety of the structure at all under most conditions. Check with your local code enforcement agency and local structural engineers to be sure.

How thick does a ledger board need to be?

The decking is 1-inch thick, so the top of the ledger is 1 1/8 inch below the bottom of the sill.

Does a ledger board have to be one piece?

The ledger board doesn’t have to be one continuous board. It can be a series of broken sections if it is solidly attached. This will require extra bolts and installing a 2x nailer across the top of the vent to secure the decking along the house wall.

Should ledger be larger than joists?

As a general rule, you should use the same size of board for the ledger as you plan to use for the joists. You can use a larger board, however, if it allows for a better connection to the house framing. Calculate the length as 3 inches less than the width of the deck framing.

Should deck joist be 2×8 or 2×10?

2×8 for joists will be fine, with 16″ OC. Should use 2×10 for beams but 2×8 will be fine as well. If you are worried you can triple the 2×8 for the beams but double will be sufficient. You should put the beams at 7 and 14 feet out from the house, with the piers you should do 3 per beam with spacing of 1, 7, 13.

How many lag bolts do you put in a ledger board?

Approved Fasteners



The International Residential Code lists two fasteners for directly attaching ledgers to a house: 1/2-inch-diameter hot-dip-galvanized hex-head machine bolts and 1/2-inch-diameter hot-dip-galvanized lag screws.

Can I attach a ledger board to wall studs?

MiTek’s WSWH Washer Head Structural Wood Screw can be used to attach a ledger to studs directly, through 1/2″ APA rated sheathing or through one or two layers of 5/8″ gypsum wallboard (drywall).

Can you notch a ledger board?

A joist can be notched at bearing locations at either the top or bottom without reducing its structural capability, as long as the notch doesn’t exceed one-fourth the depth of the joist. This means that a 2×10 can be notched at bearing to the height of a 2×8, yet still get span credit for being a 2×10.

What kind of wood is used for ledger boards?

Treated lumber is typically the material of choice, since the deck ledger is exposed to the elements. Select a board that is straight, with little bowing or cupping, and relatively free from splits and cracking.

Can you use 2×6 joist hangers on 2×8?

Usually, the hanger size is the same as the joist size, but you can use a hanger that is one dimensional size less than the joist depth—a 2×6 hanger can be used with a 2×8 joist, for instance. Keep in mind that the load capacity of the smaller hanger needs to be adequate to support the load on the joist.

Can ledger board extends past house?

Sometimes, you may want to extend your ledger board beyond the house to function as a beam with a post connection at the opposite end. In this case, you will probably have to double up the ledger board for at least half the distance to the post for adequate strength.

How do you extend a ledger board deck?

To install it first mark where the top of your ledger board will sit against the house. Then remove the siding in this area.

How far can ledger board cantilever?

Maximum allowable overhang cannot exceed 1/4 of the actual main span.

How far apart should lag bolts be on a ledger board?

The fasteners must be compatible with pressure-treated lumber to prevent corrosion. Typically, you will need to install your bolts alternating high and low 2″ from the top and bottom of the ledger board. As a rule of thumb, bolts can be spaced 16″ on center for supporting joist span up to 12′ in length.

Can you cantilever a ledger board?

Chuck Lockhart A deck ledger cannot be attached to cantilevered house framing. Instead, build the deck to be freestanding. Chuck Lockhart Alternatively, you can build the deck so that the deck joists extend into the house and bear on a wall plate or mudsill.

Do you need joist hangers on rim joist?

When a beam supports the joists from below, securing the rim joist to the field joists with through screws will save time over using hangers. Also, in this situation hangers are redundant because the rim joist carries little weight. The main function of the rim joist here is to keep the joists aligned.

How far can you cantilever a 2×12 floor joist?

Beam Cantilevers



The stresses in the backspan portion of the beam are considered whether there is a cantilever or not. A southern pine (2) 2×12 beam can span 8 feet when supporting joists spanning a maximum of 14 feet, and it can cantilever 2 feet beyond the posts on each side.

Can you hang a deck off a cantilever?

The image above comes from the Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide. The problem with attaching a deck to a cantilevered floor is that there is nothing below the cantilever (overhang) to keep the rim joist at the house from pulling loose; there is no support below it.

How much overhang should a deck board have?

Between one and two inches of deck board overhang is ideal when you attach an outer fascia board, or at least 1 ¾” to 2 ¾” of overhang before installing the fascia.

How far can I span a 2×8 for a deck?

A rule of thumb is 1.5 times a joist’s depth but in feet when spaced at 16” centers. In general, a 2×8 will span 1.5 x 8, so 12-feet.

How far can I cantilever a 2×6?

Looking at the table below, we see that 2×6 floor joists can be cantilevered up to 2 feet and 6 inches (2′-6″) when the joists are spaced 16″ apart.

What size lumber can span 13 feet?

Max. Live Load 60 lbs/ft2 (2873 N/m2)

Are 2×6 strong enough for deck joists?

You can use 2×6 as deck joists if the deck is low enough to the ground as not to require guard railing. When using S-P-F 2×6 deck joists, the span must not be greater than 9’0″ (2.73m) with joists at 16″ o.c. (400mm), and 9’10” (3.01m)with spacing at 12″ (300mm).

How far can a 2×6 deck joist span without support?

Decking Board Considerations



Decking boards span from joist to joist. If you use 5/4 decking, joists must be no farther apart than 16 inches. Decking made of 2x4s or 2x6s can span up to 24 inches.

Can you span 12 feet with a 2×6?

A 2×6 can support up to 50 pounds per square foot of weight without sagging with a maximum span of about 12 feet when spanning a distance horizontally, with the 2×6 standing in a vertical position. This number includes both live and dead weight.

Can a 2×6 span 20 feet?

The distance a 2×6 can span is determined by the species, grade, location, use, load, and spacing. Based on building codes, a 2×6 can span anywhere from 2′-1” to 20′-8” depending on the affecting factors. Ceiling joists don’t normally have the same load restrictions, and so can span greater distances.