How to Hang a Ledger Board

Prepare the house for the ledger board. If installing the ledger to new construction, you don't need to make any special preparations. If you're adding a deck to a house with existing siding, you must remove siding in order to accommodate the ledger board. Use the circular saw to cut and remove wood siding, or peel away the siding until you clear enough space.

Tack the ledger board into place with 16d nails. Use a level to ensure the board is in proper position.

Drill pilot holes into the ledger board. These holes should accommodate your lag bolts and be spaced 16 to 24 inches apart, staggered top to bottom across the board.

Slide a washer on each lag bolt and drive the bolts through the ledger board into the house. Put a little silicone caulking in each hole before you insert the bolt, then tighten each bolt accordingly.

Bend the flashing so it goes under the siding and over the ledge board. This directs all water from the house away from the siding and keeps it from finding its way behind the ledger board. If your flashing isn't long enough to span the ledger, overlap the flashing by three inches and apply silicone caulking where the flashing overlaps. You're now ready to continue building your deck.