Deck Safety with Green Shield Deck Builders | Hidden Ledger Board Rot
Adam explains why hidden rot on your ledger board could be putting the bones of your home at risk.
Description
Green Shield believes a deck is only as safe as the house it’s attached to. During a recent replacement, our team uncovered a dangerous industry shortcut: the original deck was fastened to foam board rather than a solid wood rim joist, leaving the entire structure unstable.
The Reality of Hidden Decay:
- Improper Attachment: A deck must be integrated into the home’s structural frame. Attaching to foam or siding creates a "floating" deck that is a liability, not an asset.
- The Flashing Failure: The previous installer relied on silicone and glue over the siding instead of integrated flashing. This allowed water to seep behind the exterior, causing hidden rot within the home's walls.
- The Green Shield Standard: To fix this, Green Shield is removing the surrounding siding to inspect the damage and install premier flashing. We address these hidden "bone" issues now to ensure the new structure is a reliably engineered reality.
Our team refuses to build over a failing foundation. By prioritizing smarter engineering and transparent inspections, Green Shield protects the homeowner’s long-term investment from decay. Visit the Green Shield website to schedule a 20-point safety inspection and ensure your deck is built on a hardworking backbone.
Transcript
These are some things that we might not have been able to discover without removing the ledger. This deck actually, rests not on any rim joists. If you notice, there's actually no OSB or plywood behind this siding. It was just a foam board. So we have to make sure that this is properly fastened. And if you notice, I mean, this is this ledger was ready for failure. And if you look here, their flashing was just to put the deck over the siding and then silicone it or glue it. I mean, and it's it's just terrible. Hidden rot can be incredibly detrimental to the life and bones of a house. You really gotta just get this ledger off, inspect it. So we're gonna pull this siding off, flash this properly, and get our new deck installed so we know it's gonna last forever.