Customer has an old (1950’s) ranch with a front porch about 6-8 ft deep and 18-20 ft wide. Condrete slab. Porch roof is formed by the main roof …exterior wall is cut back to create the porch. Three columns: one at the corner, one in the middle, and one (probably a half col) at the wall. Somewhat decorative in the middle half, top and bottom are square section 4×4. The bottom inch or so of the middle col has water damage. One thought is to raise the roof a fraction, cut off the last inch, patch with bondo or whatever, set it back down on a Simpson base. But how do I anchor the Simpson to the slab? I would like to leave the col in place. Or should I go ahead and bust it loos, do the work, anchor the base, and slip it back in? I bet I could anchor it sufficiently with “liquid nails” so that it doesn’t slip around, but there’s no uplift resistance there. But then we’re not in a high wind area anyway.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell’em “Certainly, I can!” Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
The craftsman formerly known as elCid
Replies
Take it down. You could do a decent repair on the column (a step scab, or lag bolted half-lap) if you can't replace it and set the stand-off with an anchor bolt or epoxy. Having the post on the ground would make things simpler, in my opinion.
Any possibility of using epoxy?
Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the Handyman
Vancouver, Canada
Aaron, it's not a question of the repair material, but rather how best to anchor the column to the slab. As others have pointed out, it might not be anchored now. I agree that removing the column will make the work easiest, and I might do that. If so, then I'll fasten the Simpson with some type of anchor.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
The craftsman formerly known as elCid
I've replaced a number of porch columns that are sitting directly on the slab. Around here it seemed to be standard practise to sink a bolt in the concrete during the pour where the posts were to be located, then drill a hole at the base of the post to accomodate the bolt. The post slipped over the bolt and rested on the slab. You might encounter something similar. The bolt prevented the post from lateral movement, but provided no uplift resistance, as you've noted.
I've found that time and water migration rot the bottom of the post and rust away the bolt. After removing the column, drill out the rusty bolt and sink a new one. Repair post and you're good to go.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Seldom are these columns anchored anyway.
I would get the aluminum stands and set them next to the column and mark the column at the top of the stand.Then i would jack the column high enough so that it doesn't touch the ground and set the appropriate thickness of boards to match the line with my saw blade and cut away.
I will be doing this on 4 columns in the morning.
ANDYSZ2
I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout