are joist hangers required by code

Articles will be published online soon. The average frost line in Massachusetts is between 30 and 35 inches. 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. 3 0 obj Guard rails can be either 36 to 42 inches high (refer to your local code for guidance). To learn more about the app, visit www.azek.com. In many locations along a ledger strip, the nail shanks between the 2x2 ledger strips and the face of the beams or rim joists were totally red rust, indicating that the nail connections no longer provided load support for the joists bearing on them. /Contents 8 0 R>> TJDp9 !P]}UrPE1b-w)Ku keWa9*%k+BOjCXRd_=6%3&U-H;7 $C']y8ecda |[DA(e4L0B3h^2q>LL'^ew NU"Tum%Fx..&h'~5h~VkpXY6xOj2'DvLF#Po-+s/8;vW.&wO22x61Er Loads were applied by a hydraulic ram controlled by a uniform downward movement, allowing the load value to peak and then fall off to a much lower value. Youre probably saying, wait what about the footings? Sometimes the area below an elevated deck has siding, so I install the rubber to overlap a siding course and then cover with the last siding course or trim. I am having a deck built & several people have told me that it is not being built to current codes. Before joist hangers became widely available, ledger strips were commonly used to help support toe-nailed joists, whether the joists were hung from an interior rim joist or flush beam or from an exterior deck ledger. If you calculate the weight of the entire deck, the furniture placed on it and the combined weight of a large group of people who might be standing on it, you will be shocked at the number. If youve always dreamed of building your own deck but were hesitant to tackle such a large, complicated construction project, well Im here to tell you its not that difficult. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; endstream maximum riser height. It's easy to do. Clearly, the 10D ring-shank stainless steel nails (SSA10DD 3-in. Neither the measured nor the tag dimensions conform to the nominal dimensions of a 2x2 specified in the 2015 IRC. The reality is that the last board usually gets ripped to size, and we hate installing a 1- to 2-in. Some carpenters will put trim on the deck and side to that trim, or simply keep the siding off the decking 1/2 to 1 inch. mqLL]=*g65;$(u53UA|p%RY5'Ql2K"Q"GT1;mC|&'F\tY%1zX! 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. The wider base also helps prevent frost heave from lifting the deck. Local codes were created to keep us safe, and many existing decks do not meet current safety codes. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Even a small deck might weigh in at 10,000 or more pounds. On one side of the assembly, a simulated 2x8 joist was supported by a 2x2 ledger strip nailed to a 2x12 with four 10D (3-in. You can determine this by using an approved manufacturers product data based on the dimensions of your joists or header. Every year we hear about decks that collapse under the weight of people or snow load. In a perfect world a full-width board would drop into place, and the deck would be complete. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Before the vertical load was applied to the test assembly, the 2x2 ledger strip was snugly attached to the simulated 2x12 deck ledger. sphere can not pass between them. Definitely don't build like that. Joseph Loferski is Professor of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech University. When we get to the last few deck boards next to the house, we measure and to determine the width of the very last board. 8 0 obj lateral connections from the deck to the floor joists within the house. 3m'h8$SNHyTjUJrfn!s[xl|Dts5j{F>$kM xFcy'w'wBVv@40c9yo:g%+S'va=T}Z`|SvGe}1.S4`lO{;D|>ba|nww?}! 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 Most deck footings these days are either poured in place or precast. As we applied a load to the test assembly (46), we were particularly interested to see the counterclockwise rotation of the 2x2 ledger strip, which created a pronounced V between the 2x2 and deck ledger (or support beam). We are not aware of issues with 2x2 ledgers used inside residences in dry conditions; however, a word of caution is warranted for the possibility of high moisture exposure for the ledger connections, such as in an improperly maintained crawlspace. For exterior use, we always use pressure-treated lumber for our framing. 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. In my neck of the woods I always try to install my ledger board so my finished deck height is 7 inches below the house interior floor. In this situation, the soil under each deck footing may be called upon to support 3,000 plus pounds. deviation from one another is allowed by code but should be avoided. 