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I am planning a deck that wraps around a corner of my house.

A logical and obvious place to put a beam happens to line up perfectly with a wall that was already going to have a ledger.

So.....why not double the ledger (sistered 2x10) but extend that doubled ledger out into empty space to sit on a post 10 feet out from the house??

So instead of a 10 foot 2x10 ledger right in line with a 10 foot 4x10 beam, can I just buy TWO 2x10 20 footers and sister them and take care of the entire 20 feet all in one shot??

Against the house this doubled 2x10 would act as a ledger and then out in empty space it would act as a beam -- I am asking if this is reasonable/acceptable?

Thanks.

isherwood
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user227963
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1 Answers1

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You can hypothetically do what you describe, but the challenge is supporting the end against the house properly. You can't simply lag screw it into framing or bolt it to the foundation (even with single ledgers in some cases). Beams must have bottom bearing in many jurisdictions these days.

You'd have to find suitable engineered steel bracketry from the likes of Simpson Strong-Tie and others. You might find it easier to simply use a double joist hanger on the single ledger*.

Whatever you decide, run it by your inspection authority before you commit. Also be wary of falsely "overbuilding" when it really just means wasted lumber. It doesn't make sense to double the ledger beyond what you need for proper support at the building corner. You gain nothing from that.

* Either bend one flange flat and fasten it to the end of the ledger, or extend the ledger 3-4" to give the hanger the necessary mounting area (and prevent splits). The actual cantilever is an inch or so, so I can't imagine an inspector complaining.

isherwood
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