Description

Key Features

Retrofit-Friendly Install

Designed to attach a wood ledger through brick veneer by drilling through mortar joints, so you can add a deck without tearing out large sections of brick.

Handles Common Air Gaps

The Simpson Strong-Tie BVLZ-KT1 brick veneer ledger connector works across a wide range of brick veneer gap conditions, which matters when older homes are not perfectly uniform.

Single-Plate Kit

This one-pack kit includes the ledger plate, compression strut, guide, and required screws, so you are not chasing separate hardware to complete one connector location.

Overview

The Simpson Strong-Tie BVLZ-KT1 Brick Veneer Ledger Connector is a code-compliant connector kit for attaching a wood deck ledger to framing behind a brick veneer exterior. This is a brick veneer ledger connector designed for deck ledger attachment in retrofit construction. Model Number: BVLZ-KT1. If you need to add a deck to an existing house with brick veneer and want a tested way to tie the ledger back to the structure, this is the hardware made for that job.

What makes this connector matter is the installation approach. Instead of removing and rebuilding large sections of brick, the system is designed to drill through the mortar joints and fasten back to the framing. That saves demolition work, reduces disruption to the exterior, and helps minimize penetrations through existing exterior water barriers. It also gives building departments a system they can inspect and approve in retrofit applications, which is a big deal when you are trying to keep a project moving instead of arguing over a field-built workaround.

The BVLZ-KT1 uses a steel ledger plate and compression strut to create a controlled connection path through the veneer space. In practical terms, that means the load is not being asked to ride on brick veneer that was never meant to support a deck ledger. The connector is built from 12-gauge steel with a ZMAX coating, so it is meant for exterior deck work and treated lumber conditions where corrosion resistance matters.

This single-part kit is a good fit when you are laying out individual connector positions or replacing one location in a larger run. The included hardware package matters here: you get one steel ledger plate, one compression strut, one installation guide, two 14-inch Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-Hex HDG tension screws, and six Strong-Drive SD Connector shear screws. That keeps the install consistent with the tested assembly and removes the guesswork on fastener selection.

From a layout standpoint, the system is built to handle a range of brick sizes and air gaps. The installation diagrams show a supported gap range of 4-3/4 inches to 6-1/4 inches, which gives contractors useful flexibility when dealing with existing veneer conditions. The angled screw path and compression strut arrangement are there for a reason: they help transfer the load back to the framing while keeping the ledger properly spaced off the veneer.

On the job, this product is really for deck builders, remodelers, and general contractors working on existing homes where brick veneer would otherwise complicate ledger attachment. If you are building a new structure with direct framing access, you may not need this kind of specialty connector. But if you are staring at a brick veneer wall and need a code-recognized deck ledger solution that avoids major tear-out, this is exactly the kind of hardware you want in the truck.

Built for Brick Veneer Retrofit Work

This is the value of the system in one shot: a wood ledger attached through brick veneer without ripping the wall apart. For retrofit deck work, that can save a lot of labor and a lot of repair time.

• Designed to drill through mortar joints
• Helps enable inspection and approval in retrofit construction applications
• Minimizes penetrations through existing exterior water barriers

Complete Hardware for One Connector Location

The kit is straightforward and purpose-built. You are getting the core connector parts plus the specified screws for one installed location, which helps keep the assembly aligned with the tested system.

• Includes one steel ledger plate and one compression strut
• Includes two 14-inch Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-Hex HDG tension screws
• Includes six Strong-Drive SD Connector shear screws and an installation guide

What’s in the Box

• (1) Steel ledger plate
• (1) Compression strut
• (1) Installation guide
• (2) 14-inch Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-Hex HDG tension screws
• (6) Strong-Drive SD Connector shear screws

Key Specifications

Material	Carbon steel
Gauge	12 ga.
Finish	ZMAX coating
Packaging Quantity	1 kit
Gap Range	4-3/4 in. to 6-1/4 in.
Tension Screw Length	14 in.
For Treated Lumber	Yes
Weight	3.0 lbs

Built For

Deck building Brick veneer exteriors Retrofit deck attachment Remodeling General contracting Exterior structural connectors

Pro Tip

Lay out your end connectors early. The installation illustration shows the outer BVLZ locations should be placed within 12 inches max of each end of the ledger, and getting that spacing right up front makes the rest of the ledger layout go a lot smoother.

Tool Nut’s Take

Tool Nut’s Take

Simpson Strong-Tie BVLZ-KT1 Brick Veneer Ledger Connector is the right answer when brick veneer gets in the way

If you need to mount a deck ledger on a brick veneer house and want a solution that is actually meant for that condition, this is the smart buy.

• Who it’s for: Contractors and serious remodelers adding decks to existing homes with brick veneer exteriors.
• Why it stands out: It gives you a tested, code-compliant path to attach the ledger back to framing through the veneer instead of relying on field improvisation.
• Worth knowing: This is a single connector kit, not a full multi-plate package, so plan your quantity based on the required spacing and ledger length.

Common Questions

• What is this product used for? It is used to attach a wood deck ledger to framing through an existing brick veneer exterior in retrofit deck construction.
• Can it be installed by drilling through mortar joints? Yes. One of the stated features of the BVLZ system is that it allows drilling through the mortar joints.
• What veneer gap range does it accommodate? The installation information shown in the product images indicates a supported gap range of 4-3/4 inches to 6-1/4 inches.
• Is it suitable for treated lumber? Yes. Supplementary product data identifies the BVLZ-KT1 as suitable for treated lumber.