Deck Post Installation Procedure for Deck Design Build Projects. Inspect. APedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. How to install connect deck posts this article describes how to set the deck posts in place atop their piers, the use of temporary bracing, options for connections between the posts and piers and post tops and beams or girders that carry the deck. This article series describes critical safe construction details for decks and porches, including avoiding deck or porch collapse and unsafe deck stairs and railings. Our page top photo illustrates temporary bracing and support during replacement of unsafe deck posts. This deck was in danger of collapse. Green links show where you are. Copyright 2. 01. 7 Inspect. This step by step project is about deck stair railing plans. Building railings for your deck stairs is easy, provided you plan everything from the very. Apedia. com, All Rights Reserved. Gears Of War Pc Highly Compressed Games on this page. Deck Post Setting, Bracing, Cutting. A deck frame is composed primarily of three components posts, beams, and joists. This article will show you how to prepare and install each of these parts for a typical deck, as well as how to tackle more advanced techniques such as framing around the corner of your house and building openings in the deck. A special feature highlights the process of building a deck at ground level, m Much of the framing will be out of sight once the deck is complete, which is another way of saying that it will be hard to fix any errors you make. So while looks may not count for much when framing, quality certainly does. Take a little extra time to build a frame for your deck that will last. We DF replaced the unsafe deck posts shown at page top with these 6x. We sank the treated wood post bottoms 3. Today Id have used above ground concrete piers and post anchors at the post bottoms. The cross bracing for this deck was not yet installed. Setting the Deck Posts. Posts are a prominent visual feature of many decks. With good planning, they can be transformed from merely functional components into decorative design features. Posts give decks most of their elevation. If you are building a high deck, you will need long posts. If, however, you are building a very low deck, you may not need any posts at all. Watch out Dont do what this contractor did. The deck post is comprised of a stack of 4x. Gravity may seem to work to keep this deck in place until my teen aged cousin rams the deck with the lawn tractor. Most decks are built with 4x. Some people think that 4 x 4s look too weak and skinny on a high deck, even when they are structurally sound. Feel free to use larger posts than are required if you prefer a bulkier appearance. Post size is also related to how far the beam spans from one post to the next. Posts must be plumb, well secured, and cut to the right length. They are rarely the same length on a deck, however, since piers are usually not perfectly level with each other. So it is best to avoid cutting posts to their anticipated length before setting them in place. To determine the length of each post, use one of two methods. The first, which may be easiest with short posts, is to set the post in the post base, check it for plumb, and mark the desired post height using a level or a water level. Remove the post, cut it to length with a power miter saw, and then attach it to the post base. The more typical approach is to put all the posts in position, brace them so that they are plumb, attach them to the post bases, and then mark and cut them in place. If you are using pressure treated posts, it is best to place the uncut ends into the post bases. But it is even more important that the bottom surface of every post be flat and square. Use a small square to check the ends of each post. If neither end is square, cut just enough off the bottom to make it square, then coat the cut surface with a water repellent preservative before setting it in place. Framing Options for Connecting Deck Posts to Beams The most common means of joining posts to beams is to have the beam rest directly on top of the posts, to which it is secured by special connectors. This is also the strongest connection, and usually the easiest construction technique. Our photo shows a tiny entry deck whose joists did not require a supporting beam. The front rim joist can be seen connected to the supporting post with three bolts. Original-Deck-Post-4x4-Knee-Bracing.jpg' alt='How To Install Stair Posts On Deck' title='How To Install Stair Posts On Deck' />Decks are sometimes built with posts that extend above the deck surface to serve double duty as railing posts. This requires that notches be cut carefully into the posts to fit the beam. This approach is feasible only when using posts that are at least 6x. Avoid building your deck with the beams bolted to the sides of extended posts, even though your building code may not explicitly bar this approach. It is not a recommended practice, since the entire connection relies on fasteners to support the load. Set Up Temporary Bracing for Deck Posts During Construction. Stair stringers form the backbone of a set of stairs. By code, stairs need to be at least 36 wide. Although its usually possible to get away with just using two. Our photo left illustrates what can happen if the deck contractor is a good finish carpenter but one who is not so sharp with deck construction. His post was left floating atop a wood scrap that we later replaced with an excavated shallow block pier. The deck as well as his cabins slab floor floats. Real post piers and good connections between the post base and pier top are important for a durable structure. If you are using adjustable post bases, first attach the hardware to the anchor bolts. Driver For Hp Deskjet 3050 J610 Series there. Fixed one piece bases will already be in place. Set a post in each post base. Drive one nail through the base and into the post just far enough to hold the post in place you may have to remove and reposition the nail later. Plumb the post by checking it on adjacent sides with a carpenters level. If you are working alone, it may be easier to attach a post level inset to the post to leave both hands free to continue working. With the post plumb, attach temporary braces to two adjacent sides. If you are using adjustable post bases, first attach the hardware to the anchor bolts. Fixed one piece bases will already be in place. Set a post in each post base. Drive one nail through the base and into the post just far enough to hold the post in place you may have to remove and reposition the nail later. Plumb the post by checking it on adjacent sides with a carpenters level. If you are working alone, it may be easier to attach a post level inset to the post to leave both hands free to continue working. With the post plumb, attach temporary braces to two adjacent sides. Use 1 x 4s for braces, securing them with screws to stakes in the ground and with clamps to the posts. Details about permanent deck post bracing are below at DECK POST BRACINGKeep the Deck Posts in a Straight Line. We hope you used your batterboards and string to get those piers exactly where you need them to carry the deck posts. But if some piers are centered exactly in position, as long as the post bottom will be close to the pier center, youll be able to get the post to its exact desired position by using adjustable deck post base connectors that we describe below. First lets be sure our piers and posts are lined up. If your batterboards are still set up, you can run a string line to help align the posts. Since this string line relates to the sides of the posts, rather than their centers, reposition the string on each crosspiece by one half the thickness of the post. The Cullen Report Piper Alpha. If the batterboards have been removed, you could set a couple of them back in place quickly. Deck railing, porch railings, stair railings, Railing Dynamics, aluminum railings, vinyl railings. Best Price Guaranteed We will beat any advertised railing price from any other company so shop with confidence. Huge Selection of 5 Top Railing Brands We have 1. Free Railing Quote in 2. Hours Give us a call today at 8. Great Free Help Designing Your Railing Call our staff to help design your railings It usually takes only 1.