Enormous Loads

A deck post like what is shown in the accompanying photos concentrates enormous loads. Simply placing a post on a patio slab is not a good idea, said Andrew Binosa, an Atlanta inspector for Champia Real Estate Inspections Atlanta.

he ASHI associate inspector said the post should be resting on a pier that’s got a spread footing and is separated from the patio. In addition, Binosa said the contractor who did this does not deserve to have a license to do work.  Using that tiny L-bracket to attach a deck post to concrete is like using a piece of thread to hold a cruise ship to a pier.

Contractors have many options and in this case the builder should have at the least used a Simpson tie ABU66Z to anchor the posts. An example of such an anchor tie is shown in the third photo.