What's a Ledger Board?

1 : a horizontal board forming the top rail of a simple fence or the handrail of a balustrade. 2 : a flooring board in scaffolding.

What does a ledger board do?

Ledger Board Definition

A ledger board is a horizontal lumber beam attached to an existing wall and used to tie in construction elements such as porch roofs and decks. ... The last board against the house wall will be attached to the ledger's top edge in the case of a deck where it is parallel to the joists.

When would you use a ledger board?

The ledger is made of the same material as the rest of the framing—usually pressure-treated lumber. Some builders install the ledger first, before they lay out for the footings and dig the post holes. They then use the ledger as the basic point of reference for determining footings, posts and all the framing.