I’ve got a cement slab porch that I need to put a rail around. It had an awful rusty wrought iron rail that I’ve pulled off. How can I anchor the railing to the slab without using something like a sill plate?
I’ve got a cement slab porch that I need to put a rail around. It had an awful rusty wrought iron rail that I’ve pulled off. How can I anchor the railing to the slab without using something like a sill plate?
There are a number of ways to achieve a level foundation and mudsill.
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Replies
I'm guessing that you're going to replace it w/ wood. Which means that you will need to get a Simpson post base or similar that you can bolt down to the slab. then put your 4x4 on that then hide it w/ a 1x6 wrapped around the bottom.
Dave
In light of Dans post I guess I should elaborate that I was assuming you had bearing post that were allready existing.
Edited 3/30/2005 5:09 pm ET by DAVE MASON
Depends on whether the posts simply need to resist upward/downward force or need to resist sideways force.
For sideways force resistance sometimes the best thing to do is to drill a hole in the slab, glue in a piece of galv steel pipe, then set the post over the pipe.
At this point there is nothing to attach the posts to but a flat cement slab. They will need to resist side loading, as in keeping someone from falling off the porch. Does that help clarify any?
CC,You have a difficult situation. The connection needs to be very secure to resist the loads you will see.Simpson might have some hardware that you can bolt to the slab and fasten the post to. As you can imagine your post acts as a lever so any attachment will have to be very good. Tapcons will not work.Another solution would be to bolt the post to the face of the slab. You might be able to insert a few red heads in through the face of the 4x4 post into the slab edge. Think of how many deck rails are attached. If your slab hangs over the edge or if the face of the porch is a material that can't adequately resist the pullout forces, this won't work.Could you post some pictures?
Jon Blakemore
You could go w/ some sort of knife plate set up.
I like Dan's idea the best so far.
Dave