Elowen

Thanks, that is helpful. I will check the local building code before buying the anchors. I had not thought enough about the pressure-treated wood issue and the corrosion requirement around the sill plate. For this small detached structure, I am leaning toward hot-dip galvanized anchor bolts rather than regular zinc-plated bolts, especially since the connection will be exposed to moisture over time. Stainless steel would probably work, but it may be more than I need for a normal residential shed-type project. I will also make sure the nuts and washers are compatible with the anchor bolts, instead of mixing different finishes. From what I understand, using the same or compatible corrosion-resistant finish should help avoid weak points in the connection. One more question: when using hot-dip galvanized anchor bolts with treated lumber, would you normally use hot-dip galvanized nuts and washers as well, or are there cases where stainless washers are preferred?

Hi all, I’m getting ready to build a small detached structure and I’m trying to sort out the anchor bolts before the concrete work starts. The bolts will go through the sill plate into the concrete foundation. I’m seeing several options online, including regular zinc-plated bolts, hot-dip galvanized bolts, and stainless steel. For a normal residential project that will be outside year-round, is hot-dip galvanized usually the sensible choice? Stainless seems like overkill for this project, but I’m not sure if regular zinc-plated bolts will hold up long term. Should the nuts and washers be the same finish as the bolts? I’d appreciate any advice from people who have installed these before.