How do you bolt a deck ledger?

Asked by: Owen Kadlecik

The most common method is to install ½” lag bolts with washers or carriage bolts with washers. You will usually need the length of the bolt to be at least 4”- 6″ to penetrate through the 2x ledger board, the house sheathing and into the solid house rim. Never counter sink bolts.

How do you bolt a ledger board?

You can drive the screws in important. Thing you can't do is overdrive the fastener some people will use some impact drivers that'll end up sucking the washer right into the ledger.

How do you fasten a deck ledger?

Before installing the ledger board into place there's one very important step which is to waterproof the houses rim joist using a rubber membrane. This will keep any water running down the exterior.

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 you attach ledger board with lag screws?

Traditionally, lag screws have been the most common method of attaching decks to buildings. To properly attach a deck ledger using 1/2″ lag screws, 5/16″ holes need to be pre-drilled through the ledger and rim joist. After that, a 1/2″ hole should be drilled through the ledger only.

How do I attach a ledger to my house deck?

Now we land both out at once. We're gonna take an inch and a half off of each end so we can put the banjoist. On there. But you don't cut three inches off one end because that will shift your layout.

How long should ledger bolts be?

Your bolts or screws should be long enough to extend at least ½” past the board you are attaching to. They are usually installed in a zig-zag pattern.

Can you attach a ledger board to 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 use Tapcons for ledger board?

Titen HD anchors (Tapcons on steroids as some call them) even in galvanized finish are not to be used in exterior application. Never to be used to attach Ledger Boards.

What bolts to use on a deck?

Type 304 or higher stainless steel is recommended for very wet environments such as poolside decks; or Type 326 for exposure to salt or saltwater. Watch out: Also, do not mix metals: Use stainless-steel fasteners with stainless-steel connectors and galvanized fasteners with galvanized connectors.

Can you nail a ledger board?

The spacing of your structural screws depends on the type of house rim you are attaching to and the length of the joists. Never install a ledger board with nails. Nails are not designed for this purpose and may withdraw over time.

Are lag bolts good for decks?

Using Lag Screws and Bolts for Building Decks



The first thing you should know is that a piece of wood connects a deck to a structure. This piece of wood is known as a “ledger board,” or a “ledger” for short. Lag screws are the traditional and recommended way to attach the ledger to a building.

How deep should a lag bolt go?

4.6 the minimum penetration (not including the length of the tapered tip) of the lag screw into the main member for single shear connections or the side member for double shear connections shall be four times the diameter, Pmin = 4Ø. A 1/2″ lag screw would therefore need roughly 4 * 1/2″ = 2″ penetration.

Should you drill pilot holes for lag bolts?

You must drill pilot holes so that you do not splinter the wood or damage the lag screw. Any screw with a large diameter needs a pilot hole for easier and quicker installation. Drilling a pilot hole ensures that your lag screw won’t break when you install it with a power drill. Torque can snap the head right off.

What is the difference between a lag bolt and a lag screw?

What is the difference between a lag bolt and a lag screw? In practice, there is no difference in the terms. They are used interchangeably to refer to the same fastener. Technically speaking, lags should be referred to as screws, not bolts.