When preparing to renovate a house, one normally does not focus their immediate attention on installing a ledger board for a deck; especially a deck that they plan on building five years down the road. However, that is exactly where we put our attention when we bought our house in Holland Centre two years ago. The existing deck ledger board—the component that connects the deck to the house—was never flashed properly by the installer, and rot was forming. In fact, the entire makeshift deck was falling apart and needed to be torn down; because the deck was never built to code it posed a safety hazard to anyone walking on or around it.
THE FINISHED LEDGER BOARD
When the existing deck and ledger board were removed, the back of the siding and the underlying moisture barriers were exposed to the elements. This needed to be repaired. One thing led to another, and what started as a deck removal quickly became a full-scale exterior siding renovation. This is what they call renovation creep in its glory!!
THE EXISTING DECK AND HOUSE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE
We knew that we would eventually build a new deck on the house; the views to the South West of the property were one of the primary reasons we purchased. However, in the process of replacing the siding we had to install a new ledger board—which required a plan for what the future deck would look like.
CELIA AND JUSTIN WATERPROOF UNDER THE WINDOW
I quickly designed a new deck layout and consulted with a contractor and architect to make sure we understood how it would need to be constructed. All of this was finalized in the fall of 2019, so we put a pause on the exterior siding until spring of 2020. Then Covid-19 hit the world and we were sidetracked by a vegetable garden and the rescheduling of our July 2020 wedding. Almost a year later we came back to the installation of our deck ledger board, and the completion of the siding on the South and West side of the house.
THE FINISHED LEDGER BOARD WITH DRIP EDGES AND WATERPROOFING
It has been an epic journey to get here. On the positive side, the delay gave us lots of time to educate ourselves and plan for the installation. The new deck ledger is really our very first joint project in the renovation of our home; and we could not be more pleased, or proud of the results. Most people would not give two hoots about a deck ledger board, but every time we stop to look at the new ledger we smile and acknowledge our accomplishment. It is a harbinger for the many wonderful things to come, including a beautiful deck.
The following video, naturally set to epic music, captures the process, attention and detail that went into the installation of our new deck ledger board. Click on the image below or watch the video directly on You Tube, where you can subscribe to our channel.
