Older Toddler Area

Canopy at Painted Concrete

Instructions for building the canopy



Tools needed:
Measuring tape
Sharpie Marker
Electric Drill
Masonry bit
3/8 wood bit
Turkey baster
Heavy hammer
Wrench
Wrench
or Socket Wrench with and sockets
Ladder
Level
Materials needed:
8 Post Bases
32 wedge anchors (four per post)
32 x 1-1/2 long lag bolts (four per post)
8 4x4x8 wood posts
12 2x6x12 wood beams
8 2x4x8 wood purlins
40 3/8x8 Carriage bolts
3 2x4x8 wood spacers
6 2x2 rigid tie brackets
Deck screws
33 1x4x12 wood rip rap members
Older Toddler Area
Canopy at Painted Concrete
Instructions for building the canopy

1. Begin by laying out the centers of the posts. Use the measuring tape and a Sharpie Marker.
The post against the back fence is the thickness of a 2x4 away from the fence. The diagonal
distance between the posts should be the same. That is a way to check that things are square.















2. Once you have used the marker to draw the center of each column on
the concrete, place the E-Z Base Post Base on the ground and, looking
down through the top of the post base, center the post base on the mark
you drew on the concrete. Once this is placed properly, use the Sharpie to
draw a circle at each hole. This is to locate the holes for the next step
where we will drill the concrete.

3. Once all of the post base holes have been drawn on the concrete, it is
time to get the drill. You will need a masonry bit. Each hole will need
to be 3-1/4 deep. For safety reasons, we dont want any extra length of
bolt sticking out since it is a trip hazard. A tip here is to make a mark with
the sharpie on the drill bit to measure the 3-1/4 depth. Try and get all of
the dust out of the hole. You can use the turkey baster for this.

4. Now that the holes are all drilled, the next step is to insert the Wedge
Anchors. Place the Post Base over the holes. Now, go find the box of x
4-1/4 Red Head Wedge Anchors. The box has anchors, nuts and washers
in it. Place a washer and nut on the wedge anchor like shown to the right.
The end with the little split cylinder goes in the hole. It may take a
hammer to get the anchor to go in. This is why we put the Post Base in
place to do this step- we may not get the nut back off if we bang on it too
much.



Older Toddler Area
Canopy at Painted Concrete
Instructions for building the canopy

5. Once the anchors are in place, you can tighten the nuts. This should
force the wedge part of the anchor up and force the cylinder to expand
against the sides of the hole.


6. It will be easier to drill the holes in the posts now before we put
them vertical. Find the 4x4x8 posts. Each end post will have four
holes. The top two are for the 2x4 purlins. The bottom two are for the
2x6 beams.

You will need the 3/8 wood
bit to drill these holes.

Do your best to make the
holes as straight as possible.

Do this for four posts.
These are the end posts.













Now, do this for four posts.
These are the posts in the
middle.


Older Toddler Area
Canopy at Painted Concrete
Instructions for building the canopy

7. Now it is time to drill the holes in the 2x4 Purlins. Use the 3/8 wood bit.







8. I recommend bolting the purlins and the post on the
ground. The less overhead work to do, the better. We will
be using the 3/8 x 8 long galvanized carriage bolts for
this. Place a 2x4 on each side of the post and insert the
carriage bolt. You may need a hammer to tap the carriage
bolt through the hole. Place a washer and nut on each bolt
and finger tighten. You should now have two posts
connected by two 2x4s.

9. Using several people, pick up the assembly and place the
bottom end of the posts into the Post Base. Raise the
assembly to a vertical position. Now it is time for the
ladder. Square up the posts and tighten the nuts on the
carriage bolts. The head of the carriage bolt should be
drawn into the wood. The 4x4 posts are slightly smaller
than the opening in the Post Base. This will give us some
adjustment room. The bases are fairly deep so I am hoping
that we will not need to brace each post. See how much
they flop around. If it is too bad, we will have to use 1x4s
to brace the posts.

10. Now you can secure the posts to the Post Base. Use a 1/8 drill bit to pre-drill the holes.
There are four pre-drilled holes on each side of the post base. We only need to use the top and
bottom holes. There isnt enough structural load to warrant putting bolts in all four holes. We
will be using the 1-1/2 long galvanized lag screws for this, each with a washer. It will
probably deform the post base some.


Older Toddler Area
Canopy at Painted Concrete
Instructions for building the canopy

11. Now it is time to drill holes in the 2x6 beams. The eight end beams look like this














The middle beams have the holes on both ends like the left side of the drawing above. The 2x6
beams butt together at the posts.











12. You should now have this. We are ready to place the beams. It is easier if you begin by
putting the carriage bolts into one of the beams. Tap them in so that there is about of the
threaded end sticking out. That is enough to line up with the holes in the post.

13. Unfortunately, now the overhead work begins. You will
need the ladder and someone with long arms- or another
ladder. Hoist the beam into place, align the holes and use
the hammer to drive the carriage bolt through the post. If all
of the holes were drilled really straight, this should be fairly
easy it is never easy. It may take a little work with the
hammer. It may even be necessary to do a little re-drilling
of the hole. Once the beam is in place, put another 2x6
beam on the opposite side of the post. After some
hammering and cursing, you should be able to place a
washer and nut on each carriage bolt and tighten things up.
Just ten more to go!

Eight like this.
Four with this
at both ends
Older Toddler Area
Canopy at Painted Concrete
Instructions for building the canopy

14. Now it is time to install the 2x4x8 spacers that run across the center
of each beam. These will be attached with the 2x2 rigid tie brackets
using the 1-1/2 deck screws. There are eight pre-drilled holes in the
bracket. Since this 2x4 is just acting as a spacer for the 1x4 rip rap
boards, we dont need to put eight screws in to hold things together. Use
four- one per face.

Measure the distance to the middle of each
span. That is where the rigid tie bracket will
be placed. The idea is to place the 2x4 at the
middle of the bend.

Place the bracket on the 2x6 that is further
back. This way, the bracket is less visible.





15. Now it is time to attach the 1x4 rip rap
boards. The 1x4s will be attached to the 2x4s
with the deck screws. Spacing of the 1x4s is
as shown below.











Congratulations, you are done!