Attaching Post To Deck Joist For Pergola

The most under appreciated connection on a deck frame is probably the one between a post and the beam it supports.

Attaching post to deck joist for pergola.

These blocks are screwed in with a strap on the top and bottom figure 2. First be sure you are screwing into the deck s beams not the deck s boards. This is a lot like finding studs in your walls when you re hanging something heavy. I ve seen various methods to attach railing posts to rim joists but it seems better to bolt to a joist and or put on top of the deck beams along with some blocking bolts.

I also appreciate that you are not stuck on the johnny one note answer of don t try to attach the pergola to the floating deck. I m building a wood deck with a pergola. It is very important to properly attach pergola posts when installing a pergola over a deck. Brian laverdiere thank you very much for posting and answering my question.

If you don t attach the support posts to the deck framing the deck boards could pull. Anchoring pergola to floating deck by. I joists installation and handling attaching railing post to a 4x8 beam and flush 2x8 joist deck unit attaching pergola posts to deck beams joists building stronger post to beam. The four posts of your pergola need to be attached to the joist structure under the deck not the floorboards of the deck.

Any pergola post can be anchored to a wood surface with 90 degree strap brackets. Most deck builders bolt pergola support posts to the frame of the deck using 2 1 2 x 6 lag screws with washers per post. Attach two of the 20 foot 1 by 6 boards to each of the 4 by 4 pergola posts for the side beams. To attach the posts to the rim joists i block behind each post to transfer the load to two or more joists.

My plan is to utilize the deck structure beams and joists both 2 x 8 s to secure the pergola posts. Turning the corner with the pergola and adding at least one 4 foot bay also helps to stiffen things. Although this joint may not get the respect it deserves it is a critical load path connection that needs to keep the post and beam aligned while properly transferring deck loads to the footing. Btw my ground is only ever so slightly un level and i m not using any posts in the blocks.

There are a few additional considerations before screwing into the post and into the deck. Properly attach your support posts to the deck. Place the first two boards on the left and right side of one of the 4 by 4 posts.