07/17/2026
A deck can look solid on top while the joist ends are rotting against the house. Missing or poorly installed flashing lets water collect around the ledger, wall connection, and end grain—exactly where the wood dries slowest.
Dark staining, soft fibers, and weakened joists usually appear long before the surface gives any warning. Proper ledger flashing must direct water out and away from the wall. Protect the connection early, because hidden rot near the house can turn a good-looking deck into a structural failure.
