I’m replacing the posts on my front porch and re-wrapping the beam (I’ve already torn off the old stuff). See enclosed photos. I’m not sure, however, how to handle the butt-end of the beam? Looks like the end had rot and a previous owner rather crudely cut it off. The porch is part of a shed roof with most of the weight suppported by the back wall shown. I guess I’d like to extend the beam out past the facie board and finish it off somewhat aesthetically. Can you guys suggest some possible solutions?
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Please resize your photos and some of us with d.u. can chime in.
little small..
usually 100 / 150 kb is okay..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Ok, how's this?
That's OK.
I too use copper. Bend a short flange for both sides of the beam and use common copper nails to attach. Hangs down below the beam enough to shed water. You don't want it too tight, leave some ventilation, especially if it's red oak. <G> I also cover the open side of that rafter with copper, overhanging the beam cap.
Beats stripping paint. Or painting.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
VaTom,My problem , as you can see from the pictures above, is that the beam was cut off with only half of it now supporting the facia board. So, how would I attach an extension? As it is now, copper is not an option.
The "crude" cut you refer to looks to me like an intentional chamfer, possibly ornamental. We can't see the style of the house but it looks like a bungalow and that type of cut could have been done intentionally. The beam you show looks like its a substantial piece (maybe a solid 6x6?) which could very well have been original to the porch. It probably wasn't considered necessary to leave the entire heavy beam since it was only carrying the outer fascia.
I wouldn't bother with the copper even though I like the stuff. Unless you incorporate it in other areas on the front of the house, it's going to look like an out of place attempt at a repair/cover up. I would clean up the beam, maybe epoxy the end or put some kind of a filler on it to help prevent some of the end grain absorbtion, and a quality paint job - at least three coats of oil base.
Or, you could wrap it with 1x lumber like they did before you took it off...
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Don,Thanks for posting. "The "crude" cut you refer to looks to me like an intentional chamfer, possibly ornamental."I guess my pictures aren't quite detailed enough; it IS an intentional chamfer, but it was clearly made with a sawzall, i.e., most likely cut off in place. "We can't see the style of the house but it looks like a bungalow..."You're correct about the bungalow, built in 1920, most likely as a vacation cottage for an owner living south in Seattle (back when a vacation was driving 12 miles north in order to go fishing/boating on Lake Washington)."The beam you show looks like its a substantial piece (maybe a solid 6x6?) which could very well have been original to the porch."Actually the beam itself is 5 1/2" x 4" (actual dimensions) with a 3/4" x 4" board nailed to the bottom (to give it the look of added weight?). Yes, I believe the beam is original to the porch, one end tied into the house. "I wouldn't bother with the copper even though I like the stuff."Yes, I concur. The house is on the modest side, small scale (at least in the front), with few discerning architectural details. I am trying to upgrade by replacing the vertical tongue and groove with bevelled siding, replacing single-pane windows with Doug Fir double-pane, new front door, Brazilian ironwood deck on top of a concrete porch, etc. "Or, you could wrap it with 1x lumber like they did before you took it off..."Here's the rub: The butt-end was covered (when I bought the house) with a piece of sheet-metal, one end nailed to the facia board, the other wrapped over the butt-end and nailed to the bottom of the beam. It looked absolutely awful. The beam's end is not flush with the facia board, but short an inch or so. Don't most porch beams extend past the facia board to some degree, rather than being flush with it? The fact that it's short of flush also lends evidence to its being chopped off.So, I DO intend to wrap the beam with 1x, but I'm still not sure what to do with the end? An extension of the beam seems called for , but the only thing I can think of for the wrap is essentially a box that fits over the extension. Seems like a clunky solution?Thanks, again, for posting and your patience!
Edited 11/3/2006 12:58 pm by redoak
As it is now, copper is not an option.
Suit yourself.
I'd have no problem covering the end with copper as I described. As Don suggested, looks like an intentional chamfer to me. Copper's quite pliable, bends easily. Not much it won't cover. Just needs a drip edge at the bottom.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
I work with lots of copper, so naturally, I'd make a "boot" and use rosehead copper nails to accentuate the look, maybe even hammer the copper some to give some outstanding texture. A ball Pien works well for that.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Shooting rubber bands at the Moon
Sphere,Do you happen to have a few pics of what a boot in copper would look like?Thanks
Sorry I don't, it is just something I'd whip up on site.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Shooting rubber bands at the Moon