How to Anchor a Deck to a Wall

Anchoring your deck to the house wall is one of the most crucial steps in building your attached deck. The process involves installing what contractors and professional builders call a ledger board, which is what allows you to attach the deck. Though attaching the ledger board is a relatively easy process, it is important to pay close attention to the details of the process to ensure that your deck is provided with a proper anchor to the wall.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Level
• Pencil
• Measuring tape
• Circular saw
• Chisel
• Hammer
• Drip edge
• Pressure-treated ledger board
• Nails or screws
• Drill
• Drill bit
• 1-inch paddle bit
• Socket wrench
• Lag bolts
• Washers
• Silicone caulking
• Caulk gun

1. Determine the location of your ledger board. This will depend on the height of your deck and should be clearly marked in your deck plans.

2. Use a level to clearly mark the location of the ledger board on the wall. Remember that you'll need to mark out an area slightly larger than the ledger board itself to accommodate the outside joists as well as any other decorative elements that you may wish to add onto your finished deck.

3. Set your circular saw to the exact depth of your siding. You only want to cut through and remove the siding from your house, not the protective sheathing underneath the siding.

4. Cut the siding from the wall, following the outline carefully. Use a chisel and a hammer to help cut out and remove any of the areas that your circular saw cannot get to, such as the corners. Use the chisel with the flat side facing the finished edge of the siding.

5. Measure the entire length of the cut hole.

6. Mark and measure out the length of the drip edge to match the length of the cutout exactly.

7. Cut the drip edge with large metal shears. Install the drip edge by slipping it under the siding.

8. Measure the length for the ledger board, which should be slightly less than the length of the opening, depending on the width of the joists and decorative elements. Cut the ledger board to fit the dimensions of your anchor hole.

9. Secure the ledger board in place by tacking it to the wall with a few nails or screws.

10. Drill pilot holes about 1.5 inches from the top and bottom edges of the ledger board. The pilot holes should be about 2 feet apart and extend the length of the ledger board.

11. Use a 1-inch paddle bit to go back and drill about .5 inches into the pilot holes. These holes will enable you to countersink your lag bolts.

12. Use a socket wrench to anchor the ledger board to the wall with lag bolts and washers.

13. Seal the ledger board by using a silicone caulking in the holes and along the drip edge.

14. Secure your joists to this ledger board to anchor the deck to the wall once you reach that stage of building your new deck.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use pressure-treated wood when choosing the lumber for your ledger board. This helps the wood withstand weather conditions as well as insects, mold and mildew.
• Install the ledger board at least 1 inch below all the doors that will eventually open up onto your completed deck to prevent rainwater, ice or snow from seeping into the house as it builds up on the deck floor.