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Attaching a deck to your house creates the potential for rot, not only to the ledger board that you attach to the house to support the deck, but to the house framing. Builders avoid rot by installing flashing along the top edge of the ledger board, but even when this is done according to accepted practices, it creates a pocket for debris to collect, and this can rot the decking board closest to the house. Whether you have wood, vinyl or aluminum siding, you can avoid this by oversizing the ledger board and creating space for water to run off.
How to Replace Deck Ledger Flashing: Tear off the HardiPlank lap siding and install new flashing to prevent ledger board rot. Make sure the house wrap is long enough to cover over the top of the drip cap. The deck flashing needs to overlap the deck. How to Replace Deck Ledger Flashing: Tear off the HardiPlank lap siding and install new flashing to prevent ledger board rot. When I bolt the ledger board to the house, I like to install 3 or 4 flat washers between the house and the ledger to allow water and moisture to escape and not get trapped. How to Replace Deck Ledger Flashing: Tear off the HardiPlank lap siding and install new flashing to prevent ledger board rot. Make sure the house wrap is long enough to cover over the top of the drip cap. Next, slide drip flashing behind the vinyl so the lip fits over the top of the ledger as shown at right. How to Install Hidden Deck Fasteners. Deck flashing at the edge of your deck is a very important detail, by using vinyl coated flashing your deck. This is the leading Edge in vinyl deck flashing. De Titre Commentaire; ForrestSt.
1
Make the ledger out of pressure-treated lumber that is 2 inches wider than the joists. For example, if the deck has 2-by-8-inch joists, use 2-by-10s for the ledger. When you install the joists with their bottom edges flush with the bottom of the ledger, the top edge of the ledger will be at the same level as the surface of the deck.
2
Install Z-flashing along the top edge of the ledger. The horizontal leg should be wide enough to extend all the way across the edge of the ledger, while the vertical leg should extend upward on the wall. Nail the flashing to the wall sheathing with galvanized nails.
3
Cover the top edge of the vertical leg of the flashing with waterproof tar paper or house wrap.
4
Leave a gap of 1 inch or more between the the top of the ledger and the edge of the vinyl siding when you install the bottom run of siding, which usually goes on first. This keeps the siding out of debris that may collect in the inside corner of the flashing and prevents mold from growing on it.
5
Leave a gap between the decking board closest to the house and the ledger. This gap can be the same size as that between the decking boards or 1/4 inch larger. It creates space for water and debris to drain off the ledger and fall to the ground instead of collecting on the deck.
Things You Will Need
- Pressure-treated lumber
- Z-flashing
- Galvanized nails
- Tap paper or house wrap
Tips
- The pressure-treated lumber you use for the ledger may contain copper compounds, which can corrode aluminum flashing. You can avoid this by using vinyl or galvanized steel flashing.
- Improve runoff by beveling the top of the ledger to 45 degrees. If you do this, you'll need to use flashing that conforms to that angle.
References (2)
About the Author
Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies.
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Learning how to install deck flashing can be a simple process if you know what you’re dealing with. Determining what kind of lumber you will be using to make your deck is very important before deciding what type of deck flashing to use. Whichever type you choose, the deck flashing will help protect your deck from rot and mildew problems. Use this step-by-step guide to help choose the right type of deck flashing and to learn how to install it. The tools and materials required for the job are given below.
Step 1 – Choose the Type of Deck Flashing
You first have to determine what type of lumber you want to build the deck with. You could have normally used copper, aluminum or vinyl deck flashing in recent times but now the lumber preserving process has changed. Lumber is now pressure-treated and coated with alkaline copper quat (ACQ). This is probably the lumber you will be using for building your deck. Use copper deck flashing if you are using this type of lumber. It will not get corroded easily by the ACQ.
Also, make sure the nails and other hardware you use are hot dipped galvanized types. They will be corrosion-resistant too and will add longevity to your deck and all the deck flashing fittings. Also, deck flashing comes in different sizes (i.e. lengths and widths). The size you decide to use will depend entirely on the size of deck you are willing to build.
Step 2 – Cut the Copper Deck Flashing
If you’re going to use a 10 feet ledger board, use a 10 feet 4 inches copper deck flashing. This will make sure you have plenty of room for the deck flashing to run past the ledger board.
Step 3 – Install Deck Flashing on Top and Underneath the Deck Board
Once you have cut the deck flashing material to size, install the deck flashing on top of the ledger board and underneath the ledger board. Fasten it into place by using staples or roofing nails.
How To Install Duraflash Vinyl Deck Flashing To Houses
Step 4 – Install Grace Ice and Water Shield
Vinyl Flashing
When installing the deck flashing on the top side of the ledger board and underneath the board for prevention of water accumulation, make sure you apply it over a sheet of grace ice and water shield. This will further prevent any water to enter into the sides of your deck and will protect it from rotting. The trick is to make sure that there is no space between the housing panels and the deck lumber.
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The water shield and the copper deck flashing should be placed in between the deck’s lumber and the house panels so that during a rainy season for example, no water can seep into the edges and cause harm to the construction. If you do not do this well or have not cut the copper deck flashing to the right size, the damage can be bigger long-term. Over years, the deck can gradually separate itself from the house wall panels and you don’t want to be standing over the deck during a party or BBQ when that happens.