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
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Why Is Your House Cold?
How many of you have experienced this situation? As the wind blows outside and the temperature drops, you get chilled even while you are standing in the middle of your home.
Tips for Designing with Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floor styles come in strips, planks and parquet, and are available with numerous edge treatments such as square, micro, and beveled edges. The state-of-the-art technology and almost limitless choices of today's stains, finishes, styles and designs makes hardwood flooring one of the most practical and versatile floor coverings available.
Tips and Suggestions To Help You Plan and Build Your Own Log Home
Log Cabin Homes: They have come a long way. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you plan and build your own. Plus be sure to consider the floor plans and not overlook anything.
The Great American Dream
Are you ready to starting building your dream home. House plan designs are abundant and easy to customize. Just getting started can sometimes be quite confusing.
Heres How To Know Which Kitchen Design Is Right For You
Kitchen design is a sea of opportunity filled with potential. Color schemes, wallpaper and other aesthetic additions will make up the design portion of your kitchen. The future is here with the introduction of kitchen design software; you no longer have to go to a showroom.
Poster, Print or Painting. Where Are You Going To Put It?
If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house, care has to be taken where your piece of art is to be displayed. Even if you have bought a picture on impulse there are a few tips that will not only enhance the picture but its surroundings.
Dual Pane Window Glass Repair
For the past few weeks, I have been explaining how to repair a broken window pane in your home. But, what if you have dual pane windows? Is the process the same? Well, pretty much, except for a couple of variations. So, let's review the single pane repair process, and I will point out the differences regarding dual pane windows.
CCTV for the Home
Securing your property is one of the growing domestic issues in the UK today. Some research suggests that at least one home is broken into every minute. Therefore, protecting homes and properties has become a priority and the advent of Closed Circuit Televisions or CCTVs is timely to say the least and can be employed for this purpose.
Building Your Dream Home ? Part 2
Razing the Cottage
Quick and Dirty Guide to Wood Flooring
If you've always longed for hardwood floors, you're in good company. While soft wooden floors date back to the Colonial era, hardwood floors first burst on the scene in the late 17th century. If you only know that you want hardwood floors gracing your home, read this quick and dirty guide so that your head won't spin when you talk with your contractor. This ten-minute read will guide you through the basics of wood species, grades, types and styles.
Installing Vinyl Replacement Windows In A Wood Frame Opening
When we left off last week, we had removed the old wood sash windows and prepared the opening for the vinyl replacement windows. Now it's time to install your new windows. You should have someone there to help you when doing the installation. First, Remove all shipping materials from the window. Now, if you are installing several different sizes, make sure you are putting the correct window in the correct opening. You need to put the window into the opening to make sure it's going to fit, then remove it and run a bead of caulk on the face of the outside blind stop where the window will rest. You don't want to caulk, only to discover the windows are too big. It's worth the extra few minutes to make sure it's going to fit. Lift the window and set the bottom in first. Then raise the top until it rests against the outside blind stops. Sometimes, when raising the top into position, the window frame will hit the top of the wood frame. You need to tap down on the top of the vinyl frame while keeping pressure towards the outside.
Building a Backyard Play Structure
A child's dream backyard includes a play structure complete with a slide and swings just like the one at the neighborhood park. Once you have made the decision to make your child's dream come true then you have several avenues from which to select depending on the amount of money and time you can invest.
Heated Driveways: Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How
What are heated driveways? The obvious answer is, "a driveway that is heated," but what actually heats the driveway? The best driveway heating systems are radiant heating systems, similar to indoor floor heating systems. There are primarily two methods for heating, electric and hydronic. Electric systems use a line-voltage cable, while hydronic systems generate hot water then pump it through plastic PEX tubing. The heating elements are embedded in the surface and use resistant heating to heat the surrounding area. Most systems incorporate an automatic sensor that detects inclement weather to activate the system. Electric systems tend to be more efficient, require less maintenance, and heat surfaces quicker. Hydronic systems are usually slightly more expensive to purchase and install, but the operational can be lower depending on their local fuel rates. Both systems have their advantages, however, the electric systems are gaining a lot of interest due to their price, ease of installation and threatening future of the cost of fuel.
Deck Design - Why Firm Foundations Are Essential
Preparing a deck design for your backyard is all the
rage as a home improvement project for this summer,
however there is great temptation to build a pallet like
structure that just sits on the ground outside your back
door.
Conservatory Planning Permission in the UK
It is quite unusual in the UK for a new conservatory to require planning permission. However, as we shall continually state in this article it is always sensible to check with your local authority. As there is always some element of the project that is quite unusual it is prudent to get permission. If in any doubt at all you should contact your local authority for confirmation. This is particularly so in Scotland where the rules governing conservatory planning permission differ somewhat from the rest of the UK.
How To Artify Your Home
Would you like to make your house feel more like a home? Is it comfortable enough, but not really special? If so, I have some easy 'arty' tips to make your environment that bit more special.
Buyers Guide For Copper MailBoxes
Mailboxes crafted from copper give you traditional elegance
and extraordinary quality. Copper mailboxes will never rust
or go out of style. The beauty of a copper mailbox is
unmatched and you will get many years of use from a durable
mailbox made of high quality copper. You will be able to
choose from many styles and designs, and you can even have
your new copper mail box customized to fit your exact
specifications. There are many choices and you can be
assured that you will be receiving the best mailbox
available at a reasonable cost.
Is It Time For Solar Energy to Get Hot?
Solar energy has been around for quite a while and most people don't think about it much except for the ones who are already into renewable sources of energy. Environmentalists have always loved the idea of solar energy but what has kept it from going more mainstream, being more widely used and looked upon as something someone wants to spend money to install on their property? There have been improvements in the technology of solar energy, but has there been enough? Isn't the war on terror and the desire to be independent of foreign energy sources enough to persuade people to use solar energy? At what point will solar energy become the great and never ending source of energy many of envisioned many years ago?
Grandfather Clocks Bring a Sense of Awe?Theyre So Tall
Standing tall and big are the stately grandfather clocks. They are huge, immense beings with personalities of their own, and do they tell time. Boy oh boy - do they tell time. They also go ding dong a lot. At least the antique grand father clocks would.
Lighting up Your Life
You are visiting a friend that has just had a beautiful kitchen remodel done. It is a lovely kitchen with stunning granite countertops and a sharp looking tile backsplash. The glass door cabinets are filled with the good china. Somehow after spending a small fortune the room still looks a bit drab.
|
