Every book I have found talks about pouring a pier that comes up out of the ground, putting one of those metal brackets, and just be careful lining up the J-bolts. Well, unfortunately, I didn't do that. I have an 8" deep poured footing at the bottom of the footing holes (2' deep at bottom for frost); so the top of the footing is 18" underground.

Here's the problem: I can't figure out how to get these posts plumb and in a straight line at the same time.

The top of the concrete is a little bumpy (couldn't screed, being down in the hole) and I don't expect the end of the 6x6 post is quite square anyway.

So, I can make the posts vertical, maybe even so all 3 are in line with each other, and hold them in place with 2 diagonal boards that attach to the post and go down to the ground. But when I pull the diagonal boards, of course, the posts will go out of vertical.

My question, I guess, is whether I can so anything to make the posts stay in a vertical position once they're plumbed, and strengthen the bottom of the post while I'm at it. Right now, when plumb, only a tiny part of the bottom of the post is bearing the weight of the post on the concrete. I can't believe that's a good thing.

I've thought of pouring a little more concrete down in the hole after the posts are plumbed to anchor them, of using some kind of epoxy, and even putting metal anchors down in the hole more or less like the books show, except 18" under. The metal worries me because it's underground and I don't know if it would corrode out down there.

Please, any help is most appreciated! I know there must be an easy solution (since more than one person has told me just do it this way, no problem!) but I sure can't figure out what it is.

Thanks,
< gary

More concrete?

Underground post bracket?