What’s happening, all? Awesome day here in Virginia. A buddy wants me to build a 8′ by 20′ covered front for his doublewide trailer. So I figure the deck part of the porch must be freestanding. Every deck I’ve built was attached to a house. What’s the easiest way to start? Plant the posts nearest the trailer 1st? Since it’ll have columns on all corners I figured cantilevering wasn’t an option. As I read back over this it seems to be a rather vague question. Any thoughts? Thanks
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Replies
Freestanding sounds fine to me. Might be easier to dig the post holes nearest the trailer if you had them away from it a foot or two and cantilevered the structure, but I don't see where flush to the trailer would be a problem with a clamshell type digger and I don't see where it would matter where you start.
I have seen on "Hometime" where they built the frame first and somehow held it on temporaty supports, then augered the postholes after droping a plumb line down from the frame to locate the postholes.
The guy I work with has built decks on the barest number of posts that could just support the frame, then dropped plumlines down and dug the remaining post holes. Then you just throw the posts in the holesand pull them up to where you wnat them, fasten them and fill the holes with gravel or concrete. (I prefer sand and gravel over concrete).
this is typical around here when mama needs a new room on the trailer. post hole up against the trailer make sure the 4x4 are long enough to support the roof too. and then work out
You will need a fair amount of lateral support to make a free standing structure with no sides stand rigid - assuming it is to be an open porch. I think I might consider imbedding the support posts at least 3' if not 4' in the ground to get some lateral stability. These posts would extend all the way up the rafters and the perimeter beam/band joist would be through bolted to the posts. If you do not want to imbed the posts, and if the porch is high enough, diagonal supports in 2 directions should be installed on each support post.
If you do imbed the posts you might want to check around for .60 treated posts. Probably not available at a home center, but likely would be available at a real lumber yard or perhaps a farm supply.
Thanks for all the suggestions. The general consensus seems to be running the posts all the way from below grade to the porch roof. I was hoping to use 6x6 from the ground to deck level, run the decking, the use fairway vinyl posts. the roof would be attached to the DW where it runs into an existing dormer. Sound OK?