Porch Posts, On the decking, or through?
I’ve been going through a series of porch renovations since last summer, and a common problem to most of them is porch column rot at the base, and in most of these cases, the rotting post was just fastened to the porch decking.
On rebuilds, I try to install the posts on a direct bearing to piers or structural framing. What I make a concerted effort not to do, is plant the post on the deck; it leaves an ambiguous bearing path, and makes deck replacement in the future more of a chore.
What about you? Which post install detail do you prefer? (It seems installing the post on the decking was pretty common practice not too long ago, btw, given the number of failures I seen recently and their age.)
“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” Invictus, by Henley.
Replies
I'm with you. If it's a wooden post, it's an invitation to wick moisture up the post if it lands on the deck, and as you say, it's going to be hard to replace the deck down the road.
And from a structure point of view, I think it's much better to have it be anchored on a support intended for the load.
It offers a lot of opportunities to involve the structure too.
Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
For the life of me, I can't figure out why sitting a structural support atop flooring was ever permitted.
I've come across this so much, and still can't believe it. Alot of times the posts are centered above a doubled joist or such......sometimes blocking running between joists....others, not even that!
Even the hollow columns with the vented bases are asking for trouble.
"They don't build 'em like they used to."
And thank God for that!
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements