fixings to secure posts into concrete foundations?

[John Nagelson]

Hello, I am planning to build a well-insulated 'shed' type of office with timber walls secured to thick timber posts, and with concrete foundations.

I realise I could dig deep holes at each corner for the posts, and leave it at that. But could someone tell me what those things are called, made of galvanised steel, that you insert into the concrete and then secure the posts to (or inser them into), and then tighten up to make them rock solid?

In a bigger version they are used to secure tall signs to on petrol- station forecourts; and at well-made 'temporary' buildings such as some bird hides. I guess hundreds of uk.d-i-yers will know what they are called! I'd be very grateful if someone could remind me, so it will be easier for me to check them out.

Many thanks!

Best regards,

John

[Adrian]

Do you mean 'Metposts' ? Come in a range of sizes, and with 'spikes' on the bottom or flat plates with bolt-down holes....

Adrian

[John Nagelson]

Thanks Adrian. Aren't they for fence-posts? I'm after something a bit tougher, used e.g. for whopping great lamp-posts maybe?

John

[Adrian]

All depends There's three of the 4" spikey jobs holding down (or up ?) the supports for my car port. Spikes were 18" long but we didn't have 18" of earth to put them in - so shortened them and then set them in concrete. Survived the gales last week - so can't be that bad

There's probably a 'commercial' version available with larger sizes - but I'm not aware of it. How many did you need - and what size ?

Would angle-iron set in concrete (or maybe 2 x ) do the job - bolts through the angle into the wood ?

FWIW - when they built my new studio (12ft x 24ft) they embedded 3" x

1.5" steel frames into the concrete (one at each end and one in the middle) and then used enormous self-tapping bolts (!) to screw the timber framed panels to the supports. Very solid !

HTH Adrian

[John Nagelson]

Probably 4, maybe 6. Was thinking, to hold 6" square posts.

Maybe. I'm not up on the lingo - does this mean L-shapes??

I think maybe the things I'm after are like this:

I.e. three steel rectangles at right angles forming a |_| shape (shown at the left),

or shaped:

|_| |_| (shown at the top).

The latter must be even stronger. Just so long as the concrete gets all the way round the thing and holds it down for a few decades, I'll be happy. :-)

John

[Adrian]

I guess it depends on 'precisely' what you want them to do. If it's just a case of stopping the wooden posts from moving, then the angle-iron solution might do the job for you. A 'socketed' solution might be a bit overkill - but then, I don;t know how exposed the location is...

Yes - sort of right-angled.... traditionally made from old metal bedsteads (had a little trailer to go behind the garden tractor that was made of the same stuff - worked well !) - but you can buy, reasonably cheaply, metal fence posts made from thickish angle iron - embedded in the concrete with a decent coach-bolt through then your shed's not likely to be going anywhere...

Looks like joist hangers to me.....

You could use a couple of the u-shaped ones, bolted together so as to make a

[_] [ ]

Shape - and embed the bottom half in the concrete - then big bolts...

Don't know where in the world you are - but try making a simple drawing of what you want and ask around either builders' merchants or agricultural suppliers - I'm sure there will be something 'off the shelf' that could be adapted.

HTH Adrian

[The Medway Handyman]

You need Metpost 'Concrete Ins'.

[Tim Downie]

things that have a galvanised socket or "U" bracket for the post to sit in which is welded to a galvanised rod that is then set into the concrete which maintains free drainage of water away from the bottom of the post and keeps it clear of any groundwater. I keeps the timber relatively dry and I guess prevents any rot. Dunno what they're called though. ;-(

TIm

[John Nagelson]

Yes - I need something a little stronger, and bolts should definitely be involved, rather than just wedging the posts in.

sit in which is welded to a galvanised rod that is then

I've seen these too, where the bottom of the post is above the top of the concrete, sometimes even with a gap, e.g.:

I'd prefer holders/brackets, though, where the concrete holds part of the thing in a downwards direction rather than just squeezing it from the sides.

Those Powrfab things might be the ticket. I may be wrong, but I think they are made for the purpose I need, rather than for hanging joists?

Any idea where I might get them (or something similar) in the UK??

John

[The Medway Handyman]

There are two types, the wedge in and the bolt type.

This any good?