The short answer
Look at the ledger as both a water-management detail and a load-bearing connection. A deck may feel solid while water has entered behind the ledger. The useful inspection question is not “where can I add caulk?” but “how is water shed above, behind, and below this connection, and is the wood still sound?”
Visual checks
| Area | Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Top of ledger | Flashing visible, tucked, damaged, or absent | Water can enter at the upper edge. |
| Ledger-to-wall joint | Gap, movement, sealant, or staining | A gap may reflect structural movement. |
| Fasteners | Pattern, corrosion, withdrawal, and washers | Fasteners transfer load and can admit water. |
| Joist ends | Darkening, softness, or exposed cuts | Wet ends can hide decay. |
| Interior wall | Staining, odor, or dampness near the ledger | Exterior symptoms may already be inside. |
Do not remove structural fasteners or climb an unstable deck for a better view. Photograph from a safe position and note whether the deck is attached to masonry, siding, brick veneer, or another unusual assembly. Those conditions change the repair method.
What visible flashing cannot establish
A metal edge above the ledger does not show whether the hidden upper leg is integrated with the wall’s water-control layer. Ask the repairer how that layer will shed water onto the flashing and clear of the connection, and how the opening will be inspected for concealed decay. Do not pry siding away or loosen the ledger to investigate while the deck is unsupported.
The American Wood Council’s DCA 6 guide , based on the 2015 IRC, illustrates continuous ledger flashing and discusses corrosion-compatible materials. Its details have defined framing and connection limits; they are not a universal retrofit drawing or proof of your locality’s current code. Bring the wall construction and treated-wood information to the contractor so flashing and hardware compatibility can be checked.
If the ledger separates from the house, the deck moves, or attachment wood is visibly deteriorated, keep people off the deck and out from underneath pending assessment. Do not load it with people to see whether it feels stable. A repair quote should address the load path as well as the water path.
Repair-scope questions
Ask whether the estimate includes deck removal, siding or trim removal, flashing integration, damaged sheathing or ledger replacement, fastener specification, joist-end treatment, and permit or inspection requirements. A surface sealant line should not be priced as equivalent to rebuilding a compromised connection.
Related guides
Limits
This is a visual planning aid, not a structural inspection or deck design. Movement, rot, or uncertain attachment should be assessed by a qualified professional.