Making a deck - attaching the ledger to the foundation what size bolt to use?
Question:I'm attaching the ledger directly to the foundation. I'm told you can use lag bolts with lead expanders or through bolt it. I'd rather through bolt it for strength (it's gonna hold a hot tub). What size holes do I need to drill, and what size bolts?
Answers:
If you can it would be best to run the holes all the way through the foundation and and bolt it. Your going to want to use two bolts every 16". Place the bolts 2" from the edge of the board. Make sure you use galvanized hardware 1/2' should be fine. Also make sure you space the ledger about 1/2" from the house and use flashing and caulk to make sure water doesn't get behind it. If your putting a hottub on it your going to have to build it about double the strenght as you would normally. Look at Trex or Lowes we sites. They have an online deck builder that can give you good info. Also look at decks.com.
you can get lag bolts long enough to go threw the ledger board and to stick out bout an inch on the other side of the foundation wall and if you do this i would buy 1/2in and big med size washers 1 big and 1 med for every bolt id try to find 2 and 3" washers this will keep it from pullin threw the wall drill the holes at 1/2" and put one betwen every jost or you could buy 1/2" threaded stock and use that and put the same washer combo on both ends either way will be more then enough to hold yor hot tub better safe then sorry
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