Step 1: Determine Placement of the Joist

Place a joist on top of the beams and pull it tight to the wall of the house.  Place a level on top of the joist and make sure the joist is level. The top of the joist should align with the mark made when the beams were installed.

Step 2: Repeat Process

Repeat this process on each end of the deck giving three marks along the house notating the top of the ledger board.

Step 3: Snap a Chalk Line

Snap a chalk line along the house using the three marks made earlier. To do this with one person, place a screw at one of the marks on the end of the deck.

Hook one end of the chalk line on the screw and pull the line across to the other side of the deck.  Hold the line tight and pull the line out away from the house with the opposite hand.  Let the line go to snap the line.  Do this two times to ensure all areas are marked with the chalk.

Layout of the ledger is the process of marking where the joists, guardrail posts, stairs and any other accessories will go. It is important to do this process first to make sure these pieces do not interfere with each other. In the case where the pieces do intersect, they can be adjusted in the planning process. If proper planning is not taken during this step, you may need to disassemble and move pieces later, which will extend your timeline and budget.

Step 1: Determine Length of The Front Rim Joist and Ledger Board

The first step is to get the length of the front rim joist and ledger board. The front rim joist will be the same length as the beam that was installed. For a refresher on the beam installation, check out our guide on "How to Install Deck Frame Beams and Posts."

This measurement can be verified by measuring against the house where the deck ledger board will be placed.  The ledger board will be 3” shorter than the front rim joist. This is to allow the side rim joists, which are 1 ½”, to overlap the ledger board and connect through the joist and into the ledger board. The side rim joist will connect with the front rim joist overlapping it.

Place the ledger board and the front rim joist on top of the beam, or a set of sawhorses can be used.  This puts the ledger board and front rim joist in the correct position of how they will be placed on the deck frame so that the marks are visible. Place the ledger board 1 ½” in on each side from the front rim joist and in the vertical position.

Step 2: Mark the Accessory Placement

The accessories need to be marked next.  In this case the main accessory will be the breaker board that goes down the middle of the deck.  Breaker boards can be used when the deck is longer than 20’ and multiple shorter pieces of decking have to be used.  The breaker board gives a pattern design to the decking and eliminates multiple seems throughout the deck.  Breaker boards can also be used on shorter decks as a design feature.  In this case the breaker board is due to the deck being longer than 20’.  To determine where the breaker board will be placed, measure on top of the ledger board and front rim joist to find the center point of the deck.

Using the center line, mark 2 ¾” to each side of the line.  This will give 5 ½” total which is the width of a decking board.  That will put a joist at each side of the decking board to support it.

Extend the lines on to each of the ledger boards and the front rim joist.

Measure in from those lines 1 ½” on each side.  Extend the lines through both boards and place an "X" in between the lines.  This shows where the joists will be placed.

These two joists will support the decking breaker board.

The breaker board will have decking boards perpendicular to it.  This means that those deck boards will have to be supported on the ends. This will be done by placing a joist next to the breaker board joist. It is good practice to leave ½” in between the joists to let water and debris flow between them. If the joists are tight together then rot can occur and reduce the life of the deck frame. To place these joists, measure ½” from the breaker board joist and make a mark.

Next, mark 1 ½” from that mark and put an "X" in between the lines.  This is where the joist will be placed.

These joists will support the decking board ends that meet the breaker board.

Now, it is time to mark out the location of the guardrail posts.  Marking the guardrail posts will ensure that they do not hit any joists making the install quicker and simpler.

Step 1: Mark the Post at One End of the Deck

Start by marking a post at the end of one side of the deck.  This mark will be on top of the ledger board and front rim joist.  Remember to place the guardrail post 1 ½” inside the edge of the deck. The side rim joist is there, and the post will need to be inside that joist. 

Step 2: Account for Stairways

In this case, there is a stairway on the end.  There will be a post on the edge of the stairway, so measure the distance from the end of the deck frame.  This measurement will be listed on the plans. In this instance, 45” was measured from the edge of the deck frame. This will also be the inside edge of the next guardrail post.

Mark where the post will be placed, then mark the center of the post.  4x4s are 3 ½” wide so the middle of the post will be 1 ¾”.  Once the center is marked, a screw can be fastened at that mark to hold the tape measure.

Step 3: Mark the Post at The Opposite End of the Deck

Mark the center of the post at the other end of the deck frame and measure between the two posts.  Place the tape measure on the screw fastened to the center point of the first post.  Pull the tape and measure to the center of the end post. The center points of the posts are important as the next measurements will be to the center of all posts.  Doing this allows for just one measurement instead of having to measure to each side of the post.

