Stumped

[Mambo Gambo]

Well i have been watching the posts come in and feel that for my current abilities and budget, the steel ties/strapping would seem the best way to go about this. There also seems to be a general concensis that the posts be cut to a length so they sit above the ground. The posts currently seem to be sunk to the same depth as the stumps.

Would it be likely that the straps will loosen over time causing the posts to slip and the boards to float out of line if i do cut the posts shorter than the stumps?

I have attached the post rain pics. you should get the idea of whats happeining. the nail is the one i drove in whil attaching the first plank. in removing the plan from the post, the nail decided that it would be much lees effort to go through the plank instead of coming out of the post. I would therefore assume that i'm dealing with some pretty hard wood. anyone got a more detailed analisys???

The response os awesome. Thanks heaps.

Gambo

[barnsey]

Hi there Gambo,

I've had two houses restumped - one in West Brunswick and one in Essendon.
The originals were Jarrah stumps!! Made great table legs and lamp bases

When I did the outside I used treated pine 4x2 cut so that it was clear of the ant caps and about an 1 1/2" clear of the ground. Drill two holes in the stumps to take plastic plugs suitable for 1/4" coach screws. Drill the timber with 1/4" clearance holes. Be generous with the clearance coz you will get some drift with the drills in both the timber and the concrete. Use a large flat gal washer under the head of the 3" zinc plated coach scews and insert them into the holes/plugs with your rechargeable drill set at a moderate torque setting and then you can nail without fear of anything moving - ever.

By the way, at the point where you have the maximum clearance make sure you either hinge a section of the planking or make a removable panel so you have access under the house.

Well that's my experience anyway

Jamie