How Brian Built a Modern, Private Deck in Los Angeles with the Deck Foot Anchor and Structural Post Anchor

Collage of Brian D.'s low level deck with beautiful finish and privacy wall

When Brian D. decided to update his Los Angeles backyard, he had a clear goal — turn a plain, elevated outdoor space into a stylish, private retreat that matched his home’s modern look.

The challenge?

His first floor sat nearly 30 inches above ground level, meaning any deck he built would leave him exposed to the neighbors. He needed a way to create both privacy and strength — without complicated footings or heavy digging.

A Simple Way to Add Privacy and Style

Instead of building a multi-level deck to hide below fence lines, Brian designed a single elevated platform with a striking seven-foot-tall privacy panel.

The panel used slim, tightly spaced boards that filtered sunlight beautifully — letting the space feel open while still providing the cozy seclusion he wanted.

To make those tall posts possible, he turned to the Titan Structural Wood Post Anchor.

“With a good hole that is level, your system works flawlessly. Set screws brought it to plumb… You do have a great product.”

~ Brian D.

structural post anchor on a white background showing all components

Modern dark chestnut privacy wall and deck with blue skies and foliage in the background

close up of the structural post anchor supporting the privacy panel posts

structural post anchor diagram showing how it secures to a wooden post

Brian’s seven-foot wood privacy posts aren’t just striking — they’re engineered to perform. The Titan Structural Wood Post Anchor has been rigorously tested by Intertek on 4×4 Cedar and SPF posts.

It also carries significantly higher loads than the traditional Titan Post Anchor, making it ideal for taller, heavier applications like privacy walls and guardrails. (see the full engineering report here).

Unlike traditional post anchors, this system requires no additional bracing, remains completely concealed for a clean, modern look, and delivers high-performance stability you can rely on. That means you get tall, elegant posts for privacy or design without the extra hardware, or compromised aesthetics.

To achieve the maximum load ratings when installing the Structural Wood Post Anchor on a wooden deck, it’s crucial to pair it with the Our Wood Install Kit.

This kit includes two steel plates, four bolts with washers and nuts, and an extra securing pin (used only for the 4×4 model).

One plate installs directly beneath the post anchor, while two 2×8 blocking boards and a standard 5-1/4″ deck board are placed between the plates. The four bolts pass through both plates and blocking, effectively sandwiching the structure for added rigidity. This setup dramatically increases stability and load capacity, ensuring your post performs at its full potential.

No Digging. No Cement. No Ledger Work.

When it came time to set the deck’s foundation, Brian wanted to avoid the time and mess of digging holes or mixing concrete.

So, he reached for another innovative product — the Deck Foot Anchor.

This ingenious system drives directly into the ground with a handheld impact wrench, forming a solid, compression-based footing in minutes.

“As for the deck, it uses eleven of your Deck Foot Anchors, and is post and beam construction. I use 6x6 posts, 4x12 laminated beams with 2x8 and 2x10 joists. Yeah, it’s overbuilt — but with the Red Balau top and our sun in Los Angeles, you need to keep everything tight and straight.”

~ Brian D.