Proper Procedure Of Anchoring A Porch Railing Post To Concrete
The majority of the individuals buy a house that already has a concrete patio at ground level and then decides to add a guardrail system, gated fence, or raised deck on top of the concrete slab because they have children or simply want to beautify their home. A pad in place can save you time and money and offer a stable foundation on which to build, but it is crucial that the posts are firmly fastened to the concrete with an interface in order to prevent wood rot, termite or other insect infestation, as well as lateral shifting and racking of the framework due to seismic activity.
Things You Will Need
- Tape Measure & Carpenter's Pencil
- Eye Protection & Hammer Drill With 1/2-Inch Chuck
- Concrete Bit, 1/2-Inch & Caulking Gun
- 1 Can Of Compressed Air
- 1 Tube Of Two-Part Concrete Anchoring Epoxy
- Galvanized Or Stainless-Steel 1/2-Inch Expanding Concrete Anchors
- Galvanized Or Stainless-Steel Post Mounting Bracket With A 1-Inch Standoff
- 3/4-Inch Socket And Ratchet
- Hammer & Circular Saw
- Rafter angle square
Step 1: Locating And Drilling The Holes
- Find The Center
Identify the precise placement of the post's center. According to Upgraded Home, position the bracket square in the direction of the railing and mark the center of the bolt hole with a carpenter's pencil. - Drill The Hole For The Bolt Stem
Drill the hole to the depth of the bolt stem, in addition to the thickness of the base plate as well as an additional 1/8 inch of space, then screw the nut flush onto the end of the concrete anchor bolt. - Remove Dust And Debris
Blow out the hole with compressed air to get rid of as much dust and debris as you can, then clean it further with a round wire brush before blowing it out once again. To give the bolt a precise fit, repeat as required.
Step 2: Securing The Post
- Hammer The Anchor Into The Hole
The anchor should be hammered into the hole as long as it is just flush with the bottom plate while holding the bracket firmly in place and with the bolt in the top of the hole. - Align The Base Plate
With the 3/4-inch socket and ratchet, secure the nut after setting the base plate in place. Re-hammer the anchor as well as clean off the overflow if the anchor does not grab when you begin to tighten it, if the hole is uneven or cracks appear while drilling or hammering, or if any of these conditions exist. Before tightening the nut, let it set. - Cut And Install The Post
According to How To Specialist, use a circular saw to cut the post for the deck railing on the concrete patio to the desired length, taking the 1-inch standoff into account. To ensure a clean, square cut, place the rafter angle square against the saw's baseplate as a fence. Then, place the post in its final position. Depending on the type of wood fastener the specific post bracket was designed for, bolt it or nail it into the bracket. Even though the precise dimensions and designs of these brackets differ slightly depending on the manufacturer, doing so will dependably work with any standoff-style post brackets for concrete. The lateral hold you require for this kind of fastener will typically be provided for a four-by-four post by a pair of matching thru bolts, but make sure to check the manufacturer's specs for the hardware you buy.