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Deck ledger board failed after 14 years, but the flashing was perfect
Pulled the deck off my house in Portland last month because the ledger board rotted out behind the siding. The weird part is the flashing and caulk were done right, no water intrusion along the top edge. But the bottom of the board sat flush against the house wrap with no gap, so moisture wicked up from the deck surface over time. I'm debating whether a 1/4 inch standoff would have prevented this or if pressure treated lumber just has a shelf life no matter what. Some guys swear by a metal Z-flashing at the base, others say you need a full rain screen. Anyone here had a ledger last 20 plus years without issues, and what did you do differently? Or am I just chasing a myth and should plan on replacing this every 10 to 15 years no matter what?
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betty_park6210d ago
Read somewhere that the real killer is always the bottom edge, even with perfect flashing up top. The standoff idea makes sense to me, keeps the deck surface from touching anything it shouldn't. I'd say 15 years is about average for a ledger no matter what you do, so you're not chasing a myth, just managing the reality.
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