Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Sunken posts versus footer brackets

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PDA
07-17-00, 08:14 AM
The pool surround, free standing deck plan shows multiple 4x4's sunk into 42" of concrete with no need for beams or cross bracing. A friend recommends using footer brackets instead and placing the 4x4's
on top of the footer, not in the hole. The lateral strength and stiffness with the brackets does not seem to be adequate without lots of cross bracing between posts? Anyone have an opinion.
Dale

07-18-00, 12:54 PM
Brackets are much better because wood is porous and if you put the wood in the concrete then it will eventually soak in water (your wood is made for grond contact and not submerssion)
07-18-00, 03:51 PM
Use 3X3 steel posts in the concrete, keeping them 6" above the bottom of the mud. After they are set, you could then wrap the posts with wood from the top of the concrete, up, for appearance. The steel posts will give you all of the lateral strength you need. This is how we install free-standing patio covers all of the time, and they have to meet a 90 MPH wind load around here.