4x4 post bracket for cured concrete?

[PoorOwner]

I want to put a couple of 8 foot fence post on the patio what is the best bracket for this?
They will be for hanging lights so no real really heavy load.
last I check seems like strong tie makes one.

Do I shim the post or the bracket itself?

do I need fancy anchors or tapcons will be fine?

 

[matt_i]

More info needed, like cross-ties and cross-bracing of the structure..is the post free standing, is there a roof..etc.

More or less there are a couple of issues, don't want the bottom of the post kicked out inadvertently, don't want the top of the post to fall over in any direction. If under a roof don't want the parachute to lift up prematurely. The post base is easily good at the first one in shear, the third function uplift is tension, and can also do the second function if enough load bearing is put in place to restrain the max tipover moment. Resisting moment loads and basically bending is a more difficult proposition.

An epoxy anchor will always be better than a threaded anchor, but its also very dependent of what's underneath. Deep solid footing vs a 3" thick paver block are vastly different things to attach to.

 

[PoorOwner]

Yes. I do not know the thickness, but the patio is 2 feet by 2 feet concrete "tiles"
I assume they are at least 3.5" thick. Some have moved a little over the years.

I am setting up a couple posts so I can have a guide wire to hang the decorative string lights. So no real structure is being attached to it beside maybe 20 lbs of corded lights

 

[csp]

So you're wanting to anchor posts into a 2'x2' concrete paver? If that's the case, the bracket is the least of your concerns. You need something more substantial to anchor to.

 

[rslaback]

I wouldn't trust a 4x4 in that application. Have you considered pipe instead? You could either go with a floor flange in your paver or better yet drill a hole in the paver and drive the pipe into the earth below. What I did for patio lighting at my house was to use 3/4" emt as the post and I drove chunks of 1" schedule 80 pvc conduit into the ground. The schedule 80 has an ID of .936 and the emt has an OD of .922.

 

[PoorOwner]

I think they are mini slabs more than paver blocks. But I am not sure how thick it is.

the lights are under any real tension, they just drapes.

So a pipe flange is better?

 

[matcat58]

ABA44Z tapcon it down to keep the base from sliding. This is not structural, but it doesn't sound like you need it to be for your goal of draping light strands

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[matcat58]

Thinking about my reply, tip over may be a problem with what you're trying to do.

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[rslaback]

I think they are mini slabs more than paver blocks. But I am not sure how thick it is.

the lights are under any real tension, they just drapes.

So a pipe flange is better?

A pipe weighs a lot less than a 4x4 which will minimize your chance of tipping over.

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[NUTTSGT]

If they are just 2x2 concrete tiles, I'd pop one out where you want to put the post. Dig the hole, set the post, cut the concrete tile to fit around the post and put it back.

 

[Cyberbear]

If your new posts are to be free standing and set atop a large paver, you'll need to do something to stabilize that post. The simple answer may be to use a piece of 1/2" pipe that is inserted into the post bottom and into and through the paver. You'll need to drill a 12" deep hole into the post bottom, and drill through the paver and insert about 18" into the soil. Slip the post over the pipe and you are good to go since you are only putting a light load on top of the tall post. Give it some thought, but I know of no simple bracket that will be as effective and simple.

 

[97tj-neil]

If they are just 2x2 concrete tiles, I'd pop one out where you want to put the post. Dig the hole, set the post, cut the concrete tile to fit around the post and put it back.

This exactly what I was going to say.

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[WarDamnEagle]

If they are just 2x2 concrete tiles, I'd pop one out where you want to put the post. Dig the hole, set the post, cut the concrete tile to fit around the post and put it back.

This exactly what I was going to say.

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x3. You could even carefully mark and cut out for the post, remove the concrete, dig and set the post and then slide the paver over the post from the top.

Is there a reason you can't go just outside the concrete and set your posts there?

 

[csp]

the lights aren't under any real tension, they just drape.

What happens when someone leans on the post or trips and reaches for it hoping it will stop their fall?

There are brackets that are plenty strong to keep a post upright when surface mounted to the concrete, but you need to know for sure that the concrete it's fastened to won't go anywhere.