Attach-A-Deck

 DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU...

"Except for hurricanes and tornadoes, more injuries may be connected to deck failures than all other wood build components and loading cases combined!"¹

Between August of 2001 to January of 2006 there were 497 reported injuries and 21 deaths in
47 reported incidents of deck and railing failures²
    

Please note: the web site is currently making changes and modifications to all aspects of the site.  Please excuse us during this construction period.

     Attach-A-Deck was developed under the Alternative Methods and Materials Section of the ICC Residential Codes as an alternative to the current deck ledger attachment methods common in the building industry. What has been learned by building scientists and reinforced by building department is that the current method is flawed.  Failure of the ledger is perhaps the single leading cause of these catastrophic failures as well as contributing to varying degrees of water damage and mold growth in homes across the country.

                                              5 key features of Attach-A-Deck

1st - Attach-A-Deck is a structural self sealing ledger spacing device.

2nd - No flashing is required in any installation.
     Attach-A-Deck has eliminated the need for flashing and extensive siding removal in existing homes and streamlines new home construction.  Designed for homeowners and used by contractors.  The installation procedures found within the website make installation a quick and simple process.

3rd – Attach-A-Deck provides an air space.
     Attach-A-Deck provides an air space between the deck ledger board and the home.  When a ledger is tight to the home, water becomes trapped between the ledger and the home.  Flashing does not eliminate the migration of water from occuring.  This is a natural processes.  And, over time this will lead to decay of the ledger which can result in failure, damage to the rim joist (band board) of the home, and moisture entering the wall space causing mold.

4th – Wood needs to “breath”.
     The structural framing woods used in deck building, along with the redwood or composite decking materials all need to “breath” and have the opportunity to dry following storms.  By placing the ledger away from the home, 2 concerns have been achieved.  First, the ledger can completely dry on all sides.  Second, the space between the ledger and the home permits free movement of the decking materials to expand and contract.  This is caused by thermal expansion and again, is a natural process.

5th - Attach-A-Deck is a TESTED CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT.
     Attach-A-Deck has been thoroughly tested at an ICC Internationally Accredited Testing Site.  Complete copies of the testing reports are included in this web site.

1,2  Testing and Design of Deck Ledger and Guardrail Post Connections to Improve Deck Safety, David Carradine (Research Engineer, Washington State University), Don Bender, P.E. (Professor, Washington State University), Frank Woeste, P.E. (Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech Univeersity), Joe Loferski (Professor, Virginia Tech University), Power Point Presentation at Oregon State University, Spring 2007.