Attaching new deck to house

[sk]

We are adding a deck to our home and have received conflicting advice
about how or even if we can attach the deck to the house. We have an
atrium ranch with a walk-out basement. The wall on the walk-out side
runs from the basement floor to the 1st floor ceiling where most of the
deck will be. Only a small section, near the top of the stairs along
this wall, has the 1st floor floor connected to it. One contractor
stated that he would not attach a ledger board to the house in this area
because he said the lag screws would damage the studs and cause problems
to the drywall interior. A second contractor said that nothing about
this and when I mentioned it he said it wouldn't be a problem. The
first contractor wanted to charge slightly more for added posts and
beams to support the deck. Who is right or does it make any difference?

[Bob Marencin]

well the best thing is not to use lag bolts but to use carridge bolts with
nuts and washers and everything is dipped galvanized not
plated that looks like chrome.
this means you have exposed bolts on the inside that would have
to be covered inside the wall.

it is dificult to say if you can do this.
If you have baloon framing where one long stud is running from the
basement to the top of the 1st floor wall and no rim joist is located
between the 2 floors then you are going to stress the studs latterly
and the connection will be poor. if built poorly a large party might not
only take out the deck but take out the side of the house too.

maybe in your situation you would be better off building a
free standing deck that uses inside (near the house) and outside
posts to support the deck totaly and the deck would attach to the
house mostly for decorative and flashing reasons.

if you build a free standing deck you will have to cross brace the
posts in all directions using a x pattern to make sure it will not
collapse. this will mean additional planning and professional design
and higher costs then an attached deck.

another solution may be opening the wall inside the house and building
in a support system. this will probably cost a lot though.

I realy think at minimum though you are looking at
pouring concrete footings and installing inside and outside 6"x6" posts.

ask a few more people out and ask them to refer you to a job that they
did thats very similar to yours.

you are going to pay a little more but you will be safe and happy

good luck
bob marencin
www.yourepair.com

"sk" <samk...@charter.net> wrote in message
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