How To Connect 6x6 Post Together

Hello... I'1000 running into somewhat of a quandary in a project that I'grand planing out. I need to vertically extend the current posts / columns on my deck by about 6 feet. Has anyone fastened ii six" ten 6" end on end?

The project will be a pergola that covers the deck, so the load is actually minimal. There is vinyl railing that surrounds the deck to about 36" nigh the deck surface, and the posts extend to almost forty" with a decorative cap on acme. I don't desire to tear up the deck also much to do this.

My electric current plan is to create a one-half-lap articulation and bolt the two members together. I don't know what size bolts to utilise though... 5/8"? Whatever help would be great!

I am looking to exercise the very aforementioned affair, with 4 x 4 posts; is this an application where one could use a pocket pigsty jig?

If it were me, I'd ready the posts on each other and adhere them together with some sort of metal post cap, like a Simpson Strong-tie BC6 ( http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/bc.asp ), and then sleeve the whole thing with 1x fabric so that it hides the connection and ties the 2 together even improve. I've never tried this before, but if seems like information technology would work.

The one-time timers that built timber frame structures did this all the time with a 1/ii lap scarf joint and some pegged the joint together with a dowel for skillful measure.
Here'southward an extract from a pretty reliable source, Tommy Silva, I'd say if it's good 'nuff for him......

I looked for a picture to tag along but seemingly institute none in a quick look round the 'net. But the joint looks well-nigh similar a childs rendering of a lightning bolt as to the zig zag shape.

"About half the posts in here were v inches too brusk," says TOH's general contractor every bit he sets the saw aside. "They looked fine until we replaced the structure that would support the flooring and started to lower jacks holding up the barn. That's when we noticed the trouble." The old barn flooring had been built on two levels � no one is certain exactly why. But years of accumulated debris and patchwork repairs had hidden the stride-down. To lengthen the posts, which will be visible once the barn is finished, Tom splices in additional sections of as worn and anile timber salvaged from posts he's replaced in the garage beneath. He uses a half-lap scarf joint, a askew zigzag that's fastened with structure adhesive and locked tight by the weight of the barn itself � no hardware needed."

Might not be the reply for you, but it'due south much more aesthetically pleasing as compared to a galvanized Simpson Strong Tie production.

Cheers.
Greg

This is a really good time to consult the local bulding codes for what you are attempting to do and maybe consult a P.E. for guidance of your particular situation. Without more details, you lot may be asking for trouble extending your columns. Buckling becomes a greater cistron when the cavalcade gets longer and you lot would put tremendous forces on your joint if the column fifty-fifty starts to buckle.

I've seen these joints property in barns that had no right yet being upright, listing 25% to one side etc.... the joinery stayed intact but some of the roof leaking was the downfall. I don't think I'll be 2nd guessing the guy I quoted earlier either.

And yep, do your due dilligence well-nigh building codes etc.

Greg

I think there is a large difference between extending something 5" and extending it 6 FEET. I recollect I would get a professional opinion on this one.

Quote Originally Posted by Greg Cole View Post

The onetime timers that congenital timber frame structures did this all the time with a 1/2 lap scarf articulation Cheers.
Greg

Yes this would be the way to go.

Hello Gents.

I found this site that discusses attaching timbers finish to terminate. In particular it describes multiple types of scarf joints along with drawings.

Quote Originally Posted by Bob Moyer View Post

I am looking to practise the very aforementioned matter, with 4 ten 4 posts; is this an application where one could use a pocket hole jig?

Bob: I don't think that pocket spiral joinery would provide enough stabilization to the base of the column unless information technology were exceedingly short. I would actually look to other methods.

Quote Originally Posted by Brian Effinger View Post

If it were me, I'd ready the posts on each other and attach them together with some sort of metal post cap, like a Simpson Strong-tie BC6 ( http://world wide web.strongtie.com/products/connectors/bc.asp ), so sleeve the whole thing with 1x textile and so that information technology hides the connectedness and ties the 2 together even better. I've never tried this before, just if seems similar it would piece of work.

Brian: I looked at the link above, and it does wait interesting. My concern is that it is designed to place beams beyond the acme of the post rather than secure two posts end-on-terminate. I did plan to hibernate as much of the joinery every bit possible with one-by "casing" and so to speak.

Quote Originally Posted past Greg Cole View Post

The old timers that congenital timber frame structures did this all the time with a 1/two lap scarf joint and some pegged the joint together with a dowel for good mensurate.
Here's an excerpt from a pretty reliable source, Tommy Silva, I'd say if information technology'southward good 'nuff for him...... I looked for a pic to tag forth but seemingly plant none in a quick await circular the 'net. But the articulation looks about like a childs rendering of a lightning commodities as to the zig zag shape.

I know what y'all're talking about. My concern is that the length of the joint required would be quite long.. probably 2 - 3 feet (!) in vertical length to brand plenty zig-zags. I didn't see this particular bear witness though.

Quote Originally Posted by Lee Schierer View Post

This is a really adept time to consult the local bulding codes for what you are attempting to do and maybe consult a P.E. for guidance of your detail state of affairs. Without more details, you may be asking for trouble extending your columns. Buckling becomes a greater cistron when the column gets longer and you would put tremendous forces on your joint if the column even starts to buckle.

Lee: The ii columns end-on-end actually human activity as two dissever columns, and then the "long slender column" problem is not a huge business concern. But I hold, y'all try and limit the length of the column to 20x the maximum diameter. The other side of it is that the structure is not going to carry a pregnant amount of weight compared to the size of the columns.

Quote Originally Posted by Ken Garlock View Post

How-do-you-do Gents.

I found this site that discusses attaching timbers terminate to end. In detail information technology describes multiple types of scarf joints along with drawings.

Ken: Thanks for the site! Quite interesting to read. It looks like virtually of those drawings are of beams. The same theories should apply for compression beams though.

-Ben

A scarf joint and one-half lap are entirely different animals. The only vertical scarf for this awarding is ane that yous probably don't want to attempt if you lot don't desire to take the chance of eventually having to replace the lower (already installed portion) due to a fubar'd effort on your function. Timberframing and I get way back and I chose non to attempt that very joint a couple of years ago on a fence project.

I accept an viii pes tall white cedar fence and needed to supplant all posts. Glommed onto some cedar 6x6x14s and life was proficient til I reached the last postal service in the run. I'd failed to account for a drop in grade for which I should have used a 16 footer. Had a long chip of 6x6 PT boot around and used an 18" long half lap joint secured with carriage bolts and urethane glue. The joint is one-half below grade and half above. And then far so adept.