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. As the ledger-strip connection was configured, the polymer-coated steel nails were stressed in bending and subject to withdrawal. With the new app, its easy to turn dreams of outdoor living spaces into visual reality with a simple tap or swipe using five different product scenarios. endobj amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; 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. The ledger board must be located 4 to 7-3/4 inches below the door sill. The temporary board gauges our 3/4-in. I have been told that current codes require joist hangers to be used. AZEK Building Products is making it easier than ever to visualize new deck, railing, paver and trim products on a home. Composite decking is simple to maintain and offers superior stain, fade, scratch and mold resistance. The DTT1Z deck tension tie is a safe and time-saving alternative that eliminates the need to access floor joists from inside the house. We then square one end of the first deck board and install it flush over the 3/4-in. endobj stream On some of our decks we use composite deck boards. 5Ts)1 FWrd>vuxG7@G>HP^Sr9"4f YcZeX)~H,ta$Zm:p{)|VdW)E#JDNK"PGvog_ /I A`B\hliSn9s:E.cn9Sb%2\ UZaIiH,|FoXNZ(`;N@). We let the end of the decking run long, off the deck, and cut it later with a track saw. The DTT1Z addresses a new 2015 International Residential Code provision (section R507.2.4) that allows four 750-lb. amzn_assoc_linkid = "e460c52c4a6fb230554ebb90fb2f96ff"; Tell them to stop right now and give you your money back. :F(6}BS|W+RW`??zD*PCke I use for building. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; When planning a deck, one begins with the sizes of the framing material. My inspector wants to see deck footings 48 inches deep. /Group <> Recently, we load-tested 2x2 ledger strips to see how they might perform in service. 5 0 obj The design of the test specimens was guided by nailing requirements in the 2015 IRC and by the availability of PT 2x2s in a local big-box store. 2004-2021 Decksgo.com. I start all of my decks by determining the length of the ledger board. Easy Code-Compliant Solution for Attaching Decks to Homes. Frank Woeste is professor emeritus at Virginia Tech University and a wood construction consultant. I use 1/2-in. Once you have determined your joist size, use this size lumber for all components of the deck frame, ledger, perimeter rim joists and blocking. This rule also assumes you are spacing your joists 16 inches on center. \I'KjK4@7$,'e|t3 !tVBIQ9RSDWFQF89Q7 If a decks guard-posts anchoring does not have a minimum allowable tension load of 1,800 lbs. Larger diameter footings spread the weight out over more soil area. You want to ensure that your deck support posts resist lateral and uplift movement. Simply click here to return to. Layout of a deck sometimes starts on that proverbial napkin drawing and needs to be transformed into reality. x 0.148-in.). Follow IRC code requirements when installing fasteners into guard posts. In this article we demonstrate the proper techniques for building a small, simple, low-to-ground deck. 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. Simpson Strong-Tie introduces a new deck tension tie for attaching a deck to a home that meets newly updated code standards. On the other end, the joist was supported by a stainless steel joist hanger. 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). Depending on the porch load, the diameter of the hole will probably range between 8 and 24 inches. This area will later also receive a copper, galvanized or PVC ledger flashing cap. 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. For example, if the diameter of a 10D common nail is reduced by half due to red rust, the nail design load capacity is reduced to one quarteror 25%of the original value (see graph, above). This is faster than trying to measure each board and get the ends to match up. xXn6|W^Hq[cy$JM Home Newest Articles How To Build a Code Compliant Deck. 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. #SJj As can be seen by the separation between the joist and the ledger after completion of the load test, a supported floor and ledger would have collapsed under a gravity-type loading, such as the load produced by deck occupants. Since we did not design a beam in this deck, the outside rim joist is then tripled, and is supported by the deck posts. Use washers at the carriage-bolt head and the bolt nut. 2, and the third as No. I also like using structural screws because they dont require pre-drilling, are corrosion-resistant and are designed to be used with pressure-treated lumber. 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. endobj Once installed the plugs almost disappear. pilot holes. 