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Deck Post Feet Attachment Methods

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LNG24

· Retired Contractor
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
What methods do you use to attach the deck posts to the footings?

I shoot the foot :gun_bandana:in with 22cal. nail gun. A friend was saying he always bolts them down, which I tend to believe would not be as accurate.

What do you guys do?
 
#2 ·
the blue screw, with 4x4 metal cup. i dont know the technical name for those connectors or those blue concrete screws, but they work pretty well. on simple layouts i have wet set those 4x4 cups in the footing.
 
#3 ·
It all depends on the local code. Around here, you are requiered to install the hardware in accordance with manufacturers instructions.I have never seen an inspector around here that will allow a post base to be installed using nails or screws. There is not enough lateral support.

Those blue screws are Tapcons. They are from home depot.
 
#11 ·
A bunch of people moving around is no different than an earthquake.

As close to dead-on as possible makes everythinh easier.
 
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#12 ·
Most of the time I use those ABA44's pictured above with the same
1/2x5 1/2" wedge anchors I use for bolting the rim joist to the slab. Low cost decks I'll hang the post down with the post base/bolt attached, dig holes, form it, steel grid & pour concrete. High end decks I use a plumb bob to place footing, pour concrete then come back & attach post base by hammer drilling holes/attaching wedge anchors.
 
#13 ·
For elevated decks, I use Simpson CBSQ post bases set in concrete. They come w/ Simpson SDS screws (with the new double barrier coating...better than HDG)
Image


For ground level decks, I use Simpson PBs or PBSs set in concrete. Shoot them to the posts w/ PP gun running 10d (Teco) HD galvies.
Image


Thats the problem. I have yet to see anyone pour a tube dead on.
Click to expand...
Dude, you need to watch better people! They're just holes in the ground...
Yeah, footings need to be close to dead on, post bases do need to be dead on.

Mac
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
I know they need to be and I know what I see and I see 6x6 posts hanging over the edges of footings, not just off center!

As far as a bunch of people being the same as an earthquake...:blink: How do they cause quick and deices lateral movement? Again, I can only see them causing downward pressure, not lateral pressure.

I also believe that before a nail is sheared off at the base or pulled out due to some other force, there are going to be more serious repercussions happening.

Now on the other hand I can see how an 8' 6x6 secured to a footing with nails can easily fall over unless it is braced correctly. I believe this is more to the point of why we are supposed to bolt the plates down
 
#15 ·
LNG24 said:
I know they need to be and I know what I see and I see 6x6 posts hanging over the edges of footings, not just off center!
Click to expand...
Check out this thread for the perfect example of that! Scary sh*t indeed!

LNG24 said:
As far as a bunch of people being the same as an earthquake... How do they cause quick and deices lateral movement? Again, I can only see them causing downward pressure, not lateral pressure.
Click to expand...
If they're drunk and jostling around, that's a lot of moving weight on the top of a deck - there's your lateral movement. I've been able to make (other people's) old decks sway just by myself by jumping at an angle - multiply that by 20-30 people (some heavier than me) and you'd better have a solid deck under 'em.

(Not sure what "quick and deices lateral" is...)

Mac
 
Discussion starter · #16 · (Edited)
BuiltByMAC said:
Check out this thread for the perfect example of that! Scary sh*t indeed!



If they're drunk and jostling around, that's a lot of moving weight on the top of a deck - there's your lateral movement. I've been able to make (other people's) old decks sway just by myself by jumping at an angle - multiply that by 20-30 people (some heavier than me) and you'd better have a solid deck under 'em.

(Not sure what "quick and deices lateral" is...)

Mac
Click to expand...
Thanks for that link. Thats typically what I see. I was called into a job as a replacement excavator. They had me pull all the sono tubes out and reset them because they were so far out they could not catch the post. I was skeptical about this, but was not my job. I was told that some builders are now laying out and pouring the tubes with the footings and then digging and setting them after they cure. To this day, I still never saw it done.

As far as quick and decices lateral movement. Think of hitting it with a hammer instead of just leaning against it. Earthquake movement.

By the way, I had the guys shoot the foot in place and took a chance. It passed inspection :clap:Then again, so did the deck in the link Mac posted:whistling

My decks don't sway. I don't think any deck should sway!

Now this deck...SWAYS! and I need to make this pass inspection:laughing:
 

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