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Deck Guard Posts: Aligning Holes for Tension Tie Method

patrick1 | Posted in Construction Techniques on August 7, 2023 03:55pm

Hi All,

I’m using the Mike Guertin / Simpson method of securing guard posts using tension ties.

For the side and corner posts, I need to run a piece of threaded rod through the end joist, post, across the first joist cavity and finally through the next joist over.

I have a really long drill bit that will stretch across the joist bay, but if I don’t align the drill properly, the hole could end up in the wrong place (e.g., too close to the rim board, to close to the top of the joist, etc.).

The task is complicated by the fact that we doing a double picture frame so the first joist cavity is quite small.

Below is a screen shot from my sketchup model to show what we’re dealing with.

Wondering if anyone has any tips for getting the holes properly aligned.

Mike Guertin, if you’re out there, would love to know how you did this in your various articles, videos, etc.

Thanks in advance!

-Patrick

Reply

Replies

  1. calvin | Aug 07, 2023 05:36pm | #1

    What I’m seeing in your drawing is that with a 4x4 post and 3” of framing surrounding it, not much room for your bolt, and not much purchase through that post.

    But, you can find a portable drill press to at least make it through the post and build up. Mark out your hole through the last joist and run your bit through the hole you previously drilled and hit that mark.

    See if you can find a reasonable tool that would work with your drill.
    Search: portable drill press for hand drill

    1. calvin | Aug 07, 2023 07:11pm | #2

      Then again, a good eye should get you real close to “perfect for this job”.

    2. patrick1 | Aug 09, 2023 09:07am | #4

      Thanks for the suggestion Calvin. I actually have one of those portable drill presses so that's a good idea. It's a bit tricky to keep it stable when using it in horizontal applications, but I'm sure I can probably clamp it or something to make it work.

  2. bing0328 | Aug 08, 2023 11:31am | #3

    Mark the center of where the hole is suppose to be in second joist and after drilling first hole align the drill bit with your mark before drilling second hole.

    1. patrick1 | Aug 09, 2023 09:11am | #5

      I considered doing this too, but the deck has a bit of a slope to it (to improve drainage) and I'll need to shim the posts a bit to make them plumb. So dropping a square line from the top of the joists wouldn't be plumb to the world.

      To get the hole placement accurate, I'd need to account for the shims and the difference between the plumb line and the square line. That would be much easier to do with the post in place and plumbed already.

  3. patrick1 | Aug 09, 2023 09:19am | #6

    One other idea I has was to predrill the holes in the post, accurately using a drill press. ...like Mike Guertin does in this article: https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/exteriors/code-compliant-guardrail-posts_o

    Then, leave a drill bit in the post, plumb and clamp. With the drill bit already sitting in the post, I would have room to use an angle-drive adapter for my drill to drill towards the end joist, locating that hole accurately since the hole in the post would serve as a guide.

    Once that hole is drilled, I can then drill the inboard joist from the outside of the deck (i.e., use the hole through the end joist and post as a guide to properly locate the inboard joist hole).

    I'm going to rig up a few "practice" pieces using cut-off scraps and see which method seems to work best.

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