How does one raise a porch roof/columns to replace decking?

Question

Four large posts in the front...Porch is 24'wide...14'deep...
Left post has shifted 1.5" and resulted in the 2nd and third post shifting also...Period home...columns are 14 feet...porch ceiling is 15.5"

Answer 1

Those are some tall columns. if you have the time where you can remove one at a time replacing the decking as you go Here is a suggestion. buy a hi lift jack. These are available at most farm stores and some of the DIY outlets. also buy a length of steel plumbing pipe that will just fit over the jack. you may also have to buy a coupling and a short piece of additional pipe in the same diameter. most places sell in 10 foot lengths.



about a foot from the bottom of the column you plan to work on place a 2 foot long piece of 6x6 as a pad. be sure that it extends past two adjacent joists and runs along and over the top of the rim joist. Be sure that the rim joist and the floor joists are supported snuggly(use wedges and tap don't drive them in too tight.) with the jack all the way down set on to of your 6x6 and the pipe over the upright cut the overall length to be about 6" short. locate your jack on top of the 6x6 pad and on top of the pipe place a piece of 2x6 across the fascia boards. (many times the bottom board covers an empty space and if you try to support off this it will split or just push up. you will need to find a structurally secure position for the top to bear against.) Gently jack up the roof one click at a time. do not just kick out the column you WILL be surprised at how heavy they can be. when you have raised it enough carefully pry the top loose and cut or remove the fasteners so the top is free. moving the top around often it can be determined where the fasteners for the bottom are so that they can be removed. once free the post can be moved over a bit and the deck replaced. then just move the post back on to the new decking and move to the next post. saves laying them down or dropping them and other possibility's for damage.

Answer 2

Build a temporary wall beyond the decking -make sure it stays level and use lots of lumber. Kick out the posts one at a time if you have any doubts(hard to say from what little info)and do the decking. Its' a generous span so don't be frugal. Knock the posts in with a sledge hammer but make sure you have a good footing to bear down on. Rent a transit level to maintain even heights if you have to. Either that or work around the posts. Beyond that I need pictures. But don't send me any pics because I really don't care enough,just do your best-it's all common sense. You can lift a car with a couple of 2 by 4's without breaking them,just use 4 instead but keep it level as you can and have a good,load bearing pad to work off of. Don't push anything up more than a quarter of an inch at a time and only if you have to.Good luck.

Answer 3

A long farmers porch with a swing in the front and a deck in the back. If $$ wasn't an issue that is. But the farmer's porch is best to sit out and watch the world go by and a deck hiding out back for when you want the world to go away.

Answer 4

take 2x6 yellow pine and build a "T" .....let it run from the ground to the load bearing beam of the porch about 6" to one side of the post in place now....put a 2x10 on the ground to act like a foot for the T....measure from the foot to the beam and add 2 inches.....install the T's ......remove the post and repair the post then lower T's....



tip: drive a 2x4 stob in the ground about 2 ft behind each stob and then install a 2x4 from the stob to the T's to hold them in place to stop from kicking out.....use 3" wood screws to secure the T's to the beam for safty......



lic. gen. contractor