Years ago, it was common practice to imbed porch and patio posts in concrete. It was simple: dig a hole, set the post and pour concrete around it. The idea was to enjoy the added strength provided by ...

The constant exposure to sun and rain can take its toll on a porch. I see a lot of cases where water has become trapped between the base of the porch columns, called the plinth, and the porch deck.

Q. We have a water- and weather-damaged support post (load bearing) and attached railing that rotted under the weather coating. We need to replace them, but I’m wondering about the scope of the job? A ...

A: Yes. Your first step is to support the roof load. Position a scrap of lumber near the post you want to remove. Jack the scrap piece up using a pair of plastic chainsaw felling wedges nested against ...

Q: My mahogany front porch floor is built on a frame over the original concrete slab. I think the frame is made of pressure-treated wood. The porch is covered, open on two sides and uses three ...

Many older homes are graced by columns supporting a porch roof. As they suffer the effects of age and weather, these columns may need repair or replacement. Sometimes, you'll only need to replace the ...

Q. Our 90 year old house has a front porch that is falling apart. It looks like the stones that are holding up the front posts are tipping to the side or sinking downward, pulling the porch floor and ...