Post Support Foot Bracket Galvanised Steel Open Shoe Heavy Duty for Fence Fixing

Open-shoe post support brackets, pressed and welded from hot-dip galvanised steel to DX51D+Z275 (EN 10346), for bolting or screwing a timber fence post directly onto a concrete base, paving slab, decking, or masonry wall, without digging a hole or setting the post in wet concrete. The bracket's base is fixed down first, and the sawn timber post is then set into an open-sided "shoe" and fixed through pre-punched holes in the sides - a simple two-stage fixing that suits both new posts and like-for-like replacements of a rotten one.

The defining feature of this design is the open side of the shoe: rather than dropping the post in from above through a closed socket, the timber slides in from the side. That makes it possible to fit the bracket hard against a wall, fence line, or other obstruction where a closed post socket would have no clearance to be lowered into place. Because the post then sits above ground level on the fixed base, rather than being buried or set into wet concrete, it stays clear of standing water at ground level and is far less prone to rotting at the base than a post embedded directly in soil. The hot-dip galvanised coating gives the bracket itself all-round corrosion resistance for permanent use outdoors in all weathers. Fitting two brackets spaced apart lets a single rectangular or non-standard-width post be gripped securely on both faces, while one bracket alone is sufficient to fix a post to a wall or other upright surface.

Key Features

• Hot-dip galvanised steel construction to DX51D+Z275 (EN 10346) for all-round corrosion resistance in permanent outdoor use
• Open-sided "shoe" design - the post loads from the side rather than from above, so the bracket can be fitted flush against a wall or fence line
• Six internal post sizes from 46mm to 151mm (1.8in to 5.9in) to match common sawn timber post sections
• Post sits proud of the ground on a fixed base, keeping the timber clear of standing water and far less prone to rotting than a post buried or set in wet concrete
• Steel thickness increases with bracket size, from 1.5mm (0.06in) on the smallest size up to 2.5mm (0.1in) on the largest
• Fixing holes punched for both wood screws or ring-shank nails (7mm/0.28in) and anchor bolts (11mm/0.43in), with three or four fixing points depending on bracket size
• Two brackets spaced apart will grip a single rectangular or non-standard-width post securely; one bracket alone is enough for fixing to a wall or other upright surface
• No digging and no wet concrete to cure - fixes directly to an existing concrete base, paving slab, concrete path, or timber sub-base

Specification

CE marked under a European Technical Assessment for all six sizes, with published vertical and horizontal load ratings.

Fixing holes are punched at 7mm (0.28in) diameter for wood screws or ring-shank nails, and 11mm (0.43in) diameter for anchor bolts, with three or four fixing points depending on bracket size.

Installation Guidance

1. Choose the size that matches the section of your timber post - the internal post size in the specification table above is the sawn timber dimension the shoe is designed to hold.
2. Fix the base of the bracket down first. Onto concrete or masonry, use expanding anchor bolts (M10 or M12) or concrete screws around 10.5mm (0.4in) in diameter through the larger 11mm holes. Onto timber decking or a timber sub-base, use coach screws or heavy-duty wood screws around 10mm (0.4in) in diameter.
3. Set the post into the open shoe from the side and check it for plumb before fixing it in place.
4. Fix the post through the smaller 7mm (0.28in) holes in the sides using ring-shank nails or Torx socket screws.
5. For a rectangular or non-standard-width post, fit two brackets spaced apart to grip both faces of the timber; a single bracket is sufficient when fixing a post to a wall or other upright surface.

Typical Applications

• Garden and agricultural fencing, fixing posts to an existing concrete base, path, or paving instead of digging them into the ground
• Close-board and panel fence posts, with six sizes covering the common sawn timber sections used for this type of fencing
• Pergola, arbour and gazebo uprights, fixing the vertical timbers down onto a concrete, paving, or decking base
• Decking posts and balustrade supports, anchoring vertical timbers to a deck frame or timber sub-base
• Security and boundary fencing repairs, replacing a damaged or rotten post without breaking out the existing concrete footing
• Fixing a post directly to a wall or other vertical masonry surface with a single bracket, for situations where a closed post socket has no room to be lowered into place

Order before 2pm Mon–Fri for same-day dispatch from our UK warehouse.