How to protect brick support columns on porch
Our house of five years was built in 1916 or 1917 and has a front porch featuring two brick columns that hold the main support beam across the front of the porch – which also supports part of the 2nd story. (see 1st picture)
The paint and cement parging has been peeling off and cracks were appearing so I’ve finally gone and removed it to see the state of the wood underneath. Sure enough, the beam has some pretty serious rot at either end where they have been capped with parging (cement and / or plaster) and stick out beyond the roof itself. I’ll need to replace the beam. But I’ve got that part under control.
My concern is how to best cover the actual brick column that holds the beam. It has two parts. A very large, beefy lower section (white in the picture) that has been covered properly with parge and then a rather small / thin upper section that has been hidden beneath the wood frame of the porch (red bricks in picture)
I’d like to cover that upper brick section and the beam with new wood and make a nice pillar “casing” for it. I was thinking of adding some additional framing for extra support but wonder what I should do to waterproof it better and ensure it lasts. Should I simply wrap the brick column and my additional framing with with tar paper or typar or something? Or do I just create the new casing and seal it?
Would appreciate thoughts and suggestions.
David
Replies
That arch isn't a beam ... but you knew that, right? The beam must be up above/built into the floor. Or the upper floor is only cantilevered (which is probably doubtful).
If the lower column is as you say "covered properly", then why do you need another way to 'protect it'?
My 2 cents ... not much ... just adding a bit to details of your situation ... and a bump to get you better exposure.
That arch isn't a beam ... but you knew that, right?
Yeah, I think he knows that. The beam is pictured most clearly in the 4th shot.
I'm guessing...
that you want to retain the original look of the house.
If you wanted to just reinforce the brick columns you have check into fiber parge. One brand is Surewall: http://www.resarch.com/bonsalamerican/PDFdocs/SURFACEB.PDF They sell it (or similar) at big box stores.
OTOH, re the top red brick part of the columns, as you know, in modern construction an 8” x 8” (I assume) masonry column isn’t big enough to support anything. I say replace the upper hidden part with 12” x 12” masonry columns or even 16”x16” if you can fit them in. I’m guessing, that you will need to decrease the (red brick) column height anyway to facilitate the installation of a modern beam – either an LVL , LSL, flitch beam, etc.