How to Attach a Wood Post to Concrete

Attaching a wood post to a deck’s concrete footing, a concrete walkway, patio or porch slab is easy. Here’s how to do it.

To attach a wood handrail post to concrete:

  • Mark the location of the holes in a metal post bracket on the concrete.
  • Drill holes into the concrete that are the right diameter for lead shields using a masonry bit in a hammer drill.
  • Insert lead shields into the holes in the concrete.
  • Use lag bolts or screws to attach the metal post bracket to the concrete.

Insert the wood post in the post bracket, and screw or nail it in place.

Watch this video to find out more.

Further Reading

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Danny Lipford: Robert writes, “How can I attach a wood handrail post to concrete?”

If you’re not as lucky as these homeowners and could mount your handrail post right down into the ground, it’s a lot easier than you think to mount it to concrete.

This is one of the things that makes it really easy. It’s just a post bracket that attaches right to the concrete. Then you can put your post in place, and even trim it out to make it look great.

How do you attach that to the concrete? Well, that’s pretty easy as well. It’s a lead anchor, basically a threaded sleeve, that you use a hammer drill and a sharp masonry bit to drill down into the concrete. Just tap this in place.

Then, when you attach the bracket with your screws or bolts, it expands that lead anchor just a little bit and that’s where all of the strength comes in.

And it makes it really easy to have a very strong post and one that will last for a long, long time.

21 COMMENTS

  1. Where can you buy the exact brackets as shown in the video?
    We can only find the Simpson Strong Tie G185 4x Post Cap Z-Max – 4″ X 4″ and they are not as sturdy as yours.

  2. What if you do not have brackets and just want to tight one of the wood columns a bit loose? Does concrete nails exist or something similar?
    Thanks

  3. Watched the video from Danny Lipford about attaching a wood post to concrete surface Can you please give the name of the anchor plate he used? Thank You

  4. Looked all over for parts on Home Depot and Lowe’s site and cannot find proper base, or lag bolts (they seem threaded almost to the top of the hex bolt). Any help finding these parts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

    • Hi, Phil,
      TodaysHomeowner.com features home improvement advice from the nationally syndicated TV show “Today’s Homeowner” and its experts.
      We don’t offer information on individual home builders, repairers and suppliers, but we encourage checking your local phone listings for this information.
      Thanks for your question, and good luck!

  5. How do you attach a 4×4 post to concrete steps since the steps are not level but have a slight slope. Is there an adjustable anchor to allow for the steps not being level

  6. I always record the show. It comes on really early like 5 or 6, something like that on a Sunday. I can’t get the radio station in New Mexico, because its down south. I live in the Albuquerque area in Rio Rancho….wish I could.
    Signed a faithful watcher and wished I could do all those great things you do……….
    Thank you for being so inventive and having a knowledge of all maintenance and building creations……. Something we all need to know about. Helen

    • Hi, Kevin,
      After installing the metal post bracket into the concrete, you would just need to insert the wood post into the post bracket, and screw or nail it in place.
      Thanks for your question!

  7. Hi.. I have an entryway opening to my back door, it is 65 inches. I would like to install a wood picket gate with gate post surface mounted on concrete. Core drilling is not an option., nor is securing post onto wall mount. Please advise on the how I would go about doing this. Thank you.
    Tara

  8. Hello – I took apart a deck but left the concrete posts in the ground. They had a rebar piece going through the middle of them but I cut them flush. Instead of removing the concrete posts I have decided to use them to build a pergola. My question is can I still use Simpson Strong Tie Adjustable Post bases with the concrete posts as long as I avoid the rebar?

  9. Hi ,so I hadthose saddles used for a 60 ft fence. They were installed in concrete and nextdaythehad the 4×4 posts installed on them. The posts are wobbly . What is the reason for this ?

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