How do I fix a deck ledger to cement board?

dwblack

Hi, I'm building a small step deck onto the side of my existing undercover area at the rear of the house.  I understand I could fix a ledger board although wondering if I should.  I'd be going into fairly thin cement board and there's also a tile retaining strip thats degraded and I'm thinking of removing so I could butt the decking up to the tiled surface of the existing deck.

The first set of posts/bearers would be about 500mm out from the board.  Couple of questions...

• Should I try a ledger board and whats the best way to fix to cement board?
• Would it be better to use posts and have the deck essentially free-standing?  The issue here is the house foundations would be in the way of ideal post placement.

Thanks in advance!

Dave

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @dwblack 

Steps  take a pounding  so any stair stringers will have to be bolted to a solid structure under the cement sheeting.

Or you can buy steel or  timber strings and attach them to posts in the ground beside your decking making them free standing .

Freestanding steps

Sorry @dwblack  have you noticed the rust around the metal deck support I would use wire brush on a drill and clean that up, Then rust convert and then galvanised paint then final paint color.  If that one is rusty what do the others look like?  I would give that metal post another 5 years before  possible collapse