On Jan 7, 9:25*am, dpb wrote:
On Jan 7, 7:37 am, nhurst wrote:

I need to replace the posts on my porch and it looks like doing this
will be the best way to go about getting the job done.

I don't need much in the way of supporting strength, as the porch is
small (8' by 13' and 8' tall), and I'll be replacing 2 "3 S" corner
posts with 3 of these wood columns.

I'm currently considering using bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
because I can get it straight from the lumber yard. They have 6x6
posts, but they're green, and otherwise have a decent selection of
kiln dried boards. If I select carefully, would buying the 6x6 posts
be a good option, or would it be better to buy some of the smaller
boards and build up a column out of those with glue and nails? If the
latter, what's the best way to combine the smaller boards to form a
square column?

Cypress isn't bad, but if going for the 6x6, I'd recommend buying the
stock now and storing it at least over the winter for a spring project
so that what it moves it will have done mostly by then. *W/ a 6x6, you
could then if chose to square them up and still have more than enough
material.

Many porch "posts" are nothing more than four 1x pieces nailed/screwed/
glued in a box w/ butt joints. *In compression they have considerable
strength. *If desired, frame them around a metal post for extra
strength.

--

I've spent considerable time trying to figure out if using 1x or 2x
stock stuck together like that would be sufficiently strong to give a
stable, long term solution. I may not have been searching using the
correct terms, though. I'm not hung up on using solid stock, I just
want a good looking porch that won't fall on my head or on the head of
someone who buys my house after I'm done with it. One benefit of the
6x6 green stock is that it will wind up being about 1/3 the cost of a
bunch of thinner kiln dried stock.

However if I can just combine thinner stock and then box it in, I can
use PT SYP and put some dried cedar up for painting.

If you or anyone else can recommend a book that would educate me on
this kind of thing, I'd appreciate it.

-Nathan

I considered getting some of those adjustable steel columns, but
because of the size of the porch, I didn't think they'd be necessary.