Bent Deck Post Straightening POST REPAIR DIY Exoman has a three-year-old deck built onto his home and one of the posts has become badly bent and was getting worse over time.
Structural engineer and long time follower here. For posts that long, you should have cross bracing from top to mid- height. I know it will block view and access, but the unbraced length is too long, which is why it bowed. Kurt
I was reading comments and gain an idea how to correct a bent post. I have a 6×6 post that was burried in concrete. It bend from the top to about 2 feet and been trying to find ways to strainghten it up before i start putting 2. 2×10 on top of it. Am building a gazebo as a project. Ill try using the water and angle iron first and see how it works. Thanks for all the ideas.
YOU DA' MAN! I have built a 350 ft. privacy fence with wood posts. It has taken me awhile to do, as I also have a full time job. In the 60 days since I set a 4x6 gate post in concrete, the summer has made it a lovely half moon...lol. I have been debating what to do (do I pull it, cut it off and try to straighten, etc....) Just cutting a couple of "relief joints" will solve my problem. Thank you! Ignore all the "experts' who live in a world of unlimited budgets (can anyone say "this old house"?) , or engineers who think every deck needs to be able to support a dozen stampeding elephants. You did great and you showed the DIY how to solve a very frustrating problem.
It probably does. Depends on the state. But homeowners in many states reserve the right to build without permits. It may not come up until the home is inspected during a sale. But even then, most home inspections are jokes.
I've had to do this before.Used a chainsaw to make my cuts. After i got it straight i put 2X6s from the top of center post to almost half way down on the outer post to keep it from happening again.
Im building a wood shed and used 4x4 for the corner post, im so blind i didnt notice the rear corner post is bent pretty bad at the top 2.5'. I already have the roof on on and floor is down so replacing it at this stage would really set me back. I tried using a wretchet strap and some clamps to straight so i can put the rear wall up to support the roof but i have a pretty bad gap. Im going to try your method with 2x4s. How deep are you cutting the post and why the need for saws? Does the circular saw not cut deep enough? Sorry if thats a dumb question, i never done carpentry in my life so in still green af. Ty for sharing your video, i will let you know how I make out once complete.
Well if this was not a post that was hundreds of pounds and just a 4x4 on a shed. I would just brace that corner up, remove that post and put a new one in. Might need to dig it out, make a big wide hole so you can get the new post in but it's not that big of deal. I used the reciprocating saw with a long blade because the circular did not go deep enough on that 8x8. On a 4x4 circular will be more than deep enough.
interesting.....no glue? Pressure treated wood posts, even 4 by 4s, always seem to warp. I would be surprised if this did not happen to your other posts eventually.
😂,he is a grown ass man, im sure he is well aware of the risk he is taking at this stage of his life and comfortable with his decisions, no need to nit pick.
The post is now straight but if that were my deck I would want to investigate further to understand why the post bowed in the first place and address the root cause.
@QCLAN I contacted a local building inspector and had them look at it. He said pressure treated pine likes to bend and twist but structurally it's fine. It's still off putting to see it but he and a friend of the family that's a builder said it's fine. I went ahead and wrapped it in 1x8 and 1x10 cedar. It looks good now.
Oh my goodness. No. Straightening the post shouldn’t have to come with weakening it. This is like the old doctor joke about cutting a man’s finger off because it hurt. You straightened it, weakened it, and did nothing to prevent it from bowing again. A steel beam, some ratchet straps, a water hose, and some patience is all ya needed. More water and another click on the straps every few hours… Once straightened, install cross beam supports, like there should’ve been to begin with.
Sorry not a good advice to do this. You have greatly weakened this post. A deck this high in the air with no bracing to take lateral loads and spread it between all posts. Now one post has been severely weakened. Structural mistakes and oversight happens all the time even by professional engineers. I believe it was in the 1980's there was a sky walk in a mall that collapsed from too many people walking and dancing on it. After an investigation it was all laid back on the engineer's for poor design. But it was the amount of shifting load that cause the failure. Replace the post or at the very least add cross bracing. But after cutting the post, it just needs replacing. I'm not a hater , I'm just one of those people who knows stuff and have the uncontrollable need to warn people of dangerous things.
Structural engineer and long time follower here. For posts that long, you should have cross bracing from top to mid- height. I know it will block view and access, but the unbraced length is too long, which is why it bowed.
Kurt
Very useful and helpful Kurt! Thank you!
I've got one doing the same but only 7'6 tall. Could it just be bowed p.t. wood from how it dryed?
@@mojodojo5533definitely
Very good tutorial how to straighten a crooked post, thanks for sharing
I was reading comments and gain an idea how to correct a bent post. I have a 6×6 post that was burried in concrete. It bend from the top to about 2 feet and been trying to find ways to strainghten it up before i start putting 2. 2×10 on top of it. Am building a gazebo as a project. Ill try using the water and angle iron first and see how it works. Thanks for all the ideas.
