Simpson Strong-Tie has released the BVLZ brick veneer ledger connector kit, a code-compliant, tested solution for attaching decks to wood-framed homes that have a brick or masonry veneer exterior covering. While brick veneer is an exterior covering used on buildings in many parts of the country, it lacks the load-bearing properties of structural masonry and cannot support the weight of exterior structures like decks. By connecting a wood ledger to the framing through the brick veneer, the BVLZ is designed to enable decks to be safely attached to the home without the need to remove or replace large sections of the veneer. The BVLZ brick veneer ledger connector kit includes a steel ledger connector plate, a compression strut, two 14″ Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-Hex HDG tension screws and six Strong-Drive SD Connector shear screws. The BVLZ is designed so tension screws pass through the mortar into the structural framing, allowing the compression strut to transfer forces from the ledger plate to the rim joist without bearing on the brick veneer. Fabricated from 12-gauge steel, the BVLZ connector also features a ZMAX galvanized coating. www.strongtie.com/bvlz

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