4x4 post splitting ... repair? or replace?

edwinhome9 · 04-06-2011, 11:13 AM

hello, maybe you guru's can help this diy guy.
i am using 4x4 wood post that are 10' feet long.

as i drove the nails in the top and bottom of the 4x4 to add the brackets and connectors. the nails were to big and now the 4x4 post are starting to split.

how can i fix this? the post are beginning to split from top to bottom, and some of the spits are pretty significant. is there a way to repair this or do i need to replace them.
any help would be appreciated. thanks

12penny · 04-06-2011, 11:28 AM

....first question ed, what are you building?

edwinhome9 · 04-06-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12penny

....first question ed, what are you building?

i am building a room/rooms inside a warehouse. separating the space with lots of rooms. one room to paint, one room to store spare parts, one room for an office, one room...well you get the idea. i used 4x4x10' post to make my rooms very tall.
it kinda looks like a deck would outside. except it just to break up the space of this huge warehouse.

12penny · 04-06-2011, 11:40 AM

jeez ed...only thing I can think of is to cut them shorter and eliminate the cracks. Thats a problem with 4x4.

Maybe someone will be along who's had to fix some in the past.

sorry

Ron6519 · 04-06-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwinhome9

hello, maybe you guru's can help this diy guy.
i am using 4x4 wood post that are 10' feet long.

as i drove the nails in the top and bottom of the 4x4 to add the brackets and connectors. the nails were to big and now the 4x4 post are starting to split.

how can i fix this? the post are beginning to split from top to bottom, and some of the spits are pretty significant. is there a way to repair this or do i need to replace them.
any help would be appreciated. thanks

There's no reason to use 4x4's to build rooms. Nail splits at the ends don't split, "top to bottom". What does split length wise is wet wood. As it dries, it checks.
What material are these 4x4's? Pressure treated? Doug fir?
Post photos.
Ron

edwinhome9 · 04-06-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron6519

There's no reason to use 4x4's to build rooms. Nail splits at the ends don't split, "top to bottom". What does split length wise is wet wood. As it dries, it checks.
What material are these 4x4's? Pressure treated? Doug fir?
Post photos.
Ron

yeah i know its overkill to use 4x4's. but since it is going to be used to store motorcycle parts and engines and other heavy items we figured we can overkill with 4x4 so not to worry about the weight and since space isnt a concern we went with big post.
they are just doug fir since its indoor and not getting hit by the weather or outside elements.
i'll get some pictures up in an hour or so. have to get to the warehouse to take some of the splitting thats going on.

12penny · 04-06-2011, 12:23 PM

Have to tell ya ed, I have other concerns with your structure besides the size of the posts. Take pics of your framing as well. With heavy items be stored up there and then people walking on it.... it looks.... underengineered.

edwinhome9 · 04-06-2011, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12penny

Have to tell ya ed, I have other concerns with your structure besides the size of the posts. Take pics of your framing as well. With heavy items be stored up there and then people walking on it.... it looks.... underengineered.

yeah, we're going to add bracing. no where near finished yet.
i was just getting concerned about the cracking/splitting, but i'd be happy to get suggestions on the bracing.
i'll add upload some pics of the effected areas in a little bit

Ron6519 · 04-06-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwinhome9

yeah i know its overkill to use 4x4's. but since it is going to be used to store motorcycle parts and engines and other heavy items we figured we can overkill with 4x4 so not to worry about the weight and since space isnt a concern we went with big post.
they are just doug fir since its indoor and not getting hit by the weather or outside elements.
i'll get some pictures up in an hour or so. have to get to the warehouse to take some of the splitting thats going on.

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You didn't mention you were storing things on top. Try reposting the pictures as these did not show up.
Ron

Ron6519 · 04-06-2011, 12:51 PM

The pictures showed up.
The way it's framed, is inadequate for the stated purpose.
Ron

edwinhome9 · 04-06-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron6519

The pictures showed up.
The way it's framed, is inadequate for the stated purpose.
Ron

alright. well, like i said we are going to add bracing. but if i wanted to make it 'adequate'. what kinda bracing would u do?
also i can just build out another couple of rooms and use that as the extra storage i need for said engines and parts.
i thought we could save that space, and lumber by utilizing the top of the structure...which still has some 10 - 16 feet of clearance to the top depending on where you are standing.
anyways, i appreciate all the replies

Ron6519 · 04-06-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwinhome9

alright. well, like i said we are going to add bracing. but if i wanted to make it 'adequate'. what kinda bracing would u do?
also i can just build out another couple of rooms and use that as the extra storage i need for said engines and parts.
i thought we could save that space, and lumber by utilizing the top of the structure...which still has some 10 - 16 feet of clearance to the top depending on where you are standing.
anyways, i appreciate all the replies

The 2x4 platform is inadequate for the storage you mentioned.
What fasteners did you use for the joist hangers?
Ron

12penny · 04-06-2011, 01:08 PM

....while bracing is a concern, of greater importance is the undersized and possibly overspanned floor joist, the inadequate "beams" that they hang off of and the beam to post connections.

....considering that this is a platform that people will be working on and under I would suggest that you contact a professional before proceeding.

edwinhome9 · 04-06-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron6519

The 2x4 platform is inadequate for the storage you mentioned.
What fasteners did you use for the joist hangers?
Ron

i have 4x4 wood post, and 2x6 for the floor joist. 2x6 headers, the fasteners are for 2x6 - 2x8. supposed to be the heaviest duty one's avail
the span is 10-11 feet in between post

Ron6519 · 04-06-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwinhome9

i have 4x4 wood post, and 2x6 for the floor joist. 2x6 headers, the fasteners are for 2x6 - 2x8. supposed to be the heaviest duty one's avail
the span is 10-11 feet in between post

Fasteners are nails, not the joist hangers. For the stated span and storage weight, I would have gone 2x8 as a minimum, more likely, 2x10 as the tendency is to add more and more items to the space.
Are you aware of the storage capacity with a 2x6 spanning 10+ feet? If this was a house it would not be adequate with a perimeter wall system, much less up on poles.
Ron