Thank you from Lafayette Colorado. I really appreciate the video!
Awesome helpful hints. This was really helpful information. Thanks
Great job! 👍
Ingenious idea. I can’t speak about the structural integrity but still, I could have used that idea in the past myself.
YOU DA' MAN! I have built a 350 ft. privacy fence with wood posts. It has taken me awhile to do, as I also have a full time job. In the 60 days since I set a 4x6 gate post in concrete, the summer has made it a lovely half moon...lol. I have been debating what to do (do I pull it, cut it off and try to straighten, etc....) Just cutting a couple of "relief joints" will solve my problem. Thank you! Ignore all the "experts' who live in a world of unlimited budgets (can anyone say "this old house"?) , or engineers who think every deck needs to be able to support a dozen stampeding elephants. You did great and you showed the DIY how to solve a very frustrating problem.
Thank you Michael, good luck with the projects!
I’m surprised you’re building code didn’t require cross braces on all posts to help balance the load.
It probably does. Depends on the state. But homeowners in many states reserve the right to build without permits. It may not come up until the home is inspected during a sale. But even then, most home inspections are jokes.
Genius. 👏🏼👏🏼
Great job! Super helpful info!!
Glad it was helpful!
excellent work exxo man!
Nice job ! a pro home owner
Excellent!
I've had to do this before.Used a chainsaw to make my cuts. After i got it straight i put 2X6s from the top of center post to almost half way down on the outer post to keep it from happening again.
Exoman have you considered putting angle braces toward the top for that shear support affect
thanks for sharing ...
I’m guessing the shims act as a wedge to keep it from moving back in? Cool fix!
Nice job!! but cross bracing should be introduced as another have commented ...
Great job..how long did it take?
I definitely would have coated the shims with a preservative. I personally like using Rust-Oleum Woodlife CopperCoat.
GOOD JOB HANDYMAN
Don't you have to coat the exposed face of treated wood after you cut it?
Is there not a need for an adhesive to keep the wedges?
Im building a wood shed and used 4x4 for the corner post, im so blind i didnt notice the rear corner post is bent pretty bad at the top 2.5'. I already have the roof on on and floor is down so replacing it at this stage would really set me back. I tried using a wretchet strap and some clamps to straight so i can put the rear wall up to support the roof but i have a pretty bad gap. Im going to try your method with 2x4s.
How deep are you cutting the post and why the need for saws? Does the circular saw not cut deep enough? Sorry if thats a dumb question, i never done carpentry in my life so in still green af.
Ty for sharing your video, i will let you know how I make out once complete.
Well if this was not a post that was hundreds of pounds and just a 4x4 on a shed. I would just brace that corner up, remove that post and put a new one in. Might need to dig it out, make a big wide hole so you can get the new post in but it's not that big of deal. I used the reciprocating saw with a long blade because the circular did not go deep enough on that 8x8. On a 4x4 circular will be more than deep enough.
interesting.....no glue? Pressure treated wood posts, even 4 by 4s, always seem to warp. I would be surprised if this did not happen to your other posts eventually.
and on a side note- the first rule of thumb when using power tools is to wear safety glasses!
😂,he is a grown ass man, im sure he is well aware of the risk he is taking at this stage of his life and comfortable with his decisions, no need to nit pick.
The post is now straight but if that were my deck I would want to investigate further to understand why the post bowed in the first place and address the root cause.
Read Kurt's comment.
My brand new homes carport posts are doing this.
Did you try this method? If so how did it go
@QCLAN I contacted a local building inspector and had them look at it. He said pressure treated pine likes to bend and twist but structurally it's fine. It's still off putting to see it but he and a friend of the family that's a builder said it's fine. I went ahead and wrapped it in 1x8 and 1x10 cedar. It looks good now.
Oh my goodness. No.
Straightening the post shouldn’t have to come with weakening it. This is like the old doctor joke about cutting a man’s finger off because it hurt.
You straightened it, weakened it, and did nothing to prevent it from bowing again.
A steel beam, some ratchet straps, a water hose, and some patience is all ya needed. More water and another click on the straps every few hours…
Once straightened, install cross beam supports, like there should’ve been to begin with.
Sorry not a good advice to do this.
You have greatly weakened this post.
A deck this high in the air with no bracing to take lateral loads and spread it between all posts.
Now one post has been severely weakened.
Structural mistakes and oversight happens all the time even by professional engineers.
I believe it was in the 1980's there was a sky walk in a mall that collapsed from too many people walking and dancing on it.
After an investigation it was all laid back on the engineer's for poor design.
But it was the amount of shifting load that cause the failure.
Replace the post or at the very least add cross bracing.
But after cutting the post, it just needs replacing.
I'm not a hater , I'm just one of those people who knows stuff and have the uncontrollable need to warn people of dangerous things.
WGAF