Attaching A 4X4 Wood Post To Concrete Wall
The 4x4 posts must be attached so they stay upright and firm whether you're making a cover for a concrete patio, mounting posts on concrete steps, or installing a railing around a concrete porch. You can connect the posts using one of three techniques, depending on the project and design.
- Surface Mount Posts
- Core And Set Posts
- Side-Mounted Posts
Surface Mount Posts
- A post with many points of support, as one that is attached to a covered roof and a concrete slab, or one that supports a handrail and is also attached to a house, can be surface mounted. Post bases, which are commonly constructed of metal, are attached directly to the concrete's surface.
- Concrete screws or anchors are inserted through holes drilled into the concrete. The bottom of the post simply slides in after the base is in place. There are many different post bracket designs, and the majority of them require additional bolting into the post through the side of the bracket.
Core And Set Posts
- Because a post bracket cannot provide enough support against lateral stress, you cannot surface mount a post that only has one point of contact, at the base. Coring through solid concrete or concrete block to a depth one-third the height of the desired post will allow you to place and concrete the post securely whether you're putting a fence on concrete or a freestanding porch railing.
- Some construction rental stores sell portable core drilling devices, but unless you have experience with concrete coring, it's generally best to give a coring company a call.
Side-Mounted Posts
- An elevated masonry base, such as steps or a raised concrete porch, is a good candidate for side mounting, which is the third method for connecting a post to solid concrete or concrete block.
- When side mounting, a decent rule of thumb is to attach the post at a minimum of one-third below the top of the concrete. It can be held in place using a minimum of two sleeve anchors placed to a depth of at least the post's width.