Description

Key Features

Reinforces 90° Joints

This Simpson Strong-Tie APVT6 T strap is built to strengthen wood-to-wood connections where one member intersects another at a right angle. That makes it a practical choice for pergolas, patio covers, and other outdoor framing details that need both support and a finished look.

Built for Exterior Use

The 12-gauge steel body gives the strap the stiffness needed for structural reinforcement, while the ZMAX galvanization and black powder coat add extra corrosion resistance for exterior and treated-wood applications.

Clean Decorative Look

Straight edges and chamfered corners give the Avant Collection a more finished appearance than standard utility hardware. Use it with Outdoor Accents structural screws and the matching hex-head washer to keep the connection looking intentional instead of pieced together.

Overview

The Simpson Strong-Tie APVT6 Outdoor Accents Avant Collection T Strap is a decorative wood connector made for reinforcing 90-degree wood-to-wood intersections in outdoor structures. This is a T strap designed for fastening wood-to-wood joints in pergolas, patio covers, and other exterior framing. Model Number: APVT6.

What matters here is that this is not just a flat plate painted black. The APVT6 is formed from 12-gauge steel and sized for 6×6 applications, giving you a connector that adds lateral reinforcement where horizontal and vertical members meet. In real use, that means a cleaner way to tie together exposed framing while still adding structural value at the joint.

The dimensions are 16 inches long by 10-1/2 inches high, with a 5-inch width, so it has enough footprint to look proportionate on larger outdoor posts and beams. That larger format also helps the strap visually match heavy timber details instead of looking undersized on finished outdoor projects.

Simpson Strong-Tie puts this part in the Outdoor Accents Avant Collection, which is the more contemporary side of the Outdoor Accents line. The straight edges and chamfered corners are the giveaway. If you want exposed hardware that looks deliberate on a pergola or patio cover, this shape fits better than a standard connector that was clearly designed to disappear behind drywall.

For exterior durability, the APVT6 uses ZMAX galvanization with a black powder-coated finish. That combination is specifically called out for exterior and treated-wood applications, so you are getting more corrosion resistance than you would from a basic painted strap. If the connector is going to stay visible year-round, that finish matters both for service life and for keeping the black hardware look intact.

Installation is built around Simpson Strong-Tie Outdoor Accents structural screws and the STN22 hex-head washer, both sold separately. That is worth paying attention to because the finished look depends on using the matching hardware system. This is one of those products where the fastener choice is part of the design, not an afterthought.

The best fit for this T strap is anyone building an outdoor structure where the hardware will stay exposed. Contractors, deck and pergola builders, remodelers, and serious DIYers working on backyard structures will get the most out of it. If you need a hidden connector, this is not the right part. If you want visible hardware that adds reinforcement and looks clean on 6×6 framing, it makes a lot of sense.

Add Structure Without Hiding the Hardware

This connector is made for projects where the joint stays visible. Instead of trying to hide a structural strap, the APVT6 lets the hardware become part of the finished look.

• T-strap layout reinforces a joint where one wood member intersects another at 90 degrees
• Avant Collection shape uses straight edges and chamfered corners for a more finished appearance

Made for Outdoor Framing

Outdoor structures put hardware in full view and full weather. The APVT6 is designed around that reality, with a finish system intended for exterior and treated-wood use.

• 12-gauge steel body provides the stiffness expected from a structural wood connector
• ZMAX galvanization with black powder coat adds extra corrosion resistance for outdoor applications

Key Specifications

Type	T Strap
Application	Fastening Wood-to-Wood
Material	12-gauge steel
Finish	ZMAX galvanization with black powder coat
Width (in.)	5 in.
Height (in.)	10-1/2 in.
Length (in.)	16 in.
ACQ Approved	Yes

Compatibility

Fasteners

Designed to install with Simpson Strong-Tie Outdoor Accents structural wood screws.

Washer System

Use with the STN22 hex-head washer for the intended decorative Outdoor Accents look.

Framing Use

Sized for 6×6 wood framing connections.

Built For

Pergolas Patio Covers Outdoor Framing Deck and Backyard Structures General Contracting Remodeling DIY / Hobbyist Woodworking

Pro Tip

If you are buying this for the exposed black-hardware look, order the matching Outdoor Accents structural screws and STN22 washers at the same time. The strap is only part of the finished appearance, and using mismatched fasteners ruins the whole point of the system.

Tool Nut’s Take

Tool Nut’s Take

Simpson Strong-Tie APVT6 Outdoor Accents Avant Collection T Strap for Clean Outdoor Timber Details

The Simpson Strong-Tie APVT6 is the right call when you want exposed connector hardware to actually improve the look of the build instead of just doing a job.

• Who it’s for: Builders and serious DIYers working on pergolas, patio covers, and other outdoor wood structures with visible 6×6 framing.
• Why it stands out: You get structural reinforcement, exterior-rated corrosion resistance, and a modern black hardware look in one part.
• Worth knowing: Fasteners and washers are sold separately, and this connector makes the most sense when you use the full Outdoor Accents hardware system.

Common Questions

• What is this connector used for? It is used to reinforce a wood-to-wood connection where one lumber piece intersects another at a 90-degree angle.
• Is this strap suitable for outdoor use? Yes. Simpson Strong-Tie lists the ZMAX galvanization with black powder coat as providing extra corrosion resistance for exterior and treated-wood applications.
• What hardware does it install with? It is designed to install with Outdoor Accents structural screws and the STN22 hex-head washer, which are sold separately.
• What size framing is it meant for? The APVT6 is identified as the T strap for 6×6 applications.