Need to replace rotting 4×4 posts sunk into concrete footings.
Best way to jack it up? Should I dig the posts out of the concrete then fill with concrete and bolt a metal connector to the concrete to keep the new post out of contact with the concrete? The deck is less than 2 feet off the ground and the concrete footings are at or above ground level. Deck is 12 x 12.
All suggestions and ideas would be appreciated. Seems pretty straight forward but may be somebody has some tricks.
Thank You
Replies
In that case, if the concrete is sound, and large enough diameter, I think I'd consider bolting (bolts in epoxy) a steel plate to the top of the concrete, then mount a post anchor on the plate. (Well, probably mount the anchor first.)
But first I'd try to figure out how deep the posts are set. If only a coupla feet, just dig them out without disturbing the soil below, compact the soil as best as you can, place some rubble or a deck block in the hole, and set a treated post on top, overjacking the deck about a half-inch. Backfill with a little coarse rock and then soil.
Of course, another option is to just taper the end of the new post slightly, soak it overnight is some really nasty preservative, then pound it into the hole. Assuming you were able to clean out the old stuff really well. Would also help to drill a drain hole first, but that would be difficult.
(Though setting posts in concrete is always a bad idea, one could extend the life of the posts significantly by stapling a length of rope to the post end and letting the other end reach below the bottom of the concrete.)
Jimmie,
You are on the right track. Clean out the hole as good as possible and then fill solid with concrete. Set the post atop of the footing with your prefered method. I use a pin but others advocate post connectors.... you may be better off with the latter as you may not have enough room for a pin to be used, with having to get apost over it with the deck in the way above.
For lifting the deck (or porch ceilings, etc) I always use a hydraulic floor jack and wood bracing. Works great! Run a couple pieces of 2X material on the flat against the joists, then a post form the jack to the underside of the 2Xs above. A few pumps of the jack handle and you should be good.
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