Bolt-on Post Support v Full Stirrup.

[Waldo]

G'day 0-Total,

Woodrot?

For F7, which is now F5 t/pine I haven't had woodrot, nor on any hardwoods. The only problems I've seen with woodrot on h/wood is where the concrete hasn't been sloped at an angle away from the posts so water doesn't build up around the posts.

Apologies for dragging this away from Dr-307's original question.

[journeyman Mick]

...........Mick,
Please explain - "prefer a fish plate bolted on either side of the post or a large cast in bracket"..........

Doc,
see here and here for more info on fish plates. Cast in brackets are like the bolt on bracket you posted but heavier and long enought that they can be cast into the concrete and still support the post off the slab/footing.

Waldo,
seen plenty of hardwood timber posts rotted where they've been placed in concrete even when the concrete has been shaped to shed water away from the post. It's not considered to be a good industry practice. You'll get a longer service life from posts that are directly embedded in dirt than in concrete.

Mick

[Waldo]

Doc,
see here and here for more info on fish plates. Cast in brackets are like the bolt on bracket you posted but heavier and long enought that they can be cast into the concrete and still support the post off the slab/footing.

Waldo,
seen plenty of hardwood timber posts rotted where they've been placed in concrete even when the concrete has been shaped to shed water away from the post. It's not considered to be a good industry practice. You'll get a longer service life from posts that are directly embedded in dirt than in concrete.

Mick

Thanks Mick,

I'm always up for learning and won't shy away from advice.

[Dr - 307]

journeyman Mick,
Regarding fish paltes -
You set the split ends into concrete and bolt your post to that. And that works better than any of the stirrups / supports available? If you remember and wouldn't mind please post some pics of 'fishplate work' in progress.

Forumites,
Regarding timber rot how long can you expect F7 posts to last in ground?

Thanks,
Dr - 307.

[journeyman Mick]

journeyman Mick,
Regarding fish paltes -
You set the split ends into concrete and bolt your post to that. And that works better than any of the stirrups / supports available? If you remember and wouldn't mind please post some pics of 'fishplate work' in progress.......

Dr,
don't kow about working "better" but they require less bracing (as per one of the other threads), can be fitted to any size post, are an off the shelf item (around here, anyway) and IMO are stronger than stirrups.

F7 in ground? How long is a piece of string? There's too many variables. Best bet is to place stuff off the ground to prevent termite access and attack plus avoid decay.

Re: photos of work in progress with fish plates. Don't hold your breath, I don't do any building work anymore, only cabinets and shopfitting. I will be building a deck and extending my shed so there will be some used then but I still need to mill the logs for my deck timber etc etc etc.

Mick

[Dr - 307]

Appreciate the information.
I also prefer timber out of the ground.

Cheers,
Dr - 307.