acceptable post repair?

17 years ago

Earlier this year, some concrete guys poured the footers and set the posts for our front porch. Later, when they came back to do some other work, they broke one of the posts. The wood itself is what broke; the footer is fine.

As an alternative to completely demo-ing the footer and repouring the concrete to reset the post, they say they can drill out the existing post and install a new one using the existing footer. It would be secured using construction adhesive inside the opening and along the sides of the post.

I've contacted our builder to see if this is an ok solution, but I'd appreciate an opinion if anyone else has one. Thanks.

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Comments (7)

mightyanvil
17 years ago
What is the connection between the post and the footing?
sierraeast
17 years ago
Sounds like your posts are buried directly in the concrete which is a bad idea imo. Not so bad if protected from the elements and the posts are treated or an exterior grade species, but still not a good idea. They can drill out the damaged post and replace as planned. Even when putting fence posts in the ground concreted, i treat them at the base with asphalt emulsion.
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chompskyd
Original Author
17 years ago
The posts are 4x4 pressure treated lumber. As far as I know, they are buried directly in the concrete (maybe with gravel at the bottom?). These are the posts that will support the roof of a covered (but not enclosed) porch. They will be wrapped with prettier wood, probably cedar, at some point.

I think the masons are suggesting they get the broken post out of the concrete, and then put the construction adhesive in the hole to sort of glue the post into the ground.

Would this hold up? Or should I insist that they remove the concrete and repour the footer? Or is there another solution?
sierraeast
17 years ago
As it is with the good posts, the concrete isn't doing a lot to secure the post in the hole. Wood shrinks, concrete shrinks, so their is no real binding on any of the posts. With the weight of the roof, it isn't going anywhere, so what they have planned is fine, imo. not neceesary to repour and replace the footings.
heimert
17 years ago
sierrapost makes sense. Think about a foundation that supports a wood-frame house. the stud walls sit on top of the foundation, held on by bolts to prevent movement. They're not cemented in. the deck post is no different--the footer is there to provide solid support for it. The surrounding concrete prevents it from getting away from vertical. So drilling out and replacing changes nothing structurally (I'd question the need for adhesive, unless there's play in the post.
sierraeast
17 years ago
Should have added that you should discuss with your contractor about putting some brackets on all posts to anchor it to the concrete before veneering over with the cedar. If you are in a windy area,even if not, there is the possibility of uplift. I have seen whole patios lifted up and over the house here in the mojave desert due to lack of anchoring. Not trying to scare you here, but best to be safe. Out here, posts directly in the concrete unanchored is against codes for seismic and uplift reasons.
chompskyd
Original Author
17 years ago
Ok, thanks. Good to know about the brackets. What are they made of? I've been reading about corrosion of metals used on pressure treated lumber, and it seems they'd need to be stainless steel to last.