Help Leveling Two Ledgers In Two Location

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harborremodel

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I'm getting to the point where I'm finishing up the framing but now i'm fighting certain sections of the deck to get it level. Seems like once I got all the joists hung I'm finding a number of joists are just out of level... the bubble is still between the lines but not perfectly in the middle. I'm wanting to check that the two ledgers are perfectly on the same plane. Can someone provide a recommendation on how to check this?

2018-11-17 14.30.12.jpg 2018-11-17 14.30.12.jpg 2018-11-15 12.15.35.jpg
 
#1, I would have made this a free standing deck!
#2, If I was going to attach to the house I would have added a layer of Storm and Ice Shield, and add spacers made from 1 X 4 PVC lumber or at least a couple of 1/2" galv. washers to space the ledger away from the house for drainage.
#2, Never would have used a 4 X 6 as a beam, doubled up 2 X,s would be stronger, less likely to twist, curl, check.
#3, Your close enough to level, nail it.
I would have used my self leveling laz0r, even a cheap water level will work.
 
#1, I would have made this a free standing deck!
#2, If I was going to attach to the house I would have added a layer of Storm and Ice Shield, and add spacers made from 1 X 4 PVC lumber or at least a couple of 1/2" galv. washers to space the ledger away from the house for drainage.
#2, Never would have used a 4 X 6 as a beam, doubled up 2 X,s would be stronger, less likely to twist, curl, check.
#3, Your close enough to level, nail it.
I would have used my self leveling laz0r, even a cheap water level will work.

1. I did add the storm and ice sheild behind the house wrap and actually used galvanized bearing plates in a diamond orientation to shed water and to add spacing behind the ledgers.
2. The larger beam is 4x10 the smaller ledger in the foreground is 2 x 8
3. I've thought about picking up a self leveling lazer maybe it's time to pull the trigger.
 
If you have crowned the joist you would expect a hump in the middle between the ledger and the beam. The closet you could get to check a joist for level is to hold the level under it in the center and still that is not a guaranteed answer.
 
Those lazars are great, but expencive if you buy a good one if your a DIY and not going to use it much.
I wasted money on some cheap ones trying to save money and they where useless in direct sunlight.
I've used a water level in the past to do whole houses and it work OK and it's cheap.
Finally bought one like this but mines a Johnson and it works great.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-F...r-Level-Kit-5-Piece-GRL-240-HVCK-RT/205844474
 
As always I have a story.
I handed one of my employees a roll of that tubing and asked him if he knew how to make a water level out of it and he said yes, any dummy can do that.
I watched as he filled a 5 gal. bucket with water then put one end of the tube in the bucket and then he took the other end of the tube and walked over to the wall to mark it with no water in the tube.
I told him you need to fill the tube about 95% with water for it to work.
He fills the tube, but then sets one end back in the bucket and walks back over to the wall and starts marking it.:)
 
I ended up picking up a laser level from home depot on black Friday special. Test fit a few trex boards and the variation isn't noticeable at all.
 
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