Decking handrail

[fattony]

I put the handrail up over a year ago and when I bolted the posts to the joist I did them up so tight the head just started to pull through the joists.

18 month on the the nuts on the bolts have come loose, but I obviosuly can't tighten the nut / bolt any more otherwise the head of the bolt will continue to pull through the joist. I used square washers on the nut end was I being a numpty for not using these on the bolt head?

 

[masona]

The head bolt will need a washer, a large round washer might looks better unless you're not fussy

 

[fattony]

I assume with a big fat washer it wont pull through the wood and wont come undone in the future?

 

[Pinnacle]

If you don't want to or can't fully remove the nut and bolt, you can always loosen it so that you can slip a couple of U washers under the head of the bolt. You can get these in various sizes and they are used when you can not fully remove a bolt to fit a washer.