How to Anchor Patio Covers to Cement Patios
Properly anchoring your patio cover support posts to a cement patio will allow you to build the cover yourself, saving you money in the long run. In addition to the money you'll save, it will also give you the control over the design and the time frame of construction.
What You'll Need:
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Wooden mounts
- Drill
- Masonry bit
- Masonry anchor
- Crescent wrench
- Galvanized screws
- 4-inch by 4-inch lumber
- Lag bolts
- Joist hangers
- 2-inch by 4-inch joists
- Decide how big your patio cover will be and use a pencil to mark the locations for your corner support posts. Review your local building codes to inquire whether you’ll need additional supports in between the corner supports. This is determined by both the width and material of your patio cover. Generally, for cloth or tarp covers, the corner posts are enough. However, wooden covers require additional support posts.
- Install the wood mounts into the positions you previously marked for your corner posts, you’ll also need to mark the holes for the anchors. Put your pencil inside the pre-existing anchor holes and make a mark on the patio. Push the mounts out of the way and drill the holes for the masonry anchors that will hold the mounts. You should use a masonry bit that is the correct size for the pre-existing anchor holes. Put the masonry anchors through the wood mounts and tighten the anchors using a crescent wrench.
- Put your posts into the mounts and level and hold a level to the side of the posts and push them until the bubble in the level is centered. Screw each of the galvanized screws through the pre-existing holes in the wood mounts as well as inside the 4-inch by 4-inch wooden support posts.
- Install 2-inch by 4-inch framing all around the top of your support posts. Use a lag bolt to secure the frame to the posts and connect the joist hangers to the frame and hang 2-by-4-inch joists to support your patio cover. You’ll need to screw through the pre-existing holes in your joist hangers as well as into your joists in order to secure them into place. The top of your joist hangers will need to be flush with the top of your 2-by-4 framing. The exact spacing of your joist hangers is dependent on the type of cover you're installing and your local building codes.