How to secure posts to a deck?

[julienf]

Hi,

A post has come loose and needs to be secured. I'm conscious the whole deck needs to be replaced, but right now I need a tactical solution to secure the deck until this happens.

Funny thing is that I've no idea how the other posts are attached to the joist, there is no visible screw head.

Any advice on how to secure this post? I was thinking of getting a couple of coach screws through the post and into the joist.

Kind regards

Julien

[Akanksha]

Hello @julienf,

Thanks for your question on how to secure posts to a deck. I'm sure our resident D.I.Y. expert @EricL will be able to assist you with your query when he's back on the site. In the meantime, have a look at this previous related discussion in case it helps: How to replace bottom of deck post?

Also tagging @Adam_W to see if he has any thoughts about securing your loose post.

Akanksha 

[Noyade]

Afternoon @julienf 

"I was thinking of getting a couple of coach screws through the post and into the joist."

To my eyes - the beam/joist appears to be rotten with a dark cavity showing? Something a dentist would enjoy seeing. A coach screw may not grip this area.

Together - 90mm?

May I suggest a long M8 round head bolt placed through both pieces of wood with a washer - until a better fix is underway.

Cheers!

[EricL]

Hello @julienf

It would seem that the rest of the railings have slightly parted ways from the deck framing. This then allowed water to settle in the gap and rotted it from the inside. At this point, it is difficult to gauge how much rot has travelled into the timber. As @Noyade has mentioned you could put in an M8 bolt to go through both sides as a temporary repair until you repair the deck properly. But in the meantime, I suggest using angle brackets to secure the post to the good part of the deck.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[julienf]

Hi,

Thank you all for your reply.
You're both right the joist has started rotting. Not sure of the extent of the damage though.

@EricLI had a quick look at brackets at my local bunnings  (didn't have much time to ask around), and saw heaps of brackets. Most of them seemed too big ( the side of the railing is 3.1 cm wide) or not for decking. Do you have any specific reference to recommend?

[KatieC]

Hi @julienf,

Sorry to hear you have got rot starting to form on your joist. @EricL is on a well-deserved break but our amazing DIY expert @MitchellMc will be back online tomorrow to help you with selecting your brackets. Let me tag a couple of our great members @CSParnell and @twocutekelpies to see if they have any suggestions. 

Katie

[MitchellMc]

Hi @julienf,

Thanks for qualifying that there is rot present in your joists. As your joists are structural members of the deck, you must address the issue and replace the rotted timber. It appears the time has passed for band-aid solutions like installing brackets to hold the balustrade timbers in place. Installing brackets will only mask the real issue here.

I urge you to have your deck assessed by a qualified professional and complete the needed structural repairs. The decay of structural members can lead to deck collapse and cause serious injury.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[Jewelleryrescue]

@julienf  and all.

I think @MitchellMc  is right on this one some of those other Timber joists further back under the decking look a bit manky too. Time to save up and replace the deck. Consider the rot you can see now how bad is the timber you cant see?  I have 2 story replaced decks before and they are like a  stack of powdery dominos one falls puts pressure on the next structual  element and the  next next  New  years eve ever ones out watching fireworks and the decks on the ground,  I am not suggesting imminent collapse but start  taking  measures.

Plus it is  the perfect time not just to replace but refresh to whole deck look you might like a tile  look and that will need  extra timbers so a perfect time to upgrade.

Mean while I would drill through the posts  and install 10M bolts 2 per post upper end lower through the joists on the bad Posts. On the other posts you might get away with one bolt per post where they are in better condition.   The  bolts nuts and washer through to post and through the joist will sandwich the rot in the middle  and not pull out and fail if they are heavily  leaned on. a the use of  steel plates may also benifit a  temperay solution  stopping bolt head sand washers  pulling through.

[julienf]

Yes and I agree with everyone too As I said in my initial post, the whole deck needs to be replaced or properly repaired, I was looking for a quick fix to limit risk of accident until it happens.

It looks like I have options now, thanks everyone

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @julienf  

Yeah sorry to have to confirm  the deck does have issues.  I hope things go well.  As much as it will cost you money I dont want you to have to pay more than necessary.

Can I advise you think about the upgrade sooner as your bugdet allows as building material costs sky rocketing it could cost you 50% more in 1 to 2 years time.

Good luck