Where to get Cedar??

[sar bossier]

I'm guessing it's classified as tight-knot. I'm no expert on wood or how it's classified these days. Clear is more expensive. The last 12" x 12" x I bought was tight-knot and looked the same as the pic.

THANK HEAVEN!! This project is a PITA!!!! Now I have to find a stone mason to travel to client's location ... ugh! (they are about 40 minutes south of us)

 

[SignosaurusRex]

will these posts be used at the 10-12 foot length or cut into shorter lengths (ex. 2 6footers) ? If they are to be cut down, I would suggest having that done before you take delivery. Although it is not common, cedar timbers that size can have internal rot sections not visible from either end and can be of considerable size. You do not need any surprises.

 

[sar bossier]

will these posts be used at the 10-12 foot length or cut into shorter lengths (ex. 2 6footers) ? If they are to be cut down, I would suggest having that done before you take delivery. Although it is not common, cedar timbers that size can have internal rot sections not visible from either end and can be of considerable size. You do not need any surprises.

Gonna haveta get 12 footers - 2 ft. buried, 2.5 ft rock base, 4' H sign face.

 

[Perks]

Call Rob Jaffe at Bernard Sign in Philly...ask him he is one of the biggest buyers on the East Coast

 

[Letterbox Mike]

Gonna haveta get 12 footers - 2 ft. buried, 2.5 ft rock base, 4' H sign face.

Just out of curiosity, am I reading that right that you're going to have 2' in the ground and 10' above ground? If so, I'd rethink that. General rule is 1/3 in the ground, 2/3 above ground. If you want 10' above grade you'd need about 5' in the ground...

 

[Gino]

Just out of curiosity, am I reading that right that you're going to have 2' in the ground and 10' above ground? If so, I'd rethink that. General rule is 1/3 in the ground, 2/3 above ground. If you want 10' above grade you'd need about 5' in the ground...

+1

You need more in the ground than only 2'..... even if 2.5' is in the rock. You need at least 5' in the ground itself.

 

[Gino]

Another thing.... do you absolutely have to have solid cedar ?? Could you use cedar lam beams ?? It would still be all cedar, but it would be much stronger if they were laminated.

 

[Letterbox Mike]

If it were me I'd set a 16' PT 8x8 in the ground 6' in an 18" concrete footer, set your stone up to whatever height it needs to be, and then wrap it in 2x10s. If you wanted to get fancy you could use 2x12s and miter the corners so there's no end grain showing at the edges. This would be the most economical way to do this job, you'll have a much easier time finding that long of pressure treated than cedar, and then you'll only need probably 6-8' lengths of cedar 2x lumber, which should be much easier to come by in your neck of the woods...

 

[Billct2]

I've done this type of job with a concrete sono tube and steel plates the hold the post
a few inches above grade. Very common technique on Cape Cod where I first saw it.

 

[showcase 66]

+1

You need more in the ground than only 2'..... even if 2.5' is in the rock. You need at least 5' in the ground itself.

Thats not completely true. There are a lot of variables that would allow for only a 2' footer. All depends on where in the country you are and if you have a footer engineered.

It may be 10' x 10' x2' deep but it still could be 2' deep. Might not be that practical, but still could be done.

But I am with you on the 4-5' depth for safety sake without having it engineered.

 

[J Hill Designs]

in my neck of the woods, if you were making a sign 10' above grade, it has to be engineered

 

[sar bossier]

Actually, I mis-typed that - I am looking at 8' above ground, but I like the concrete footer idea. May look at that instead. With above ground rock base, would I still need to go the extra 1'? I realize I have 4' buried?

 

[J Hill Designs]

at 2/3 to 1/3, 4' in for 8' out works

 

[sar bossier]

at 2/3 to 1/3, 4' in for 8' out works

Thanks, jhill!