The home is a 115 year old Queen Anne in Northern Idaho. The columns (boxes made of 2-by) supporting the porch roof sit on top of the porch railings (pictures shown). It is clear that the 2X12 cap has been cut away and replaced in sections, as opposed to jacking up the roof and pulling it out from under the columns.
Some of this is weathered enough that it just won’t take paint anymore. Thoughts on fabricating a cap out of marine grade plywood to drop on top of what’s there, with a little cant to it to drain water better?
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I'm not sure plywood would be better - You'll need to trim the edges with something, creating a joint that will be susceptible to water. I'd bite the bullet and buy CVG cedar 2x for the cap. Pull up the old, cover the framing with 3M All Weather flashing tape, and install the cedar over that with a pitch, as you suggested. I'd make sure to add a drip kerf to each side of the cap, and I'd oil-prime every surface of the cap.