Carport - Rotting posts - what to do??

McReidy · Sep 17, 2007 3:29 pm

The carport struts on the house we have just purchased are rotten and need to be replaced..

We are toying with the idea of changing the design a little as we have a curved driveway that terminates at the carport (see photo) and it is quite difficult to manoeuvre the car, but just not quite sure how we could change things up..

Any suggestions at all (re design, materials etc) would be greaty appreciated..

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_Al_ · Sep 17, 2007 3:48 pm

McReidy

The carport struts on the house we have just purchased are rotten and need to be replaced..

We are toying with the idea of changing the design a little as we have a curved driveway that terminates at the carport (see photo) and it is quite difficult to manoeuvre the car, but just not quite sure how we could change things up..

Any suggestions at all (re design, materials etc) would be greaty appreciated..

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Don't mean to be rude but it looks like a fairly useless carport. I'd be more tempted to clear the area on the left of the driveway and park straight in.

You still have to replace the posts though, so use a temporary support under the underside of the beam from the house. Perhaps hire an adjustable scaffold pole and use it to hold up the beam. Lift the beam up slightly so there's no weight on the old post.

Remove the dead post and replace it. Replace one at a time and prepaint the post before they go in.

Looks like the two side posts have check outs in them. Get the post in place then mark the checkout.

Once the new post is in place, and all bolted up, release the support slowly and you should be sweet.

If you really have an issue with the front post you may be able to put a beam across the posts and use two support posts instead of 3. Sort of like this
" TT " More work but may give you enough room to move.

memphis · Sep 17, 2007 4:00 pm

The gizmo you require is called an acro-prop, you put it underneath the structure and wind up a screw on it, and it takes the load of the structure while you replace the poles with new ones. Do 1 at a time.

You could go with steel 100x100 posts if the budget streches that far, and paint them to match, eliminates the rotting in the future.

I also agree that the carport seems fairly useless, perhaps jackhammer up the driveway and put the car away somewhere else. You could deck the area and make a nice entrance to the house.

_Al_ · Sep 17, 2007 4:08 pm

memphis

The gizmo you require is called an acro-prop, you put it underneath the structure and wind up a screw on it, and it takes the load of the structure while you replace the poles with new ones. Do 1 at a time.

You could go with steel 100x100 posts if the budget streches that far, and paint them to match, eliminates the rotting in the future.

I also agree that the carport seems fairly useless, perhaps jackhammer up the driveway and put the car away somewhere else. You could deck the area and make a nice entrance to the house.

There ya go *thanks Memphis*

Steel posts will work, but yes will be a bit more pricey and are a little harder to work with.

Some galvanised post supports (the U shpaed ones) sould be fine for timber posts as you bolt them to the ground and sit the post up off the bottom of them so no water can soak upwards.

Also....paint the bottom of posts. Then paint them again. Same with doors. Paint them lots to stop moisture getting in and killing them.

McReidy · Sep 18, 2007 11:22 am

memphis

The gizmo you require is called an acro-prop, you put it underneath the structure and wind up a screw on it, and it takes the load of the structure while you replace the poles with new ones. Do 1 at a time.

You could go with steel 100x100 posts if the budget streches that far, and paint them to match, eliminates the rotting in the future.

Is this something that I should be using a builder of chippy to do, or attempt myself? My main concern would be that (a) it is attached to the MAIN roof of the whole house, not a standalone roof, and (b) if something were to happen if I attempted it myself how my insurance company would respond to that!!

memphis · Sep 18, 2007 11:55 am

This is something you can do yourself if you are handy enough. the acro prop will take all the load and basically be a replacement pole until you replace the old one. Just remember, 1 pole at a time, and make 100% sure the prop is secure. Use 2 if you need a little more security.

Regarding insurance, im not too sure. You may need to call someone at the insurance company on that one.

If you are not confortable doing it yourself. You will want a chippy to do it, a builder would more than likely just contract one anyway and charge you a premium.

_Al_ · Sep 18, 2007 12:03 pm

You'll be right doing it if you can swing a saw and a drill around.

Take your time. Measure it twice and trial fit.

Don't undo the acro-prop until your happy everything is tight.

List of stuff you will probably need.

Hammer drill
Drill bits for concrete and timber
Ramset bolts for concrete, to bolt stirrup to the ground Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ (ingore the sunk in concrete bit of the picture)
A big ladder or two would be better
Acro-prop
Level
Square, pencil, tape measure etc.
Circular Saw and hand saw.
Spanners for bolts, nuts
Paint and brush

Treated pine posts (90x90 dressed) are about $16/metre. Unsure if you could get them the length you need. You may need hardwood ones or even laminated ones. They will cost more.
Galvanised stirrups are around $10 each and dynabolts will be a couple of bucks each.

Measure the posts already there and just replicate them. Once you have the old post out, use it as a template for checkouts.

Failing that, price the timber yourself then get someone to quote the whole job. That way you have a fair idea of what their labour cost is and if you're getting stooged.

Good luck....

McReidy · Sep 19, 2007 2:28 pm

Just as a follow up, I just got my first quote for this job..

To replace three (3) posts with treated pine posts (unpainted) I have been quoted $1,595.00!!!!!

Is it just me, or is this massively inflated??? I was expecting maybe half that!!!

Buggy · Sep 19, 2007 2:58 pm

McReidy

Do as Al suggested. Simple, cheap and they will last for life.

memphis · Sep 19, 2007 3:24 pm

Too expensive, DIY

Dukekamaya · Sep 24, 2007 9:51 pm

Al

Treated pine posts (90x90 dressed) are about $16/metre. Unsure if you could get them the length you need. You may need hardwood ones or even laminated ones. They will cost more.

Good luck....

F7 Treated pine solids you should pick-up for about $13 per/metre and they are available up to 6 metres in length. If you don't want the 'rougher header' finish (all the lines) you can get the primed GL8 posts for about $18 per.metre and they are available up to 7.2 metres in length. Sawn hardwood F11 posts (100x100) are cheaper at about $11 per metre and again up to about 7.2metres in length. Ironbark or turpentine ( better durability 1 hardwood) will be around $16 per metre.