Dr Woeste from the engineering Department at Virginia Tech sent this link out and asked that it be spread around, please do. This is an important issue, deck collapses have been on the rise in recent years and there have been some really bad ones.
http://www.componentadvertiser.com/Portals/0/Downloads/Library/1707/All%20Things%20Wood_Frank%20Woeste%201707.pdf
Good post!
I happen to have a deck I need to rebuild sooner rather than later. I've been struggling with how to attach a second story deck to a balloon framed structure. Simpson makes some hardware that I found, but honestly it looks no better than lag bolting a ledger into the studs. Anyone ever tackle this problem (problem being no rim joist).
Thanks Don P. Looks like more work for me. :(
Sorry Dave, but worth moving up high on the honeydew list.
Mike, I've not done it for a deck but have attached porch roof ledgers to studs using ledgerlock screws and carefully finding the centers of the studs using a drill or visually if there is access to see. Posts is obviously the best support if there is any way to do it.
We had our first serious earthquake here from the other side of the Sierra in spring, (weird) and I was looking at beefing up the posts and the attachment to the deck. I will buy some 2" lag screws and do the ledger also ! Thank-you for the timely post!
The tip of the lag needs to penetrate through a single rim joist about 1/2" to have sufficient "grab", they don't want to count on the tip. If the ledger is 1.5", there is 1/2" sheathing and a 1.5" rim, the lag needs to be 4" minimum long. If there is siding or a gap upsize the length accordingly.
Yea I read that about the fastener length, the fun part is finding the stud in a finished house underneath. I am sure it will be much better than just the nails that were shot in 2005. d*