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 []. The decking surface is also easier to clean, which equates to less maintenance. <> amzn_assoc_asins = "B08V8BMFCX,B09BVFRBS8,B09T6TT5ZH,B09XFGM7BX,B09TS1QGXF,B091DBPYDK,B08V88B31L,B08BZKNDT6,B09M7M7QW1"; Sign up for the monthly EHT Newsletter including DIY tips, industry updates, trends, and more, The Oak 70.XTRA is an adjustable premier series spiral staircase that features solid Oak wooden stair treads and landing to complement and add style to any interior living space. To avoid this, we rip the final three or four boards down 3/4 to an inch and install them. diameter sphere to pass through. Deck posts should be 46 pressure-treated lumber and have galvanized or stainless steel connectors attaching them to the rim joist. amzn_assoc_asins = "B0B3F5RNJ7,B07R8WGQGM,B00VTVUSM4,B07QS52LQL"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; 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. The first problem is that the grade of a piece of lumber, such as a 2x6 No. This means that proper attachment to the house is extremely important. After ensuring that the sheathing is structurally sound, we cover the area above and below the ledger board location with self-adhering rubber. Additional metal connectors can be used to connect stair stringers to the deck frame. There are approximately 40 million decks in the United States, and only half of those are code-compliant. We use our speed squares to space the deck boards from each other during installation. board flush to one side rim joist. "o:br6DQ|N?Lf;?X(6?g?vwC&&pnb2 +&|/THVNIY|U]! This method gives the appearance of all full boards at the house. If the stairs have an open riser they should not allow a 4-in. In a coastal setting and under service loads, the water-trapping joint is transformed into a V, creating a valley that traps both water and sea salts (in our example, of course, the width of the V is exaggerated due to our load testing; under more typical conditions, the rotation of the 2x2 is still present, but less pronounced). There are no inspectors in our area. 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. 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. endobj Once the footing is cured we install support posts. diameter galvanized bolts and washers for which I drill 17/32- to 9/16-in. 4m'Exom>9X~3m For lateral support, three 10D toenails were installed, with two on one side of the 2x8 joist and one on the other side, per the 2015 IRC. Roofing nails, screws and box nails have no place in any metal connector system and should be avoided and replaced at all costs. Simply click here to return to Framing and Decking Forum. In some cases where a deck collapsed, later investigations have shown that the shanks and heads of the nails had been totally consumed by oxidation. 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. Learn more at www.strongtie.com. A user can even invite others to experience it. down from the beam and 24 in. And, after completion, the dream design can be saved, adding notes or tags, and then shared with friends. ledger strips outlast joist hangers. Deck support posts should be mechanically fastened both to the footing in the ground and the deck frame or beam. Install the blocking flush with the top of the deck frame. Also, make sure to install a properly sized nail or fastener into every metal connector hole provided. Next, its time to install the joists. 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. As a practical matter, ledger strips used outdoors are required to be pressure treated, typically southern pine (SP) in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast. On one end, the joist was supported by a 2x2 ledger nailed to the 2x12. for a 36-in. endobj To measure the load capacity and deflection of a 2x2 ledger connection per the 2015 IRC, the authors assembled this laboratory test. Use two through-bolts and ametal tension tie for theupper bolt connection. temporary board. This provision is an alternative to using two 1,500-lb. Often times scrap materials from your framing lumber may be used for blocking; we often use joist cut-offs. Stepping down 7 inches onto the deck reduces snow buildup and rain splashing and getting in under the house door. polymer-coated smooth-shank nails. One solution is to rip larger sizes of treated 2-by stress-rated material (such as PT No. All rights reserved. For example, if half the 0.148-inch diameter of a 10d common nail is lost due to red rust, the nails NOTE The latest building codes require decks supported by a house to be built with a positive attachment to resist lateral loads. We went to our local big-box lumberyard and purchased dimensional PT framing lumber and 2x2x8s for our testing. This requires accessing the basement rim joist area. The posts should be a minimum 44 size and be solidly anchored to the deck joist and rim joist of the structure. In my experience this rule of thumb always comes in shorter than the building codes allowwhich is a good thing! This is a 2000 square ft. deck & they have just begun, so I need to know if this is up to codes. )5 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. 