How to Attach a Deck to a House With Vinyl Siding

If you plan on building a deck to complement your outdoor space, you can choose to build a freestanding deck, or attach a deck to your house. Most homeowners choose attached decks, because they are more stable than freestanding decks, and because they can access the deck directly from the house. Properly attaching your deck to your house with vinyl siding will help ensure that you can enjoy your new outdoor space for many years.

Step 1

Remove a section of the vinyl siding with a reciprocating saw or hand saw, making sure not to cut through the subsurface of the wall. This section should be as wide as your deck, and should extend down about 12 inches from the intended surface of the deck.

Step 2

Measure the thickness of your decking boards. This will determine how far below the vinyl you will place your ledger board. For example, if you are using 1-inch thick decking boards, the top of your ledger board will be 1 inch below the vinyl.

Step 3

Cut a ledger board out of 1-inch-by-10-inch pressure-treated lumber using a circular saw. Make the ledger board as long as the width of your deck.

Step 4

Position the ledger board on the side of the house. Use a carpenter’s level to make sure the ledger board is level. Nail the board to the wall with a hammer on both ends to keep it in place. Drill pilot holes along the top and bottom into the subsurface, and secure the ledger board to the wall with lag bolts. Tighten the bolts with a wrench or socket.

Step 5

Cut a section of copper flashing as long as the width of the deck. Slide one side up at least 3 inches behind the vinyl siding. Mold the flashing over the top and in front of the ledger board. Secure with copper nails.

Step 6

Install joist hangers to the ledger board. Start with the side hangers, which will hold the rim joists. Most homeowners use a double thickness of 2-inch thick lumber for rim joists, so you will likely need 4-inch joist hangers for the sides. Continue installing 2-inch joist hangers between the rim joist hangers at 12- to 16-inch intervals. Connect the joists to the joist hangers.