How To Install Fortress Post - Colorado Custom Covers & Decks
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- Опубліковано 9 вер 2024
- Jonathan demonstrates how to install and properly space Fortress railing posts, ensuring they're level, plumb, and properly centered for a professional finish.
@Fortressrailing
DECK RAILING INSTALLATION STEPS
Post Size: Opt for 2x2 inch posts to minimize view obstruction, though 3x3 inch posts are also available.
Positioning: Start by positioning the post about 2 inches from the edge, ensuring the legs of the post are securely anchored into the solid wood of the deck.
Pre-drilling: Pre-drill holes for the lag screws to avoid splitting the wood.
Securing the Post: Start by securing one corner with a lag screw, double-checking for squareness. Then, drill and secure the remaining corners. Tighten the screws fully to ensure the post is stable and plumb.
Measurement: Measure the distance between the outermost points of the posts or from center to center, depending on your preference.
Dividing: Divide this measurement by the number of railings to determine the spacing for each post.
Marking: Mark the center points for the posts to ensure uniform spacing.
Repeating the Process: Repeat the above steps for each post, ensuring they are aligned and spaced evenly.
Covering Seams: Position posts over seams in the deck boards to conceal them for a cleaner look.
Plumb Check: After securing all posts, check each one for plumbness and make minor adjustments if necessary.
Stability: Ensure all posts are securely fastened and stable before proceeding with the installation of the railing.
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Holy crap bro, a family of elephants could move into that wide open mitre.
Would have liked to see what you did for blocking below the posts
Sure appreciate your helpful instructions. Thanks!
We are happy to help. Thanks
Fortress specifies 3/8” x 3 1/2” galvanized nut and bolt to attach their posts. If the railing takes any abuse, lag bolts or structural screws will strip and work their way out. Getting the blocks in place below the deck is absolutely critical to attaching the posts correctly. Also, make sure you use pressure treated lumber for the blocking. If you use un-treated lumbar in a wet environment it will turn into mush.
Shoddy contractors love just shooting lag bolts or structural screws into the decks floor joists and band joist to attach the posts. I just spent the weekend, and about 500 bucks tearing up my deck and installing new blocking to repair the contractors work.
Take a look at Fortress Railing’s installation guide before you do any work. Getting the blocking in the correct place, and giving yourself room to install the correct sized nuts and bolts is critical.
I would respectfully disagree. Nut & bolts come loose way quicker than the Fastenmaster flat loc. haven’t had an issue yet. Thanks for the comment
The only problem I see is there was no 1/8 " gap in your composite decking. It looks like its cold out, in the summer when it gets hot the composite decking will expand. It looks like you guys do good work!
I need help, i am going to loose it. I want a deck built with a fortress infinity boards. Are you using the infinity boards and the post? How do you like the fortress products? I live in GA and researching to find a quality board for the heat and humidity. Can you recommend or do you have any advice.
Denise Smith I do not use fortress decking but I do love there railing system. I would recommend looking into Deckorators decking. It is 30% cooler than other decking and is the most slip resistant decking on the market. You can visit or Facebook page as we have some pictures of the Deckorators decking. Fb @coversanddecks
I know this long after the fact, but these keyboard critics are killing me with their "through bolts or it's wrong" comments. I did what none of them apparently none of them did and looked up the installation instructions for the Fortress posts on their website. Those instructions show several different acceptable methods of fastening these post, including lag bolts and through bolts, for addressing different deck situations. That installation guide was published in early 2016, two years before this vid was published. It's likely true that at one time the installation guide from Fortress did spec through bolts only, but no longer. And if lag bolts are good, then 3/8 or 1/2 inch replacement structural lags are absolutely ok given how much better they are than traditional lags.
Of course, both lag bolts and through bolts require proper fastening surfaces and blocking. We have no reason to believe that either were inadequate based in this video.
I see Fortress recommends Lag bolts as opposed to lag screws, your thoughts? Also, if not doing a picture frame, there needs to be additional blocking for the posts, correct? Do you follow any specific process on that?
the Fastenmaster flat loc is my favorite as it grabs very well. I use the 4.5". If we do not have a beam we will block where the post go before we deck so we have some structure to attach to. usually we put the blocks on the flat. hope this helps and thanks for watching.
powerplunge see comment below.
What application do you use to charge the customer, and how much?
Thank you for your time.
I’m gonna buy the aluminum trex deck rail, can I cut the rails to size with a mitar saw!
Can you please advise on blocking for the posts? Thank you!
I noticed that there was not a space at your but joints , what’s gonna happen when the hot days hit that deck ? No room for expansion.
My installer left the post base covers undone. I hate the design and I cant figure out how in the world I’m supposed to get them to twist on
Hey if your posts aren't plum once you've tightened them done how do you adjust them to olumb?
You will need to loosen the lags and plumb the post. Once plumb slowly tighten the lags.
As another poster already pointed out, these fasteners are not per the instructions of Fortress. Fortress says they must be galvanized bolts with nuts and specifically says lag bolts are not to be used. This guy is just using these fasteners since it's the easier route.
I would respectfully disagree. Nut & bolts come loose way quicker than the Fastenmaster flat loc. haven’t had an issue yet. Thanks for the comment
Dude for f sake ... show the finished job
That’s what I thought , this is not the right why to install this railing , this guys taken more time on how to find centers,that’s the easy part. Bad video . Also you will be happier with the 3” post . Absolutely no instruction!