Advice on a fence

Helping a friend build a small section of privacy fence for his concrete patio and wondering if anyone has an opinion:

Should we sink the posts into concrete directly or bolt them to post brackets set into the wet concrete?

Brackets would avoid rot and aid in eventual replacement but putting them fully into the concrete is probably better strength against wind loads, etc.

This is the view of the back showing the posts and footings for reference:

 

Definitely brackets. It would allow replacement, repair, etc and is better for the wood long term. Something like this with a threaded bolt into the concrete:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Simpson-Strong-Tie-Steel-G185-Post-Base-Common-4-in-Actual-3-in/3048059

That way you just add bracket and post after the concrete cures

 

Edit: This is even better. Bolt included:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Simpson-St...ood-to-Concrete-Cast-in-Place-Base/1002708554

 

See that's what my gut says, but I'm paranoid it will blow over unless they're set into the concrete directly.

I just wish there was some prescriptive guide for fencing the way there is for decks but I can't seem to find one. That should really tell me the answer is that it's not that big of a deal and I need to quit obsessing over it haha.

 

If my wife and I can figure out fencing installations in a day with basic hand tools, I'm sure you can to. Keep the level handy!

 

If I were putting wood post on concrete, I’d want more than one anchor point.
I’d use an anchor plate like the one linked below.

Then again, I’m not an engineer or fence builder.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Simpson-Strong-Tie-Steel-Painted-Post-Base-Common-4-in-Actual-3-in/3030292

 

Simpson Strong Tie makes hurricane straps. For what it's worth, your house's wall studs probably don't have the uplift resistance even close to that post. Check out the loading tables:
https://www.strongtie.com/standoffpostbases_castinplacepostbases/epb_base/p/epb#LoadTables

 

I second or third the post sleeve.



Properly anchored to a slab, that would be every bit as strong as sinking it. If you're pouring new concrete, you are going to have to drive bolts into the existing slab, plus anchors, so that the whole thing doesn't tip.

 

I advise metal braces that embed in the concrete as well. Posts after. Concrete will leak water on setting, and any water that gets into cracks over the years will stay. Wood deeply buried in the sweating concrete is a poot idea.

On this page is post bracses that have segments that are worked into the concrete before setting so that the brace goes nowhere: https://www.dhcsupplies.com/store/c/965-Concrete-Embed-Post-Bases.html

 

Use Simpson PBS44A.

https://www.strongtie.com/standoffpostbases_castinplacepostbases/pbs_base/p/pbs

 

You could also just sink them into the concrete and use a Postsaver. Think of it basically as a large heat shrink for your posts that will sink below the ground-line to help prevent rot. However, the above are a lot cheaper while still being able to be sunken into the poured concrete while it cures. The post saver might be better suited for direct post in ground application with concrete poured directly in the hole.

-J

 

Simpson makes GOOD stuff. $$$ but legit. The J bolts set in concrete piers with Simpson bolt on things that also raise the wood off the concrete are what I used for my SMALL deck.

looks like a small job for you? Only 3-4 posts. I’d use this stuff ilo concrete. Worked great for my mailbox

 

I'm super late, but still going to reply:

skip wood and go with PostMaster galvanized steel posts.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/PostMas...alvanized-Steel-Fence-Post-633663-1/307938011

I finished a fence this year with these. Easy to work with, and stupidly strong.