Question on how to seal the water out and prevent rust from occuring on the Titan Post Anchor.
Bob from Maine asks……………..
Hi,
I bought some post anchors about a year ago and due to various reasons typical of remodeling still haven’t used them. This has given me some opportunity to more thoroughly consider the best way to use them, for example getting the gasket kits.
I was particularly impressed that you took the time to follow up my order with a thank you note, which seems not only genuine but also smart business. Perhaps that is why I am taking the time today to give you my thanks for that simple courtesy.
Please consider this suggestion- Maybe more pictures of railings or links to other deck forums wouldn’t be too much trouble to include on your site. I think you have some great products but there isn’t enough install info even for woodworkers or carpenters to answer all relevant questions/ issues.
When I showed my buddies at work (Yacht joiners) they seemed impressed but expressed concerns that the anchors could trap moisture and said I should drill a couple weep holes for ventilation. I don’t want to do that for the obvious reason of exposing the steel to moisture, but I thought they made a good point anyway, that water is bound to get in. I’m hoping the gasket sets will address this issue and wondering if a person should also caulk around all the bolt heads and cover the whole thing with the covers that you sell. Of course all this takes time and money so a person would love to know if other folks have tried to address these issues and come to think this is overkill or exactly what needs to be done. My other question is are the covers easily removable for when it’s time to recoat the deck surface?
In my situation the anchors are on top of a roof deck with a rubber like coating (sonogaurd) over 2 layers of 3/4 plywood, all glued and screwed.
I’m thinking that the gaskets will at least prevent the anchors from sheering through the rubber coating and exposing the core to potential moisture permeation.
I suspect that my questions wouldn’t be that important if one were using the anchors over a typical wood planked deck. I hope that you can make some astute suggestions as you are obviously in a business that should know the issues related better than most of us.
Wouldn’t you just love to see me online saying, “oh yeah some stuff wasn’t all that well explained, but those folks at Otter Creek were a big help, I wouldn’t get them anywhere else! Really good people”…
Thanks in advance and I do genuinely wish you massive success that often follows treating people well.
On the coast of Maine, where we are rebuilding what other generations misbuilt having underestimated nature, rust, decay etc.
Response by Otter Creek…………….
Hi Robert, thanks for your response and we do appreciate our customers feedback on the products we sell. Its customers such as yourself that make for good discussions when we review products for their worthiness in solving and improving upon their intended applications.
I do thank you for your suggestions for improving our website and we will look at your suggestions and see how we can improve the install information on the Titan and our other products. We have taken some steps to add some customer information to our blog.
We hope this blog helps customers further understand the Titan applications and uses and also be beneficial with other products we provide to our customers.
Your question as to the how to better the Titan for waterproof applications is a very warranted one. As we are the distributors (not the manufacturer) I have taken the liberty of ccing Mr. Richard Bergman, who invented the Titan Post Anchor for his feedback and suggestions. I think your applications of further waterproofing by caulking around the base of the Titan and the screw holes could not hurt and would most likely help with water penetration. The gasket kit is not made to permanently seal water out but to help slow water penetration over time and we strongly suggest this gasket when applying the Titan directly on concrete surfaces. I also express some concern that trying to seal the water out ( if not successful will also help seal water in) . With your rubber membrane roof top I do not believe you would have as great a concern about the Titan rusting at any accelerated rate. The aluminum post skirts do remove easily form around The Titan base and post. I also must say that because the base of the Titan is slightly raised and that the post to anchor tube is internal that rust having a structural impact on the Titan is very much reduced. We do have some exiting pc of news to share with applications involving salt water applications for the Titan. Later this month will be able to offer customers a stainlsss steel Titan made form 316 Marine Grade stainless steel which will eliminate most of the concerns we have just discussed.
Richard, would you be so kind to share any points of interest that I may have overlooked as I’m sure Robert and his fellow Yacht Joiners would appreciate feedback from the inventor himself.
