06/17/2026
What you don't see can cost you thousands.
After removing this deck, we uncovered extensive rot in the home's band board, sheathing, and framing caused by years of water intrusion. What looked like a simple deck replacement quickly became a structural repair.
The biggest lesson? A deck ledger is only as good as the flashing and water management behind it.
A properly installed ledger should be part of a complete system that includes:
✔️ Self-adhered flashing behind the ledger
✔️ A properly integrated weather-resistant barrier
✔️ Vinyl ledger flashing over the ledger to direct water away from the home
✔️ Correct siding integration so water stays outside where it belongs
In these photos, you can see the repaired framing and the butyl flashing tape protecting the new band board before the ledger is reinstalled. The vinyl ledger flashing will be installed next to complete the waterproofing system.
The most important parts of a deck are often the parts you'll never see. At Kobe Construction, we believe building it right behind the scenes is just as important as how it looks when it's finished.
Kobe Construction LLC
Building it right the first time