Step 4: Determine How Many Railing Sections are Needed

Now, divide that measurement to find how many sections of rail there will be. The guardrail being used will determine how far the posts can be placed apart.  Check with the railing manufacturer and the local municipality for specifications and codes for guardrails. The guardrail in this project is Trex Select® Railing and has a max span of 72”.  The posts cannot span more than 72” in between the edges of the posts. In this case, the measurement was 205 ½”.  205.5 will be divided into equal sections that need to be under 72”.  First attempt was 205.5/4=51.375.  That means that there would be 4 sections that measured center to center 51.375”.  

Another try was made to see if the number of rail sections could be reduced to 3.  205.5/3=68.5.  This gave 3 sections of rail at 68 ½”.  Since 68 ½” is under the max span of 72”, reducing the number of sections to 3 instead of 4 will work.

Step 5: Mark Remaining Guardrail Posts

Start at the center of the end post and measure 68 ½”.  Mark this point and repeat until the other end of the deck is reached.

Step 1: Confirm Decking Span Distance

With the breaker board and guardrail post locations established, the joists can now be located and marked. Joist on center placement is based on the ability of the decking to span a certain distance.  Check with the decking manufacturer to verify the spanning distance. In this case, Trex Enhance® decking will be used. Trex Enhance® decking can span 16” on center for the joists when the decking is run perpendicular, 90 degrees, to the joists.  That means that in between the joists would be 14 ½”. At no point can there be a span of more than 14 ½”.  There can be less as some joists will end up close together but none of them will be more than 16” on center. Decking can be placed diagonally on the deck. In this situation, check with the manufacturer’s install guide to determine what the maximum span is for diagonal decking.  The spans will differ based on 60-, 45-, and 30-degree angles. For this project, we used the Trex Installation Guide to confirm our span. In this case, the joist will be marked at 16” on center as the decking is perpendicular to the joists.  

Step 2: Mark Joist Placement

Hook the tape measure on the end of the front rim joist and pull the tape measure along the front rim joist to see where the joists will be at 16” on center.  When the guardrail post is present, make sure that the post is in between the joists when they are placed 16” on center.

If the post is in between the joists, keep measuring to the next accessory. In this case, the next guardrail post and the joists for the breaker board are in the same area.  The joists at 16” on center, the red marks on the tape measure, and the post do not intersect.  The joists for the breaker board and the next joist in line end up being less than 16” on center so there is no conflict with this post and joist. Keep measuring the joists to the next post.

Step 3: Adjust Joist Placement in Cases Where it Overlaps with a Guardrail Post

At this location, the post is in the same location as the joist.  To avoid the post and joist hitting each other, the joist is moved to the side of the post where the tape is coming from. That means that the distance from the moved joist to the previous joist will be less than 16”. 

Restart the process by hooking the tape measure on the edge of the moved joist and measuring 16” on center for the rest of the joists.  In this case the remaining joists did not interfere with any more posts.

With any interference moved to the side, the joists can now be marked on to the ledger board and front rim joist.  Hook the tape measure and pull it along marking every 16” on center and then marking an X next to the line.  If the tape is being pulled from left to right, mark the line, and then place the X on the right side of the line. If the tape is being pulled from right to left, mark the line, and then place the X on the left side of the line. Once all the joists have been marked on the top of the ledger board and front rim joist, transfer the lines down the face of the boards.

Fastening the ledger to the house is a critical connection.  This connection holds up the entire deck, so the placement and type of fasteners used are very important. 

Step 1: Check with your Local Municipality

Check with the local municipality for the placement of the fasteners and the types of fasteners that are approved. In this situation, two fasteners are started at 2” from the end of the ledger board.

These two fasteners will also have to be spaced appropriately top to bottom.  In this case, the top fastener needs to be 2” from the top of the board. The bottom fastener needs to be at least 4 ½” away from the top of the ledger board. It also has to be more than 2” from the bottom of the board.  In this case, the bottom fastener was placed at 5 ¼” which met both of the specifications.

These fastener placements will be different depending on the size of the material used, 2x8, 2x10, 2x12 etc.  They will also be different depending on the municipality in that area.  Always check with the local municipality before planning and installing these fasteners.  

Step 2: Mark Fastener Locations

Transfer these two marks down the entire board. 

