Northern Virginia gets a lot of rain in the fall, and this is bad news for anything wooden you have outdoors. If you have a porch you enjoy, then you know that the porch posts are the pillars that support part of your roof. Unfortunately water damage can cause wood rot and structural issues with porch posts. Thankfully, when you detect weaknesses early, the solutions are more affordable and less time-consuming to implement. Here are some brief insights about detecting porch post damage and how to fix the problem.
Prevention
If you have a porch post with any surface that is prone to collect water, like a flat base, you should waterproof areas where rain can seep into the post. Use an exterior caulking sealant to lock out water around the base and to fill in any visible cracks. So, when it rains, the water will flow off it and not enter your porch post to cause rot. If you need help, we will be happy to come over and perform this preventative maintenance. Since this process is quite simple, we also recommend that you make our visit worth your while and schedule other necessary maintenance the same day such as gutter cleaning or window replacement.
Detection
How do you know if your porch post is rotting? The easiest way to tell is if you see paint chipping and some inner components eroding. You may also notice the porch rails dislodging because the wood that they were once fastened to have rotted away. If you see visible signs of rot, don’t worry just yet. Your porch post may not be so far gone that you have to replace it completely. If you catch the rot early enough, the rest of the post may be still unaffected and you can do some simple repairs with filler materials. If the rest of the post is undamaged and strong, your contractor can scoop out the rot and fill in the wood. This method saves you the cost of a new porch post and involves only affordable materials.
Replacement
If the porch post is mostly rotted and cannot safely support a structure any longer, we advise you replace it. We can replace your post with another wooden post or you can opt for metal, which costs more but will last longer in the long run.
To figure out if you just need a few repairs or a full post replacement, have us come over and take a look at the suspected damage. We will find the most convenient and cost-effective method to restore your porch’s structural functionality. While you’re at it, it is a good idea to schedule your annual roofing inspection to catch problems with your roof while they are small.
Learn More About Our Additional Services Today
Noble Roofing is happy to serve Centreville and its surrounding cities in Northern Virginia. If you have any questions about installing windows or any other home improvement project, call us today at (703) 404-0505. From there, we can set up a free consultation to figure out what your home needs. You can also fill out our convenient online contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
