Attaching a beam to post question?

[EddieWalker]

Im building a garage using a post and beam foundation.

I have railway ties for my posts and I plan to laminate three 2 x 8's for the beams. Question is how should I attach them to the posts. Ive seen adjustable post bases that will work like these View attachment 378621 but they are $16 each!

Also regular 6x6 post hardware is too big for the 4.5inch width of the laminated beam.

Any advice here or am I left to pay more for the attachment hardware than the beams will cost?

The problem with RR ties is that you never really know what you are getting. In my area they buy just about any hardwood or semi hardwood that is big enough to be cut into a RR tie. You might get oak, or you might get sweet gum. I would buy good quality 6x6 posts and know what I had instead of taking a chance.

How far of a span are you going to go with the 2x8's? How are you going to laminate them? Will you add plywood between the 2x8's?

You posted a picture of a base mount for a post. If you look through the Simpson catalog, or just search around at Home Depot or Lowes, you should be able to find brackets for mounting beams on top of posts. They look kind of like a big fat T with the ends wraped around a bit. One on each side works great. I like to use the Simpson screws to hold everything together, but there are other options, just be sure to use the proper fasteners that they recommend. It makes a difference.

Eddie

 

[gdicks]

Thanks for the info Eddie and others. I decided to pour concrete posts instead and used post saddles to anchor the beams. The beams span 8 feet (4 posts on 24 feet) As for laminating them I didn't use plywood between them just I angle nailed them 3.5 in galvanized nails in alternating directions. An engineer told me that on a shed I could probably do with 2 x 6 laminated beams and floor joists but I went with 2x8 to be sure. The shed wont house my tractor or anything super heavy. I'll have the attached lean to with dirt floor for that stuff.

 

[EddieWalker]

Sounds good.

When laminating beams together, half inch plywood will add a huge amount of strength if you need it. It will also decrease the amount of movement or sag that happens in some boards. I also add liquid nails. While the nails or screws will hold it together, the glue also increases the overall strength of the boards.

Eddie

 

[MossRoad]

Plywood is amazing stuff. Its hard to imagine how much strength a simple sheet of plywood can have. My father was big on plywood. He was an architect and used it for gusseting all over the place. Good stuff.