Rotten Porch Posts: How to Repair

Our Answer

Hi Christina! This is a very typical problem and really just mother nature’s way of disposing of dead trees.  Unfortunately, one of those trees happens to be holding up your house!  Wood which stays damp and moist develops decay.  The post sitting directly on the concrete accelerates this process because both the wood post and the concrete are very hygroscopic, meaning they can soak up a heck of a lot of water!
While in some cases you can cut away and rebuild the bottom of the porch column using a product like Abatron’s WoodEpox, most commonly these posts need to be replaced.

The process involves installing temporary supports under the porch roof to support the structure while you repair or completely replace the wood post. You can reduce the chances of recurrence in a couple of ways.  First, use a pressure treated wood post.  These may not look very attractive, but they can be wrapped after they are installed with a wood trim of aluminum cladding to improve their appearance.

Second, you should make sure that the new post is sitting on a post base which is a metal plate designed to keep the wood off the concrete, thereby allowing it to stay dry.  There are many available, from a simples aluminum plate that is nailed to the bottom of the post to one that can be bolted to the post and the foundation to prevent uplift.

Finally, you might consider.  These can be both beautiful and sturdy — plus you’ll never have to worry about rot again!
Good luck with the project and post your pics here when you’re done!