replacing porch supports

smallcrpt

We want to rid of the dated porch supports and go w/ plain jane wooden columns.
Its a concrete base and not sure what's in the roofline.
Anyone ever remove these and how do you sure up the footings of a wooden column in concrete?
The house is a two story and that is part of the over hang where the front porch juts in. Do I even need them? They aren't the most stable things in the world.


any help would be appreciated...thanks
-chris

Jeekinz

I think those are just decoration.

Ron6519

I don't think they're just decoration. The span from the garage to the structure next to the door looks to be about 15-16 feet. The roof line sticks out about 3-4 feet in front of the door and window. I would think you need something to hold the weight up.
Ron

Clutchcargo

Those look decorative to me too. I don't think the span between the door and the garage comes into play. It looks like the rafters and ceiling joists run perpendicular to the front of the house.

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joewho

I think the rafters/joists are cantilevered.

Those flimsy supports wouldn't be used for something like this.

redline

Just jack up near one post enough until it is loose. Remove the old metal post. Place your wooden column in place and then lower the jack. The column will need to be cut for a snug fit. Attach at top and bottom.

smallcrpt

I'm going to be removing the carpet thats around the bases and all over that front porch, but the first mission is to get my carpet knife from inside the wall in the basement, i was cutting something and it fell all the way down. hehe, time to find a nice magnet and some string.. ehhe

but seriously the joists do run perpendicular to the house, so that would just be a 4' overhang and the brick wall is right behind it.
so they probably are just decoration, but I think something in it's place would look better any way. maybe even space them out correctly... three in a span like that is fine, if they are actually spaced nice.

thanks
chris

Jeekinz

I wouldn't jack on anything. Just cut those decorative supports in half and remove them. If you can't remove any metal left in the concrete, use an angle grinder to smooth it out.

To attach a new wooden post. Buy a couple post anchors from the hardware store. It's shaped like a U. The anchor gets screed to the concrete, slide in the post, and scure the post to the anchor. You can toenail or screw the top to the framing.

IMHO, a few hanging ferns would look nice.

Jackhammer

I have already performed this procedure to a very similar porch. Believe me, don't take the advice of cutting the decrotive post without first using a jack for the overhang. YOU WILL BE SORRY................ Use a jack to slightly lift the weight from existing post and replace.

smallcrpt

ok, so none of that sounds too hard, can i just use a regular pressure treated 4x4? And can I paint a PT 4x4?

It's funny our realtor mentioned the hanging ferns too. .eheh good call
-chris

Mike Swearingen

Use jacks and support or you'll get a permanent sag.
Yes, you can paint or stain pressure-treated wood when it is dried out well enough.
Mike

Clutchcargo

You could wrap up the 4x4 in PVC trim.

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