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Unconditional Satisfaction GuaranteeNo Shipping Fees Above 302 Months to Decide. Returns Simplified.Cast-In Strength This Simpson Strong-Tie PB44 Non-Standoff Post Base embeds into wet concrete to lock a 4×4 post or column into the pour. That gives you a clean, direct wood-to-concrete connection for decks, patio covers, and other top-supported structures. Built To Hold Up The 12-gauge steel body, embossed seat, and stress-relief holes are there for a reason. They add strength where the base takes load and help resist tearing during loading. 4×4 Fit Made for nominal 4×4 posts, this post base uses a compact footprint with flush concrete installation. It is a good fit when you need a straightforward base connection without a stand-off design.
The Simpson Strong-Tie PB44 Non-Standoff Post Base is a cast-in-place post base for securing a nominal 4×4 wood post or column to concrete or masonry. This is a post base designed for fastening wood-to-concrete or masonry in top-supported structures. Model Number PB44. If you are building a deck, patio cover, or similar structure and need the post tied directly into a fresh concrete pour, this connector gives you a simple engineered way to do it.
What matters here is how the PB44 is meant to be installed. It embeds in wet concrete after the pour and sits flush with the concrete surface, so the base becomes part of the connection instead of relying on a separate anchor added later. For new work, that can save steps and keep the connection layout clean. The non-standoff design also keeps the post seated low in the base, which is useful when you want a direct post-to-foundation connection for supported structures.
Simpson builds the PB44 from 12-gauge steel with a zinc galvanized G90 finish. The heavy steel body is paired with an embossed seat for added strength, and the stress-relief holes under the base are there to help resist tearing during loading. Those are not throwaway details. They are the kind of small design choices that matter in a connector because the load path runs right through the base and into the concrete.
In practical use, the PB44 is sized for nominal 4×4 posts, with a width of 3-9/16 inches and a length of 3-1/4 inches from the published model table. Installation uses nails on this model, specifically 0.162 inch by 3-1/2 inch nails. That gives you a clear fastener path and a defined install method instead of field-guessing what should go where. As always with structural connectors, using the specified fasteners matters because that is how the listed performance is achieved.
This connector is intended for decks, patio covers, and other top-supported structures. That last part is important. Simpson specifically notes that PB post bases do not provide adequate resistance to prevent members from rotating about the base, so they are not recommended for non-top-supported installations such as fences or unbraced carports. In other words, this is a solid choice when the structure above helps brace the post, and the wrong choice when the post must resist rotation on its own.
Jobsite practicality is straightforward. The PB44 is a single-piece connector with a packaging quantity of one, so it is easy to stage and place before or during the pour. The galvanized finish helps with basic corrosion resistance in the right environment, but the standard PB44 is listed as G90 galvanized and is not the treated-lumber version. If your project calls for different corrosion protection, Simpson does offer other coatings in the PB family, but this specific model is the standard zinc galvanized version.
Who should buy it? Carpenters, deck builders, remodelers, and general contractors doing new concrete work for wood posts. If you need a 4×4 post base for a fresh pour and your application is a properly top-supported structure, the PB44 is the right kind of hardware: simple, specific, and engineered for the job. If you need a stand-off to lift the post above the concrete or you are working on an unbraced post application, you should be looking at a different base instead.
If you are pouring concrete and setting post hardware at the same time, the PB44 keeps the process direct. It is made to embed into wet concrete so the base is locked in as the slab or footing cures.
The PB44 is more than bent sheet metal. Simpson added an embossed seat for greater strength and stress-relief holes under the base to help resist tearing during loading.
Placement matters with embedded connectors, and Simpson calls that out clearly. A 2 inch minimum side cover is required to obtain the full load, so layout is something to get right before the concrete sets.
| Nominal Post Size | 4×4 |
|---|---|
| Gauge | 12 gauge |
| Width (in) | 3-9/16 in |
| Length (in) | 3-1/4 in |
| Material | Steel |
| Finish | Zinc Galvanized, G90 |
| Application | Wood-to-Concrete / Masonry |
| Fasteners Required | (12) 0.162 in x 3-1/2 in nails |
Post Size Sized for nominal 4×4 wood posts or columns. Base Material Connection Designed for wood-to-concrete or masonry applications. Specified Fasteners PB44 uses 0.162 inch x 3-1/2 inch nails. PB66 and PB66R are the models in this family that can use 1/2 inch bolts.
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Before the pour, verify you have the 2 inch minimum side cover Simpson calls for. If you crowd the footing edge, you can give up the full listed load even if the base itself is installed correctly.
Tool Nut’s Take
If you are setting 4×4 posts into a fresh concrete pour for a supported structure, this is the kind of connector that does exactly what it is supposed to do without a lot of drama.
