Questions and Answers for Simpson Strong-Tie BC ZMAX Galvanized Post Cap for 4x Nominal Lumber

A:  As long as its not bearing any load that would work fine

A:  Yes, so long as the 4x4 does not have a lot of weight such as fence gate, deck post, etc..

A:  Yes it will.

A:  I did the same thing. This is a solution; however, it was a little unstable. There is a better solution using the same brand product, but I probably can't describe it satisfactorily. (assuming you are adding inches to a 4 x 4 post)

A:  No. This is not going to provide any lateral support at all, and will not be even remotely adequate for an application such as you're describing. This is solely for the purpose of securing a beam across the top of a post. You basically have two options for what you want to do. You can sister 2x4s along the length of each side of the 4x4 post and the post extension. This will provide the rigidity that will otherwise be lacking at the joint of the mated 4x4s, but also increase the width of your posts by 3"—which may or may not be a concern. The other option, and by far the best choice, would be to remove the 4' posts and replace them with 6' posts (you'll want 8' posts that are treated, and bury them 24" in the ground—preferably in concrete for durability and longevity, but not necessarily a requirement). A bit more work than you might want to do, perhaps, but it will provide the best result, and the cost won't be much more (if any at all) than the first option. You can reuse all the other boards and hardware provided you're careful when you demo the existing fence.

A:  Yes you can. I did the exact same thing on my deck but i used 2x8 with a through bolt and the added a L70 to tie my 2x8 together at the corner.

A:  No. These are designed for securing 4x beams to 4x4 posts. If you were using 4x4 posts, then you could use a "4x Double Top Base/Cap" to secure the double 2x6 beams to the posts. I don't know that you're likely to find anything like this that is made for use with a 4x6 post.

A:  Yes, as long as you use a 1/2 inch spacer between your 2x6s. I used construction adhesive and nailed my beans together before placing atop the posts. I used 1/2 inch OSB for the spacer.

A:  yes these work perfect for that

A:  These are for 4x4 dimensional lumber, so the width is actually 3 ½". The width of the doubled 2x8s is only 3", so you would either need to sandwich a piece of ½" board between them for such an application, or use a "Double Post Cap/Base." And if you're going to be meeting two ends of a beam at the top of a post, then you'll want to use a bracket with broader coverage like a couple of the "Adjustable Post Caps."

A:  So long as it is non bearing.

A:  I think you'd be fine using lag bolts

A:  This doesn't appear to be a question, but I would not recommend that you use bolts. Those larger holes are structural in nature, and not meant for bolts. These are designed to be used with 16p nails or #10 structural-connection screws. Anything else will diminish the structural integrity of the connection, and violate building code.

A:  Go ahead and use bolts. I used countersink screws to keep the surface flat for my project. Good luck on your project.

A:  I have used bolts before

A:  Per Simpson Strongtie website, "Pilot holes for manufacturing purposes(Do not install bolts)". (see Catalogue p106: http://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/ssttoolbox/ndnjetccaz/C-C-2017-p106.pdf

A:  I'm sure you could use a bolt if you felt it was necessary for strength for your particular application. I used screws.

A:  If you wanted to use a lag or carriage bolt

A:  Simpson StrongTie website for BC Post Cap says "Do not install bolts into pilot holes". They are there for manufacturing purposes only and are not engineered to bear weight in the final structure.

A:  No. The larger holes are structural in nature, and not meant to be used for bolts. These are designed to be used with 16p nails or #10 structural-connector screws.

A:  The BC4Z-R has the Z-MAX finish (G185) which provides a medium level of corrosion protection; the BC4 has the standard G90 galvanized finish which provides a low level of corrosion protection. Please visit our website for complete corrosion information and to determine the recommended finish based on your condition. Thank you!

A:  The BC4Z-R has extra galvanization (ZMAX) to withstand contact with treated woods. If you're not going to be using treated lumber, then the standard galvanization on the BC4 will be sufficient. Otherwise, the chemicals used in treated lumber can cause premature corrosion to the brackets, especially if coupled with exposure to the elements.

A:  ues

A:  The product shown here is the BC4Z which is sized for a 4x beam over a 4x post. It has a *980 lb. uplift capacity and *1000 lb. lateral capacity; please check with your local designer/engineer to confirm if it meets Minnesota state code. The BCS2-2/4 (also available in ZMAX, BCS2-2/4Z) is sized for a double 2x beam over a 4x post. Thank you! *Allowable loads have been increased 60% for wind or earthquake loading with no further increase allowed; reduce where other loads govern.

A:  "R" version is for unplanned 4" posts as opposed to standard 3-1/2" planned lumber. Page 106 of Simpson Strongtie Catalog address dimensional differences. See http://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/ssttoolbox/ndnjetccaz/C-C-2017-p106.pdf

A:  Actually, the BC4Z-R is slightly wider, 4" compared to 3-9/16. According to the Simpson catalog.

A:  The BC4Z and the BC4Z-R are both actually the BC4Z cap, but the -R is referring to the packaging - the BC4Z is provided to Home Depot in cartons of 40 and the BC4Z-R is a retail carton of 20. Thank you!