Structural Hardware Guide

Structural hardware is the collection of metal connectors — joist hangers, post bases and caps, tension ties, hurricane ties, and the bolts and structural screws that fasten them — that actually holds a deck together. Lumber gets the attention, but the connections are where decks fail. We’ve inspected hundreds of decks across Hampton Roads, and when something has gone wrong structurally, it is almost always a missing, wrong, or corroded connector. This guide explains the hardware that matters and how we use it.

How We Use Deck Structural Hardware, Step by Step

1. Identify every structural connection. We map each joint — ledger, joist-to-beam, post-to-beam, post-to-footing — and assign the right connector to each, planned with the framing.
2. Use the connector designed for the joint. Joist hangers carry joists, post caps tie posts to beams, post bases anchor posts to footings. We use the part made for the job, not a substitute.
3. Match the corrosion rating to the site. Hardware must be rated for treated lumber and, near salt water, stepped up to the highest coatings or stainless — see our salt-air guide.
4. Fill every hole with the specified fastener. Connectors are engineered assuming every nail or screw hole is filled with the manufacturer’s specified fastener. Half-filled hangers are not rated and we never leave them.
5. Use structural screws or bolts, not deck screws. Ledgers and many connectors require through-bolts or rated structural screws — see our fasteners guide.
6. Add uplift and lateral connectors. Hurricane/uplift ties and lateral tension ties resist the storm and pull-away forces our coastal decks face — the same forces we plan for in footings and at the ledger.
7. Keep all the metals compatible. We keep connectors, fasteners, and flashing metallurgically compatible so dissimilar metals do not corrode each other.

What We Commonly Find

The biggest mistake we see is joist hangers with most of the holes empty — a few nails tacked in to hold the joist while the deck was built, and never finished. That hanger is carrying a fraction of its rated load. A close second is toe-nailed joists with no hanger at all. One thing homeowners don’t realize is that these connectors are engineered to a tested capacity that only applies when every specified fastener is installed; a partially fastened connector is essentially a different, weaker part. After years of building in coastal Virginia, we’ve also learned that hardware corrosion is a structural issue here, not a cosmetic one — a rust-thinned hanger near the water has lost real strength, which is why corrosion rating is part of the structural spec, not an afterthought.

Uplift and lateral connectors deserve special mention. Our region sees hurricane-force winds, and the ties that resist a deck lifting or pulling away from the house are exactly what older decks tend to lack. Retrofitting them is one of the highest-value upgrades our repair crews make.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all the holes in a joist hanger need fasteners?

Yes. Joist hangers are rated assuming every specified hole is filled with the correct fastener. A partially fastened hanger carries far less than its rated load.

Can I use deck screws in joist hangers?

No. Use the structural connector screws or nails specified by the hanger manufacturer. General deck screws are not rated for these connections and can fail.

What are hurricane ties on a deck?

Hurricane or uplift ties are connectors that resist wind trying to lift the deck off its supports. They are especially important in a coastal, hurricane-prone area like Hampton Roads.

What hardware do I need near salt water?

Connectors and fasteners rated for the highest corrosion resistance, or stainless steel, with all metals kept compatible. Salt air degrades under-rated hardware quickly.

Can structural hardware be added to an existing deck?

Yes. Adding missing hangers, post bases, and uplift or lateral ties is a common and high-value retrofit that can significantly improve an older deck’s safety.

The Connectors That Matter Most

A handful of connectors do the heavy lifting on almost every deck, and it helps to know what each one does. Joist hangers carry the joists at the ledger and beam, transferring their load without relying on toe-nails. Post bases anchor the bottom of each post to its footing and, in the standoff style we favor, also hold the post up off wet concrete. Post caps tie the top of the post to the beam so the beam cannot slide or roll off. Tension ties — the lateral-load connectors at the ledger — keep the deck from peeling away from the house. Hurricane or uplift ties resist the wind forces that try to lift the structure. Angle clips and stair-stringer connectors handle the smaller but still important joints. On a coastal deck, every one of these comes in a corrosion rating, and we specify the right one for the exposure. Knowing the cast of characters makes it easy to spot what an older deck is missing — usually the uplift and lateral ties.