How to Build a Foot Bridge

• They secured the posts to the beams the same way they created the beams…by once again drilling clearance holes, injecting silicone and installing carriage bolts.

5. Attach treads:

• To attach the treads or surface planks to the bridge they needed to begin by measuring the distance between the two beams. They took a measurement from the outside of one beam to the outside of the other.

• Ron wanted to make the treads one inch longer on either side so the planks would overhang so they added two inches to the measurement and then began cutting the 2 X 6 planks. Ron gave Esther a few tips on using a circular saw and it didn't take long before they had cut all the treads they needed.

• Ron used a combination square to make sure the overhang of the treads was the same on both sides and then Starr attached each tread with 3" rust resistant deck screws.

• Some of the boards needed a notch cut out of them so they could fit around the posts. To do this, Ron first lined up a speed square with the post. He put the square up against the post then brought it back just a little because he didn't want the notch fitting too tightly.

• Ron used a spacer to put about a ½ inch between each tread. This would allow the leaves and debris to fall through the cracks and not collect on the bridge. They took a straight edge, ran it along the side of the post, backed it off just a touch and then drew a line.

• They used a jigsaw to cut out the section indicated by the two lines they had drawn.

• The notched boards fit nicely into place.

• After all of the treads were attached, Ron recommended coating the cut ends with a wood preservative.

6. Hand rails:

• The final step was to install the handrails. Earlier, Ron had drawn a line on each post marking the height of the handrail. They used a clamp to hold each handrail in place while they were secured with rust resistant screws.

RESULTS:

You really could not imagine a more picturesque spot than Starr and Esther's property. It is no wonder that it would be frustrating to not be able to walk about the land without worrying about falling in a gully! The new bridge that Ron helped them build not only solved this problem, but it also added to the beauty of the area. And the best part of all is that now Starr and Esther know just what to do when they need to replace the next bridge.