A builder is constructing a deck attachment to an existing home. The deck will be 12 feet wide and 16 feet long. What is the minimum number of 1/2-inch lag bolts required to attach the ledger board to the house?
Correct Answer
B) 8 bolts
For a 16-foot ledger board, Michigan standards require 1/2-inch lag bolts spaced no more than 24 inches on center, requiring a minimum of 8 bolts.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The correct answer is 8 bolts. For a 16-foot ledger board using 1/2-inch lag bolts, Michigan standards require bolts spaced no more than 24 inches on center. Starting 9 inches from each end and spacing at 24 inches: positions at approximately 9", 33", 57", 81", 105", 129", 153", and 177" — yielding 8 bolts across the 192-inch (16-foot) ledger. This pattern meets the load transfer requirements for safe deck attachment.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 10 bolts
10 bolts would exceed the minimum requirement and while structurally sound, it does not represent the minimum as specified by code. The question asks for the minimum number, so 10 is an over-answer that does not correspond to the required spacing calculation.
Option C: 12 bolts
12 bolts would represent spacing of about 16 inches on center, which is tighter than required. This is more than the code minimum and does not match the calculated result for maximum 24-inch spacing on a 16-foot ledger.
Option D: 6 bolts
6 bolts would require spacing of over 32 inches on center, which exceeds the maximum 24-inch spacing allowed by code. This spacing is inadequate for safe load transfer and would be a code violation.
Memory Technique
For ledger bolt count: focus on the ledger length (always the dimension parallel to the house), not the deck depth. Divide the ledger length in inches by 24 (max spacing in inches), then add 1 for the starting bolt. For a 16-foot ledger: (192 ÷ 24) = 8. In this case, the end positioning yields exactly 8. The deck width (12 feet) is irrelevant to ledger bolt count.
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