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. Diagonal braces should be installed at a 45-degree angles 24 in. x 0.148-in.) amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Use the recommended nails and fasteners for the metal connector youre installing. <> We then add additional temporary support legs and start digging the footings. 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. This provides even, consistent and professional looking deck-board spacing. 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. Youve just built your first deck and you might as well start enjoying it. mJx:&p?8xg!3f|i>P701&MT3uc,Azox/S \PNyf YLRjR8OFpaC*.XOfp).S[\"q=} We snap a chalk lines across the joists to lay out blocking. JLC Online: Best practices for professional builders and remodelers. Based on published nail design load values, a 10D (3-in. Joists typically extend from the ledger-board connected to the house. maximum railing height, they should be replaced. /7_9V gaZqxaVEv[jIeXmEon[%n OnK|ZVR+ G[I: ground spikes at each corner of the deck. This will only get worse (and more dangerous). NqkI}?^(:Y1[2acAja5OZSv+6M~i(4X\Vmq7wWqs 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. not with that half inch crack in the bottom. Toe-nailing or direct nailing of joists is no longer an acceptable way to secure joists without additional support, so we add metal joist hangers afterward. I've seen lots of amateurs build better than that. Whatever your reason for building a deckfor entertaining, relaxing or outdoor living, you will need to consider materials for your decking. I lay out the deck using 12-in. For better visualization you can join the spikes with string to show the perimeter of the deck. But now builders commonly use joist hangers, and while ledger strips are still OK to use in interior applications, the 2018 edition of the IRC no longer permits their use on exterior decks (2018 IRC R507.6.1). 1. x 0.148-in.) amzn_assoc_linkid = "e64acee35ad75623b63a20b5b7748419"; /Group <> Copyright 2022 Zonda Media, a Delaware corporation. As red rust attacks the shank of a steel nail and effectively decreases its diameter, the design load capacity of the nail decreases accordingly. 6 0 obj endstream Check your local building code to confirm fastener spacing in your area. Prior to installing a ledger board you first need to remove existing house siding and trim from the house to expose the sheathing. Follow the metal connector manufacturers recommendations for fastening any metal connector in your deck. Our objective wasnt to test the capacity of the joist hanger connection. We then install all of our perimeter trim on the rim boards prior to applying decking. If your deck is more than 30 inches off the ground it requires guardrails or handrails. The diameter of the holes for your footings especially large ones, create significant concentrated loads within the soil. After exploring the two-dimensional visualization and customizing the product color schemes, the user can then take the design to the level of cutting-edge 3D technology to bring an entire house to life. The deck we build in this article is approximately 20 inches off the ground and as a result is not required by code to have a railing system on the steps or deck. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "eht1-20"; Fill them with concrete, using a shovel to work out air pockets. He is also the editor of a www.AConcordCarpenter.com. Apply the J-bolt and allow the concrete to cure for one week. 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. Clearly, when the shank diameters of the nails holding a ledger strip in place are reduced by 50% due to red rust, the ledger-strip-to-joist connection is well beyond its useful lifetime. 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. 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. 12x 20 on both sides of the house. fwoeste@vt.edu. Now is the time to clean up your tools and celebrate. Should You Consider Switching to Cost-Plus Pricing? amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; 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. The DTT1Z fastens to the narrow or wide face of a single 2x with Strong-Drive SD Connector screws. If at all possible I install through-bolts through the ledger and house rim board. 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. 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. xR +at*u76S D%UU! I think I might be over-engineering this but I live in CT and I'm also worried about snow weight. Also available are colored screws to match the decking, as well as various hidden-fastener systems that are concealed beneath the deck boards. Check your local codes to see if this is required in your area. Install blocking in each joist bay, alternating the block along the chalk line to allow direct nailing. d# It also allows for me to install ledger flashing. Once the home has been customized, it will be easy to imagine how a family might enjoy their outdoor spaces.

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