Of course, you could instead choose to use some other type of joint, like a lap joint of some kind, that is stronger under tension. Not because the brace itself couldn't handle a tension load, but because the joints at its ends can't. Thus, out of the two possible brace orientations, you should choose the one that puts the brace under compression. Thus, if you're making a structure like that gate using such joints, you really don't want any of the joints to be primarily under tension. (They also don't handle torque loads too well, which is one reason why you need a diagonal brace in the first place.) They might hold under tension for a while, but tend to gradually come apart as the nails are slowly pulled out of the wood. Such joints are strong under compression (which just pushes the ends of the wooden beams together), and also relatively strong under lateral loads if the nails are applied properly to resist the load, but they handle tension loads quite poorly. The frame and the brace in the first gate shown in your question seem to be joined together with simple butt joints, probably with nails to hold them together.
So maybe we should consider complicating things more? It's certainly cheaper and easier to use more complicated joinery/a 99 cent steel bracket and 2x4s than it is to fabricate an all steel gate frame.Īre 2x4s just undersized to support a load like this or is it possible the bracing can make a difference? Wood is certainly a troublesome material but plenty of critical structures have been made from wood with proper engineering and have held up much longer than this. Wooden gates almost never hold up to time, and we aren't talking decades here.most wooden gates will sag within 1-2 years. I realize that using the 2x4 for tension would require stronger joinery but it's certainly possible to secure it more than well enough to take the load.Īdditionally a common theme here seems to be that the load on the gate is too trivial to really care either way but I strongly disagree with that statement. In this case the wire rope supports the far end under tension, but is there a reason a 2x4 couldn't also be used under tension rather than compression? Is the former design more effective for some reason? I understand this logic and am sure it works but wouldn't it be preferred to use a tension brace rather than a compression brace in this application?įor example virtually every recommendation for a wire rope support shows the opposite: The idea is that the cross brace will distribute load from the top outside corner into the bottom of the hinge bracket. One of the only situations where you would be likely to need X bracing would be if your deck had long support posts and was sited on a sloping lot.Looking at guides for building wooden frame gates I almost always find the following design recommendation: This technique is rarely used because it is obstructive and unattractive. In this method you attach 2x4’s or 2圆’x from the top of one post to the bottom of the next and vice versa resembling the understructure of a wooden railroad bridge. Bracing between posts using X or K bracing can be also be used to make a deck more rigid.
#2x4 braces install
You will probably not be required to install bracing but it is an option worth considering because it will increase the strength of your deck. Unfortunately there are no hard rules regarding bracing. The taller the structural posts the longer and more substantial the braces should be. Always use bolts rather than nails to insure a strong connection. For instance 4x4’s can be installed at 45 degree angles parallel to the beam as Y or knee braces connecting the beam to the sides of the structural posts. Bracing comes in many forms but is always used to prevent racking and increase the frames stiffness. Decks with an above grade pier footing type should have bracing installed to prevent the post base from acting as a pivot.
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