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Home Repair The Old House Porches & Decks

What type of contractor to replace porch columns?

last year

last modified: last year

Our home is 35 years old, on a concrete slab. We have two porch columns in the back that are rotting but I don't know what specific type of contractor replaces these. I think they rotted over the years from being over zealous in pressure washing the concrete slab with chemicals/bleach. The current post is about 4 inches square.

I will try to add photos as a comment.

Thank you.

Comments (8)

debbie1000
Original Author
last year
littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
last year
A skilled handyman (or handywoman) can do it. It’s not complicated.
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Hi Folks - thank you for all of the great ideas. I always knew that step was undersized (we built the house 20 yrs ago and money was tight) but had somehow not Given it a second thought. I can totally see how it would transform the entrance to widen it and build a more gracious walkway. As to can see, we need much more than a paint job. We need an entire new landscape design. a couple of specific responses + yes those brackets are there to hold large, abundant hanging baskets which I usually purchase around Mother’s Day. They do give the front some interest in the summer. yes those “grey things” are planters, which I plant with greenery in the summer. I should have moved them after i Removed everything last fall but I was in a pandemic funk and didn’t get around to it. *shrug* I do plan to replace the coach lights when we paint with something more lantern-like. the house numbers are on the mailbox, which will also be painted. the columns are indeed just lumber nailed together to form a very crude style. No dimensional pieces with architectural flair - just boards. Good suggestion to see what’s underneath. Might be a quick fix to re-skin them. as for the Cracker Barrel color scheme - this made me laugh out loud. Glad I didn't know before now this is the association one makes when one sees our house. At least it will only haunt me until the painters come in a month or so. It’ll be a much more neutral palette with taupe grey, snowbound white trim and probably a navy door. Still working on that. thanks for the Izzy love. She’s a sweetheart. She’s a Coton de Tulear - which is in the Bichon family. Best dogs ever! thanks for your help. Definitely got the ideas flowing...and the budget - much to my husband’s dismay. Cheers to Spring!
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fnmroberts
last year
Agree with previous posters, most experienced handymen or homeowners can replace these. To prevent wicking mousture I would make certain the fresh end-cut is sealed prior to installation. Were it mine, a stand-off base to elevate above any potential standing water used too.
kudzu9
last year
last modified: last year
When it rains/snows the moisture migrates to the bottom and the rain hitting the concrete around the base also splashes back onto that part of the post. The bottom of the post stays wet and deteriorates. That doesn't look like a pressure treated post, which I would recommend in an exposed location like that. Also, is that post even attached to the slab with a steel post bracket, or is it just sitting in direct contact with the concrete? If so, that's another no-no which also hastens rotting. If I were having that replaced I'd get a pressure treated post, I'd have the uncut end of the post at the bottom (so you wouldn't have an unprotected cross section), and I'd have a bracket installed that would support the post bottom at least an inch or two above the top of the slab. You need a base like this:

Or this:
ci_lantro
last year
The cut end grain of wood sitting on concrete is a big no-no. You are very lucky that the posts have lasted 35 years. End grain soaks up water by capillary action--which is how the live tree moved moisture from the roots and spread it through the canopy. End grain is like a cluster of open end straws, wicking moisture.
debbie1000
Original Author
last year
Thank you! They currently have the type of steel brackets in the second photo and they are rusted. I would prefer to go with a more specialized contractor rather than a handyman; one of the posts is under a very tall part of our house. Would a roofer do this? This is in FL and I'm sure roofers are still extremely busy.
kudzu9
last year
last modified: last year
You don't need a roofer, and I doubt most roofers would be interested in such a job: the repair does not involve doing anything to your roof.. All that is needed is someone competent to put in place a temporary support post nearby to bear the weight while the bad post is removed and replaced. This is basic stuff, not brain surgery..
Stax
last year
What kudzu9 said. Lose the notion that a roofer is required....

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