How to Attach a Porch Post to Concrete
Porch post is generally constructed using wood. A concrete slab forms sturdy and durable flooring for a porch. Each support posts should possess an anchor plates, which include drilled bolt holes. Attaching the bolster posts to the structure of a solid concrete base is not really an easy task. It is necessary for you to drill into concrete and after that fix those anchor posts prior to fitting the railing. You should follow these few steps to fix the posts on concrete. If there is any dampness found in the concrete that will soak up into the post and that may subsequently rot the wood. You have to use the proper hardware for fitting. You will need to install a moisture barricade between your concrete and the post so as to avoid the necessity for its untimely replacement. You should take care while drilling into the concrete that you do not crush or crack the concrete at the position where the rail will be fixed
Tools and Material Needed:
- Concrete base
- Wood post
- Pencil
- Chalk stick
- Concrete screw kit
- Anchor plates
- Gaskets
- Rubber mallet
- Measuring tape
- Masking tape
- Power drill
- Drilling attachment
- Galvanized screws per post
Step1 – Select the Position for Posts
Mark with pencil the position of the post setting on the concrete slab by placing a post anchor to act as a guide for marking the needed position. Create pencil marks through the mounting holes inside the anchor plates over concrete surface. Take away the anchor plates and place them apart.
Step 2 - Positioning the Anchor Plates
Ensure that the anchor plates are correctly for the support posts prior to drilling. Ascertain this using the measuring tape.
Step 3 - Drilling the Holes
Attach a masonry drill bit to an electric power drill. Keep the working length of the drilling bit half an inch more than the length of anchor bolt sleeves and cover the remaining part of the drill bit by rolling masking tape over it a couple of times.
Drill the mounting holes into the concrete on the every mark made with the pencil for the holes. The masking tape acts as a gauge mark on the drill bit for controlling the depth of the drilled holes for mounting bolts.
If you are staying in a wet place and desire to ensure utmost protection from dampness to the concrete slab, you must install a gasket between concrete surface and anchor to fix the posts to stop any moisture from entering into the posts through holes for anchor mounting. You should take the assistance of a friend to help you for holding the parts in their position while you drill or fasten the posts in their respective places.
Make certain while drilling the holes to maintain the proper depth for putting the anchor bolt sleeve. You should check the hole-depth with the sleeve as well.
Use a rubber or plastic mallet to fix the sleeve into the holes so that you do not damage the sleeves. It is necessary to use protective eye wear while drilling into the concrete to avoid the chips from falling into your eyes and causing injury.
Step 4 - Fixing the Posts
Position the post anchor back on drilled holes and fix in anchor bolts into all holes with a wrench.
Position the post over the mounted anchor ensuring that the post properly fits over the tabs provided on the anchor for fixing the post. Fix the post to the anchor using the galvanized screws with the help of a screw driver or a Phillips head screw tightening bit mounted to on an electric power drill.
