Brick Pier to Existing Post Connection

[kstrawser]

I am in the process of repairing posts on an old sugar shack. I am jacking each post up to grade, cutting off the rot and building new brick piers under each post that they will sit on. does anyone have any recommendations on how to connect/anchor the post to the bricks or would the posts just sitting on the bricks be adequate? also is there anything that should be put between the post and the brick to help preserve the wood?



 

[Don P]

With the cut off post supported in place and dangling over the hole go up through the bottom end of the post with some type of adequate connector. For that I would probably drill a series of 3/8" holes in a line 2 or 3" long and 8" up into the end. Work a sawzall up in to clear a slot and insert a 1/4" steel bar up into the slot, then cross drill thu the post and plate for a 3/4" steel dowel that gets plugged. I like to slip a square piece of 1/2" thick heavy plastic around the bar between the post bottom and the masonry. Weld rebar to the dangling bar and run it down to a 90° bend 3" off the bottom of the footing hole (AKA a "standard hook"). Pour the footing and build the pier around the rebar. You now have a "continuous load path" at least up to the post. Personally, I would have filled the hole to grade with concrete bag mix and a bunch of washed <6" field rocks (less than 25% of pier or wall least dimension for largest aggregate). You pick up some stability .. and more frost heave potential.

[kstrawser]

Don,
I already have the brick pier built. the post is only 1/2" above brickwork at this time. All I have to do is remove the kickers and set the post down. your plan would have worked had I done the rebar work be done prior to constructing piers up from footing. Do you have any ideas to retrofit what I currently have constructed?.  the footing was poured below frost level then block then brick.

[Don P]

Not really, the brick and pier have no real tensile capacity.