In this video, Jake Bruton discusses four construction techniques he uses to build longer-lasting decks, including creating a drainage gap between the ledger and the house with spacers cut from 1 1/2-inch-diameter schedule 40 PVC pipe. But be careful with this detail: Bruton says his design was stamped by an engineer, but in general the IRC limits the gap between the ledger face and house framing (not the sheathing) to one inch.
Four Tips for a Durable Deck
