We need to replace our front porch columns, railings and floor. It is 12 yrs. old and the columns are rotting. We would like to use a composite product that looks like painted wood. Some products we have seen are flimsy and shiny. Azek looks good--does any have any experience with it? We also would like to have a T&G floor. Any suggestions other than lattice at the base of the porch? Any suggestions are welcome!

As I take a break from cutting away the bottom 3 inches of fourteen 8x8 hollow wooden columns that rested directly on a concrete slab... Do not forget to space wood up off the concrete with metal or plastic. I use pieces of 2x cut to just fit inside the columns with PVC pip standoffs (3/4 in x 1.5 inches long) epoxied into holes bored 1/2 inch deep into the bottom piece of 2x. A piece of 2 inch aluminum angle 2-3 inches long is then fastened to the concrete with plastic anchors and stainless screws with a small piece of EPDM to keep the aluminum off the concrete. The tab is under the column so it does not show. The vertical tab is then fastened to the 2x stack with a couple more stainless screws. The standoff and anchor are hidden behind the bottom detailing made from pressure treated wood and held off the concrete by about 1/4 inch (does not show with 5/4 wood). Paint all sides of the trim (and treat the end grain with Minwax wood hardener before painting) to try and preserve it. I typically bevel the ends, nail them together and to the column with stainless finish nails, fill the nail holes, and then apply another coat of paint to seal the joints. 5/4 deck planking looks good if you trim enough off each edge to eliminate the round over.

I agree with mie0782. Experienced continual seam-splits with our builder installed columns. Unfortunately exact match replacements were unavailable in PermaCast but the millman recommended painting the hollow interior before installing new ones. I used highway striping paint using an old towel attached onto a piece of conduit as a paint brush. Original columns began showing signs of failure within a year, replacements are still like new after a decade.

When you install the new decking make sure that the decking over hangs the edge of the deck by 3/4" or 1". It appears that your current deck is installed flush to the edge of the framing. Having this 3/4" - 1" overhang should allow you re wrap you support posts and avoid the wrap hanging over the deck. Rather than PT ply you can use a composite trim wrap. They make these for 8x8 posts. Or use a 1/2" thick 4'x8' composite sheet or PT ply. Rip it into the strips wide enough to cover each side of the post. That will maybe leave you 1/4" to add the base trim block.