I would try Simpson column cap CCQM - designed to be be embedded into concrete. It has better grip like anchor bolts into concrete. The post saddles are mostly used for wood post and beam connections. here is the link for info http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/CCQM-CCTQM-ECCLQM.asp

Steve, or anyone else My DH just got back from talking to our building inspector and he really helped solve the problem. We will double up the joist under the columns. We will have 4" x 4" posts that will go down and be notched and bolted onto the double joist. This post will extend up through the column and provide rigidity in our potential high winds. The upper part of the pergola can then be attached to this post, again providing more stability. Does this make sense to all of you experts? Also, our front porch is tigerwood which we love. But it is requiring way more maintenance than we expected. Am considering a manufactured product for this deck because it is on the SW corner of our home and gets hot sun all year round. What are your recommendations? Again, thanks so much. When we get this completed I will post some pictures. Connie The front porch did not require any railing because it is less than 30" above finished grade

Yes mud daubers will build nests in it when it's rolled up, but they'll build nests in anything. Yes, a strong wind can rip the awning right off of it's attachment points if it hits it just right, even if it's not open, bue especially if it's open. That's why you don't deploy it in the rain. It's for shade from the sun only, and frankly if you already have a pergola, you don't need an awning for more shade unless your vines are slow growing, and then maybe you need different vines. If you want a rain protected spot, then you need to expand your pergola or maybe add a polycarbonate roof to the one you have. Don't forget to explore local codes before you do this, because adding a roof will add quite a bit of uplift pressure to your pergola, so you want to be sure it's properly attached to it's footings as well as the roof being properly attached.

HKO HKO - this is my... 3rd or 4th post on this website. I didn't realize this website was manned by 'retired professionals donating their time to help the poor surfs building in the lower class sectors'. I had no idea the same 5 'retired' architects and designers would reply multiple times with insults about features of a house I'm building that I never asked advice for to begin with. I do NOT share their obsession with windows. I politely stated that on their first round of comments. And hey, I get it. I get on forums to help in my profession (web development). I certainly don't get on there offering to help someone get a script running and then totally rip apart the look of their website. Kind of goes back to "if you don't have anything nice to say...", eh? This post, for example, was about fishing for options for the cantilever. Not being a builder and trying to Google it is what did lead me to the term "EYEBROW PERGOLA" when really what I was reaching for was corbels or brackets/braces. What would have been nice was "Hey, did you consider dentil blocks if you want something to look at in that area?" When I met with one of the guys from the builder he sympathetically offered that and pointed out examples. Wonder why I'm a bit, ungrateful? I had one of the 'helpful retired professionals' here tell me because my husband and I both WANTED our laundry in the garage that "Any new house that has the laundry in a garage, is a poorly designed house. It’s not responding to what you need. " (Thanks, Sophie Wheeler for knowing what my husband and I need, without even meeting with us! You Rock!) I never asked about the bloody windows. And this post was back in May. Move on.