Porch post bottom rotten, how to fix it, please

2 years ago

One of my backyard porch post base is rotten, it will move when you push it. My guess is overtime moisture or/and water trapped inside cause it, its top looks fine (please see the pictures). I am wondering how to fix it, do I need to open it up, even saw part of it, then add in wood block; Could I simpply dry it by blower, then use wood filler and gel or caulk to seal it?

There are four of those posts, the other three seem fine which can not be pushed, but there are signs of rotten, could I seal it by caulking it around.

Thank you so much for any suggestions

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

millworkman
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Replace it. Use a post base to keep the new one off the concrete and use a composite for the new skirt boards.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
Abitron is perfect for this type of a repair; much more cost effective than replacement.
Related Professionals
Morgantown Home Remodeling · New London Home Remodeling · Poplar Bluff General Contractors · Knoxville General Contractors · Davenport General Contractors · Cumberland Bathroom Remodelers · Canton Bathroom Remodelers · Platteville Bathroom Remodelers · Middletown Home Builders · Columbia Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Nashville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Westminster Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Branson Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Lebanon Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Sebring Home Builders
Sigrid
2 years ago
It looks to me like you have some trim at the bottom of your post. The trim sounds like it has some rot. Is the post rotten. I'd take an ice pick, toothpick or steak knife and poke the column (not the trim). If the column is solid, I'd take off the base trim and test again. If the column is solid, I'd replace the trim.
rwiegand
2 years ago
Is it holding up the roof, or just decorative? Is there a steel post inside the wooden box?

If it's just decorative (either not structural or concealing a steel column) then paintable goop or somewhat taller new PVC trim will fix it up just fine. If it's a structural wooden post then I'd replace it with a hollow post as described above using a post base and making sure it's vented top and bottom so that it can dry.
Jim
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you all, I think the post is structural, and made of a peice of 4X4 wood log, the base is IN the tile with skirt/trim cover around. It looks to me the trim cover around the base was NOT sealed well or went bad overtime, the water was trapped in. With all your suggestion, I guess I shall first open the trim to check out how bad the wood is, if it were not too bad, I could use Abatron (liquid wood) to seal it.

Totally, there are four posts, the other three seems ok, to prevent water from going under the base, Could I caulk the base around, like those bathroom silicon caulk ?

Thanks a lot !
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
Abitron the post bottoms and forget about it please. And no caulk please. You want any wind-blown water to evacuate, not be trapped in.
Jim
Original Author
2 years ago
Got a quote for replacing the whole post, $600, $275 is material, the rest is labor. Reasonable ? I saw 6X6 12 feet log in HD is $50, it is pressure wood though, not the cedar wood that I had. I guess after painting, they shall look no much different, and pressure wood is much more resistant to moisture etc, right ?

Thanks
Jim
Original Author
2 years ago
Also, I found this video, don't have to replace the whole post?

https://youtu.be/s6naaDBrZSc