Repeat this process for the next mark. Some common fasteners used may be, ½” galvanized lags, ½” galvanized bolts, or engineered screws.  Each of these fasteners will have different specifications for how many and how far apart the fasteners can be spaced.  Check with the local municipality and the manufacturer for spacing on the fasteners. In this case a Simpson Strong Tie SDWS 4” Timber screw was used.

These fasteners are specified to be 22” on center in a staggered pattern. That means that the first screw will be placed at the top of the board and the next one will be 22” away on the bottom of the board; this pattern will be repeated all the way down the ledger board. 

Laying out the fasteners ahead of time will show whether any of the fasteners will be behind a joist or under a joist hanger. It is much easier to make changes and adjustments for these issues now than in the building phase.

Mark the top or bottom at this point so that it is notated whether the fastener goes on top or bottom of the board.

Measure the next 22” with the pattern block.  In this case, it falls under a joist hanger.

Step 3: Adjust Fastener Placement In Cases Where It Overlaps with a Joist Hanger

To avoid the fastener being under the joist hanger, move the fastener back about 1”.  By moving the fastener back 1” the spacing is kept under the 22” maximum that they can be spaced.  If the fastener would have been moved ahead 1” the span would have been greater than 22” and out of code. Now, the fastener is accessible.

With the fastener marked, measure 22” from this mark and repeat this process going up and down to the end of the board.  If any obstacles are found, move the fastener accordingly by keeping the spacing under the maximum span for the fasteners.

Step 4: Predrill Fastener Holes

Predrill the end of the board to avoid the board splitting when the fasteners are installed.

Step 1: Cover Holes with Back Flashing

Cover any small holes or breaks in the back flashing with small 1” tabs of the back flashing material.

Step 2: Mark the Placement of the Bottom of the Ledger Board

The top line of the ledger has been snapped with a chalk line. Measure down from that line the width of the ledger board. In this case, the ledger board is a 2x8 pressure treated and measures 7 ¼”.  Make a mark on the wall.

Step 3: Mark the Placement of the Top of the Flashing

Measure up from that mark the width of the flashing.  In this case the flashing measured 3”.

Repeat this process on the other end of the deck. Snap chalk lines between each mark to make a total of 3 lines across the wall.  The top line is the top of the ledger. The middle line is the top of the flashing that goes behind the ledger board. The bottom line is the bottom of the ledger board.

Step 4: Attach the Flashing for the Ledger Board

The ledger assembly will be in multiple parts. The back flashing has already been applied to the side of the house. The next step will be to attach the flashing at the bottom and behind the ledger board. Some places will call this “deck flashing” or “drip edge”. This flashing will be used on the bottom and top of the ledger board. This flashing is available in many different materials so check the local municipality for guidance on the approved material. Be cautious of different metals, such as copper or aluminum, as sometimes it can have a reaction to the chemicals in treated lumber. These pieces of flashing will go up the wall, over the ledger board and have a small edge going down to keep water from dripping back into the house. This flashing will have a strip of weather resistant barrier on top of it to seal the attachment. This piece of flashing will be placed even with the middle line chalked earlier.

The ledger board will then be attached on top of the bottom flashing.

On top of the ledger will be another piece of flashing.  This flashing will also be tacked in place and have a piece of weather resistant barrier on top to seal it in place.

Attach the bottom flashing by holding it to the middle chalk line and tacking it in place with a few small nails. Install these nails towards the top of the flashing about an inch down.  Once the flashing is tacked in place, cover the top edge with a 3” piece of weather resistant barrier. 

Step 1: Attach Ledger Board with Fasteners

Place the ledger board on top of the bottom ledger flashing. Make sure the top of the ledger board is even with the chalk line snapped earlier. Drill the fasteners in through the ledger and into the wall of the house until the head of the fastener is flush with the face of the ledger board.

Step 2: Add Flashing on Top of Ledger Board

Place the flashing on top of the ledger board and tack in place.

When multiple pieces of flashing are needed due to a longer deck frame, make sure to overlap the flashing by 3” and place a piece of weather resistant barrier on top of the seam.

Step 3: Attach Weather Resistive Barrier

Mark 1 ½” down from the top of the flashing.  This will give a line to keep the weather resistive barrier even.

Install the 3” piece of weather resistant barrier on top of the flashing. This will seal the seam of the flashing where it attaches to the house.

With this assembly completed the water will run over the ledger board and not back into the house. This will lessen the possibility of damage or rot in the house sheathing and prolong the life expectancy of the ledger attachment.