Home Improvements

[#1]

What is the proper way to insert "J" bolts in fresh concrete so they line up with the holes in the mud sill? Also, how deep do you set the bolts?

[#2 · Accepted solution]

 Two ways. 1)  drill the sill, hang the J-bolts from the sill, place sill in place, and "rod" the bolts into place. By "roddimg", I mean, raising and lowerimg the bolts into the fresh "mud" until they are set.    2)  Don't use pre-drilled holes.  Set the Js into the fresh concrete where you need them.  Take the sill, place it over the J-bolts (the NEXT day) bang on the sill plate to "mark" where each J is, drill a slightly over-sized hole ( about an 1/8" bigger) and then place the sill over the Js.  The first option works the best IF the sill plate can be moved easily, no other "framing attached to it.   How's that?

[#3]

Also, as to how deep, I set them so a thread or two is below the level of the top of the sill plate. 

[#4]

I have to go with White Dog on this on e(it helps that he's our resident concrete expert!). The couple of times I've done it I used his method #1. the other thing I did was measure their placement out on the sill before drilling. This seemed like a good way to keep me from having a J end up under a stud... something that would have been really easy for me to do!

[#5]

As said before, Whitedog know this stuff. I don't know why anyone would want to use the first method. That's a LOT of work. As Whitedog said, the second is the preferred. Set the bolts and when you start framing mark them like he said or just measure (gotta be good with a tape) and drill. Be sure when you layout your studs in the walls to try and miss the bolts or you'll be drilling them too.

[#6]

Ron -

I was told many years ago by an "old-timer" that after inserting the J-bolt in the concrete it should be rotated a quarter-turn clockwise.  I have done this and it worked out well for a solid anchor.  I have seen other J-bolts that were not rotated, and when tightened down against the sill, they pulled up and required a stack of washers because the threads were completely above the sill.

Dave.

[#7]

And MARK the footing so you KNOW where each stud will be so the J-bolts don't interfer ... I hate it when that happens.

[#8]

I have always tended to predrill the sill plate and use it to hang the "J" anchors. After one mishap where I had 6 anchors right where I wanted a studs, I now also pre-mark the stud locations. You need to do this anyway, so why not do it before you get a anchor in the wrong place.

You also don't forget and put an anchor in the middle of a doorway.

[#9]

Whitedog, I think I have to disagree with the statement "I set them so a thread or two is below the level of the top of the sill plate". Correct me if I am wrong here but if the thread is BELOW the top of the sill, how are you going to thread a nut onto it?

[#10]

 One or two threads on the bolt below the top of the sill plate, not the entire length of the bolt.   That way, IF you need to countersink the anchor, the bolt will still have some threads to TIGHTEN onto.    The threaded part of a "J" is actually quite long.