Advice or comment on post to beam connection

[DougW]

I'm going to do an extension on my wood shed seen here. On the looker right side. Same basic design but the left hand side using the existing post. Same slope as existing but 2-3 feet lower, with span being 15 feet between centers rather than 12 on original. Its not for wood storage but things like kindling, lawn furniture, splitting blocks, the bucket for the skid steer in winter. Maybe a 1/2 cord of small diameter stuff for early fall / late spring.

So I have the wood, got the posts , same as last time PT cedar, have enough roofing to do it for free but I'm struggling abit with the connection between the existing post and the new beams. My plan right now is to use some railway rail cut to 9" long as a support. Drill for 4 - 1/2" lag screws, plane the post for connector and end of beam. The other end of beam will sit on new posts. May cope so end of post goes into beam.

[greasyslope]

I think I mostly follow what you're saying. Could you just add an additional post and join the two beams together?

[DougW]

I think I mostly follow what you're saying. Could you just add an additional post and join the two beams together?

I could add 4 posts, where my new beams would be supported on both ends by new posts. I do have 4 posts so there is no cost that way.

To join the beams together now I think would be a lot more work as I have 3 foot over hangs so the splice would not be above the post.

[::: :::]

I'm guessing you have heavy snows in winter?

Thru-bolts might be better...How about a full trimmer against the post to handle the new beam?

For reference, how high is the lower existing horizontal rail?

[edit] ^^^^ yes, to 4 new columns

[DougW]

design every thing for 60 lb/ft 2 but with the metal roof and a ~ 5/12 pitch it always slides at least once mid winter but before it goes can be a lot of snow.

I was thinking maybe through bolts as do have some threaded rod about. Bottom of existing back beam is about 8 feet.

"How about a full trimmer against the post to handle the new beam?" not sure what this means

[::: :::]

Trimmer would sister against the post and sit under your new beam, like in the window pic below



So it could be another post like you've got...it would be stronger than bolting a corbel (block) onto the existing post.

[DougW]

makes sense just have to dig hole beside existing post let it settle, put on beam , let settle. Would it be best to leave as separate structure for a while , a couple of months, before bolting posts together??

[Game Over]

Edit sorry reading comp fail

[::: :::]

Put gravel in hole & tamp it down to create a stable base -- prolly won't move that much after that

[DougW]

I live on 20 feet of gravel so that is not issue.

[bigdude2468]

Cutting rail road could be tough, very hard steel. It has chrome & magnesium content which if the rail is used work hardens over time.

[ctsmith]

Probably way fussier than you want to deal with, but Knapp Ricon hardware would work for the new beam / existing post connection.

[DougW]

Well the beams are 13" dia pine and a 16" dia d fir and .... those things are amazing strong, way more complex than I would want to get involved in but neat.

If you want to learn how to cut a railway rails google it and it seems like the blacksmiths think about and do this a lot. Anyway going with the sistered up posts.