A joint that only has nails can pull apart under wind, settling, or a crowd on a deck. Straps and ties add a steel path for those tension loads, and this product category gives you the Simpson Strong-Tie pieces builders use most. Products here include the Simpson 128T T strap, 12-in x 8-in and 2-in wide, the 66L L strap at 6-in x 6-in and the 88L L strap, both 14-gauge G90 galvanized and sold 10 per carton. The group also carries the LSTA12 strap tie, 1-1/4-in x 12-in in 20-gauge, sold 50 per carton, the DTT1Z-KT deck tension tie kit with four ZMAX ties and screws, and the DSC2L-SDS3 drag strut connector with twenty 1/4-in x 3-in SDS screws. Typical items in the family, such as coiled strapping, longer LSTA lengths, and hurricane ties, can be quoted on request.
Framers and deck builders in Greater Boston, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and the surrounding New England region use
Arlington Coal and Lumber as their home improvement store for connector hardware. We are your best partner in bringing your dream project to life by providing best material estimates with our friendly locations close to you from
Arlington Coal and Lumber Company,
Burlington Lumber Company,
Wilmington Builders Supply,
Sudbury Lumber Company,
Chelmsford Lumber Company, and
Hudson Lumber Company. Check carton sizes in our
online product catalog,
contact us with your plan for a takeoff, or
sign-up to track orders by job.
T and L straps are best for beam-to-post and corner joints, and they take nails or bolts. Their limit is exposure: G90 galvanizing is meant for dry, covered framing, not wet decks. The LSTA12 is best for tying floors or plates together along the edge of 2x lumber. It can be bent only once, so plan the bend before you nail.
The DTT1Z is best for the lateral connection between deck joists and house framing, and its ZMAX coating suits treated lumber. It is not a guard post connector. The DSC2L moves wind and seismic loads into a shear wall and is normally chosen by an engineer; it is a left-hand part, so check your drawings before ordering.
Buyers Guide: we answered the strap and tie questions framers and deck builders bring to our counters.
- T strap or L strap: which one do I need? It depends on the joint shape. A T strap ties a post or member that meets the middle of another, while an L strap reinforces a corner where two members meet at 90 degrees. Both come in 14-gauge G90 galvanized steel.
- Can I use bolts instead of nails on the 66L, 88L, or 128T? Yes. Simpson lists either nails or bolts for these straps. The 66L takes three 3/8-in bolts, and the 88L and 128T take three 1/2-in bolts; fasteners are not included.
- What is the DTT1Z for on a deck? It is a lateral load tie that connects deck joists to the house framing so the deck cannot pull away. The IRC deck detail rates it at 750 lb at each of four locations, and the kit on this page includes the fasteners.
- Can I use a DTT1Z to stiffen a wobbly deck guard post? No. For guard posts, Simpson points to the heavier DTT2Z or another tested connection that resists the code's 200-lb guard load. The DTT1Z is a deck-to-house lateral tie.
- How many nails does an LSTA12 strap take? Ten 0.148-in x 2-1/2-in nails (10d x 2-1/2), split evenly between the two members. Simpson's installer guide lists the nail count for each LSTA length.
- What is a drag strut connector, and do I need one? It moves wind or seismic loads from a girder truss or beam into a shear wall. It is normally specified by an engineer or on stamped plans rather than picked by eye, and the DSC2L-SDS3 here includes its SDS screws.
- Left or right drag strut: how do I tell which I need? Match the hand shown on your plan. Simpson makes left and right versions for each side of the connection, and this page carries the left-hand DSC2L.
- Do Massachusetts or New Hampshire inspectors want to see deck lateral ties? Often, yes. Both states use IRC-based codes, and the deck lateral-load connection is a common inspection point, so ask your town building department which detail it accepts.
Popular strap and tie ideas and applications:
- Deck ledgers: DTT1Z tension ties connect deck joists to the house rim so the deck cannot pull away.
- Porch posts and beams: 128T T straps tie a beam to the post below where the two meet in the middle.
- Corner framing repairs: 66L and 88L straps reinforce corners in sheds, pergolas, and covered porches.
- Floor-to-floor ties: LSTA12 straps tie rim boards and plates together across a floor line.
- Engineered shear walls: DSC2L drag struts carry loads from a girder truss into a shear wall where the plans call for them.
Our quality
Simpson wood connectors also include
temporary and permanent framing braces,
framing angles and corner brackets,
connector screws and nails,
face-mount and slope joist hangers,
nail stoppers for pipes and wires, and
adjustable post bases and caps, and many more. Deck builders can add boards from our
decking and railing department and
FastenMaster structural screws for ledgers.
Finish the framing package with complete building products in stock, ranging from structural
building materials and reliable
fasteners to essential
hardware. As a local lumber store, we also carry
lumber, composites, and plywood, along with
moulding and millwork, and so much more. Browse
more products, or bring your deck plan and we will list the ties it needs.
