 |
|
| Browse | Ask | Answer | Search | Join/Login |
|
|
||||
|
Reinforcing deck posts for guardrail
My father just built some new deck railings for us as our old ones were rotting and falling apart. I want to attach a picture but do not see an area to do so... The posts are surface mounted using a bracket attached in front to the support beam at the edge of the deck and the other side just the deck floor. We want to know if there is something we can do to offer more support/reinforcement as the span is 5 and a half feet between posts and we are worried that it will not hold up if someone falls against with a lot of force. The spindles are spaced about 5 inches apart and the rails total a height of 41 inches. My father will not take them down so this needs to be something we can do in addition to what he has currently done...
|
||||
|
||||
|
Given that you must work with what you already have, you have only two options. One, you could add an "L" shape bracket , screwing it into the deck and the side of the post. That will help some. It will make the joint between the deck and the post stronger but it will not do much to eliminate the movement at the top of the rail. It will never feel good. It will of course be unsightly. The other option is run a lag bolt up from underneath through the deck board. From underneath, drill through the deck board and into the post. Screw in a lag bolt with a large washer. The longer the lag bolt and the larger the washer the better. Again this will strengthen the post connection but will not eliminate the movement at the top of the rail. |
||||
|
||||
|
Hard to say without pics or size of brackets in place. You should check the local building code... from what you explained, this may be an unsafe condition. If main support will be from interior L-shaped bracket... make it heavy duty and bolt it to the floor and post vs screws. |
||||
|
||||
|
So the post are attached to the side of the joist or the band board. That should be OK. If it does not feel secure to you, drill holes through the post and the band board and bolt together with carriage bolts, large washers and nuts. Not lag bolts. Make your responses in the Answer this Question block. That way your post come back to the top of the queue and we see it again. |
||||
| Question Tools | Search this Question |
Add your answer here.
Check out some similar questions!
I have a 16' x 8' 2nd story deck with 10' posts. It is attached to the house on one 16' side and has stairs off one of the 8' sides. The posts are placed at the edges of the concrete on the pad below. The thickness of the concrete is approx. 4". How do I go about adding a proper pier/concrete...
I'm building a deck and considering the easiest yet strong railing option. I like the vertical 2x4 on the inside of the post, one just off the deck and one just under a cap of 2x6 (actually Trex 1x6). I did this before, notching the posts about 1", which looked nice and had good support. 12190 ...
Hello - I have heard from the a number of home improvement folks that when pouring the concrete for deck posts, a product called Quickcrete does not need any mixing. You simply dump it in the hole (12 inch diameter, 42 inches deep) and add water and it does the rest for you. I was wondering your...
I have a 2nd story concrete deck made with Polydeck... new construction home... and wish to put up railing... Would like to use aluminum balusters that look like wrought iron, probably "Deckorator" line... and Trex post and rail supports... But what would be the best method to attach the Trex posts...
I'm planning to build a deck attached to the end of my house. It will be 12 feet out from the house. The posts will be 2 x 10" concrete blocks (to be covered with artificial stack rock). How far apart can my posts be. Is 12.4foot centers too far apart? This would cause about 11 foot of span between...
View more questions Search
|
