what is holding my patio up!?

888 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by SPS-1, Apr 24, 2020

stiksandstones

Discussion Starter · Apr 24, 2020

So, COVID crisis project is painting our 100yr old bungalow (california)...prepping these columns/pilasters? to try some paint colors, I knocked off the quarter round trim at the bottom that was rotted, reveals the under side of the pilasters and, its a pretty big gap on these boards to the cement brick top cap, so I can see inside-some old plants, spider eggs, etc...but shining a light in there I see NO COLUMN or anything to what I thought was holding the entire patio cover up and the wood panels of the pilaster do not touch the concrete, so---what the hell is holding this up?!?!

The green 'knock outs' posts coming out, I think are decorative, doesnt look like they are going INTO the structure, so I dont think its those?

Anyone?

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jmon

· #2 · Apr 24, 2020

Probably getting enough support from the house itself. Luckily there isn't a lot of weight with the cover, Regardless, I don't blame you, you want to be safe. I can see your concern.

For safety, support it with a couple solid 2/12's from ground. Get 2 bottle jacks, jack/level it up. Remove old all rotted wood install new wood. Also looks like you got some rotted roof joists as well. You can get 8X8 or 10X10 supports then decorate them back up. if you got the time and $$.

Or you can just cover it back up like it was and paint it. It's a 100 year old bugalow and it hasn't fallen down yet. Up to you. Just my opinion and thoughts.

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stiksandstones

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 24, 2020

jmon said:
Probably getting enough support from the house itself. Luckily there isn't a lot of weight with the cover, Regardless, I don't blame you, you want to be safe. I can see your concern.

For safety, support it with a couple solid 2/12's from ground. Get 2 bottle jacks, jack/level it up. Remove old all rotted wood install new wood. Also looks like you got some rotted roof joists as well. You can get 8X8 or 10X10 supports then decorate them back up. if you got the time and $$.

Or you can just cover it back up like it was and paint it. It's a 100 year old bugalow and it hasn't fallen down yet. Up to you. Just my opinion and thoughts.

There is rotted fascia at the ends (the part ive chipped away...and the last tongue and groove board in the row has a couple rotted bits) I am going to epoxy those.

I am certainly no contractor by any stretch of the imagination, but wouldnt there be a massive center joist beam for the main house? and that patio is tied into it? Like you said, 100 yr old house and patio hasn't fallen down, but, wild to think theres no support under those pilasters.

I am already in deep with the clapboards ive replaced/repaired, scraping all the old paint, patching, etc....id hate to detour and have to add in some posts haha---but like I told my wife "Maybe we do that after the paint job" lol.

Thanks for your comment.
(front view attached)

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de-nagorg

· #4 · Apr 24, 2020

Look up Cantilevered construction.

A building system from long, long ago, that holds up well.

ED

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Nealtw

· #5 · Apr 24, 2020

Today we build that with a 6x6 post in there but don' discount the strength of 4 boards nailed together like trim boards.
Then don't be surprised if the whole post system was added on after the fact because they did build houses with out them.

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stiksandstones

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 24, 2020

Thanks neal for that and the pic! ill sleep better haha.

The thing about those 4 boards forming the pillar, they are not even touching the concrete pad (on top of the bricks) and the other side, just touching on one corner, barely!
Well now I know---if I ever crawl into my attic/crawl space ill look to see the cantilever beams! and see that rotten beam I posted about on the other thread-I am filling it with Epoxy BTW.

Cheers guys, appreciate the knowledge.

Nealtw said:
Today we build that with a 6x6 post in there but don' discount the strength of 4 boards nailed together like trim boards.
Then don't be surprised if the whole post system was added on after the fact because they did build houses with out them.

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Nealtw

· #7 · Apr 24, 2020

You can see here the the dark beam is holding up the overhang because there is no liner or fascia across ends of the rafter tails that would be needed.
Interesting house.

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Mystriss

· #8 · Apr 24, 2020

Perhaps they left a gap under the white wood column to keep it from sitting in water on top of the stone there and rotting.

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SPS-1

· #9 · Apr 24, 2020

It would be interesting to put a level under the beam portions to see how far out of level they are. Unless they are severely out of level, I don't think I would worry about it. Don't get too excited when they are not level -- on an old house, nothing is plumb or level.

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Old Thomas

· #10 · Apr 24, 2020

I replaced a lot of porch posts. Often it surprised me how little weight was on them. I had a porch roof on my house years ago. I removed the post because the porch was sagging and I thought the roof would collapse. It didn’t want to come down. I hooked my 4 wheel drive truck to it and I could not pull it down. I had to cut it up and remove it in pieces.

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stiksandstones

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 24, 2020

SPS-1 said:
It would be interesting to put a level under the beam portions to see how far out of level they are. Unless they are severely out of level, I don't think I would worry about it. Don't get too excited when they are not level -- on an old house, nothing is plumb or level.

It actually slopes UP haha, slightly. So yeah, no worries it seems.

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SPS-1

· #12 · Apr 24, 2020

House is to the left ? Thats sloping down, isn't it ?

You can define it exactly....If you put the level exactly horizontal, and say you have a 1/4" gap at one end of a 4 foot level, then it slopes 1/16" per foot, for example.

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stiksandstones

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 24, 2020

SPS-1 said:
House is to the left ? Thats sloping down, isn't it ?

You can define it exactly....If you put the level exactly horizontal, and say you have a 1/4" gap at one end of a 4 foot level, then it slopes 1/16" per foot, for example.

You are right, its sloped, I was having a bad brain moment, probably from injecting bleach into my system (trump jokes?).

I used a 48" level, if I tilt it so the bubble is level, I have about 1/4", so yeah, exactly as you predict.
1/16" slope per foot? good / bad?

Gonna fall?

de-nagorg

· #14 · Apr 24, 2020

stiksandstones said:
You are right, its sloped, I was having a bad brain moment, probably from injecting bleach into my system (trump jokes?).

I used a 48" level, if I tilt it so the bubble is level, I have about 1/4", so yeah, exactly as you predict.
1/16" slope per foot? good / bad?

Gonna fall?

Likely built that way in 1900.

ED

SPS-1

· #15 · Apr 24, 2020

Not sure if my thought is valid, but that small slope may tend to keep rainwater flowing away from the house.

I would not worry about it.

But I would try to put something under those columns. Just does not feel right, hanging, although, as previously pointed out, it does keep the wood from sitting on wet concrete. Maybe a PVC picture frame trim around the bottom ?

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