Hi folks,
About a year ago, I came asking for suggestions on repairing some post bases that had begun to rot prematurely. Well, the epoxy method worked great but here I am now with another question on the same problem as yet another post has met the same damage demise.
Being these are only a few years old, I don’t want to replace the whole post and also because they are elaborate turned posts that have a significant “tie-in” to the frame work above.
I’m thinking about elevating them above the slab even farther than they currently are with the 1″ Simpson AB44 post base connector by cutting off about 3-4″ off the bottoms. Then covering the exposed post base with some PVC or other rot-resistant trim.
Does anyone know of a structural connector that allows for about a 4-6″ elevation while maintaining uplift and gravity strength? I looked through the Simpson site but didn’t find anything aside from the adjustable anchor which works of elevating the threaded rod anchor bolt.
I’m pretty good with my welder but making 11 of these buggers could be quite the task!
Thanks for any thoughts no matter how off the wall…or in this case “off the slab”.
Mike
Replies
Are you saying that the posts are elevated one inch with simpson bases, but they rotted anyway?
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Hi Ed,
Yep. Elevated one inch on the Simpson base. When I installed them, I primed the whole bottom and inside of the column (they have a small depressionvoid on the bottom). Then painted the area before installation.
Now about 4 years later, two of the eleven are rotten. They're just yellow pine (untreated) so not the best at withstanding the weather but you can't find Victorian tunred columns out of PT and at the time, I couldn't find composite 10' ones. (Now they are available...figures)
I guess just enough "splash" gets onto them to wick water?
And of course, any warranty is gone but I can't blame the manufacturer as they aren't PT lumber.
Mike
I usually take use composite deck newel posts and cut off the amount I wish to raise the post. Predrill and countersink lag bolts through the extension to the post. Cover this union with trim.