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How to install posts and beams for a carport

Close up of a Bunnings team member marking a line with a pencil using a ruler and a set square

Overview

Following on from our How to set up posts for a carport video, find out how to install the posts and beams to finish off the framework. The amount of corner and side posts you'll need depends on the size and plans of your carport, which you should determine before you start the job.

Steps

1Measure and mark beam height

To create a side post for your carport, measure out your beam height and mark it out squarely on the end of the post. Then down the side of the post, measure out how thick the beam will be so that it sits in squarely on the post. 

Close up of a Bunnings team member marking a line with a pencil using a ruler and a set square

2Cut the posts to size

Cut along the marked lines with your circular saw and you will create the cut out in the post that will support a beam. Knock out the cut off with a hammer, and then chisel off any rough edges. For your corner posts, mark up and cut another side on the post. 
Bunnings team member standing alongside a horizontal wooden post with an indented end cut from it

3Put the posts into your supports

You'll need a friend to help you put the posts into the supports that you've already made. Use a spirit level to make sure the posts are level or your carport won't be straight. Place the post in the middle of the support with the cut outs facing outwards. 

A person checking a timber post with a spirit level

4Brace posts with timber and clamps

When your post is level, screw in the post to the support. Brace your posts with timber and clamps so it doesn't move while you're finishing.

Bunnings team member positioning a length of wood against a standing post using a clamp

5Lift up and nail your beams

With the help of a friend, lift up your pre-cut beams and nail them into the cut outs at the top of your fixed posts, just to hold them in place. Make sure the beams have been cut on a 45° mitre to get a nice sharp corner when you join them together.

A person on a ladder attaching a beam to a post using a nail gun

6Screw the beams together

Once your beams are all in place, screw them together. Put the batten screws in at different heights so that they don't hit each other at the joins. Continue on nailing and screwing in your beams until you've finished your carport framework.

Bunnings team member standing on a ladder drilling a beam into a standing post
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.