The footings of your deck are exactly what they sound like – the feet of the deck. They’re the concrete foundations that support your deck. In order for posts to properly resist varying degrees of weight, posts must rest on and be anchored to concrete footings. It’s important to note that patios and pre-cast concrete piers do not qualify as proper footings for deck construction.

To anchor posts to concrete footings, you need to use a post base connector. Whether you’re using natural, decay-resistant or preservative-treated wood, it’s recommended that posts be elevated off the concrete by 1 inch to help prevent decay at the end of the post due to moisture.

Installing post base

Use a drill with a hammer drill bit to install a concrete sleeve anchor into the center of the concrete footing.

Install the Simpson Strong Tie ABE66Z Adjustable Post Base to the sleeve anchor and tighten the bolt to secure the attachment.

Set the 6x6 Pressure Treated Post onto the post base and attach by nailing the side flanges to the support post.

There are two types of post bases – post-installed post bases and cast-in-place post bases.

Post-installed post bases use anchor bolts installed during the pour or after the concrete hardens. They are the most common post base used in new deck construction and are a good option if you want to strengthen an existing deck.

·            The ABA44Z and ABU44Z by Simpson Strong-Tie are adjustable post-installed post bases for 4x4 posts and feature a 1 inch standoff height to lift the post off the concrete and reduce the potential for decay from moisture. They’re adjustable to account for imperfect bolt placement and offer a finished hardware appearance. ABU post bases have higher uplift loads for wind and earthquake-prone areas. The ABA and ABU are offered in 4x4, 4x6 and 6x6 post sizes and come with a ZMAX® coating for corrosion resistance. ABU post bases also are available in stainless steel for a higher level of corrosion protection.

Cast-in-place post bases are designed for new decks and are installed into the concrete footing at the time of the pour.

·            The PBS44AZ cast-in-place post base by Simpson Strong-Tie features a 1 inch standoff height to lift the post off the concrete and reduce the potential for decay from moisture. It embeds into wet concrete up to the bottom of the 1 inch standoff base plate and has holes in the bottom of the strap to allow concrete to flow freely. (Note: A 2 inch minimum side cover is required to obtain the full load.) The PBS is offered in 4x4, 4x6 and 6x6 post sizes and depending on the size, is available in either a ZMAX® or Hot-Dip Galvanized (HDG) coating for additional corrosion resistance.

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