Carport Support Columns
- Thread starter plow
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matt_i
Well-known member
Cedar (western red) is much softer and more corrosive to metal it may touch than SPF. Probably on the same order of corrosive effect as the pressure-treatment for the pine.
The cedar will go silvery grey in a few months if not treated (and retreated) with a UV protectant.
Anyway, being softer wood, you may have to redo the moment connections (things that keep it from toppling over sideways as if all 4 legs folded in the same direction.
The cedar will go silvery grey in a few months if not treated (and retreated) with a UV protectant.
Anyway, being softer wood, you may have to redo the moment connections (things that keep it from toppling over sideways as if all 4 legs folded in the same direction.
Beemer533
Well-known member
If you are looking for an aesthetic change as opposed to structural, I would just clad the existing posts with cedar as opposed to replacing them...
weadjust
Well-known member
My double carport built in 1974 has 4"x 4" cedar posts.
rieferman
Well-known member
Agreed
James-W
Well-known member
You can also have the posts wrapped with aluminum that has a wood-grain appearance. I have also seen snap-together columns that look pretty cool too.
Excellent idea. The problems are that each post has two supports at a 45* at the upper end of it. Think a Y with the vertical part continuing up. Like a peace symbol.......I hope I'm making sense explaining it.
Second problem is that I'm no good at trim work....I mean HORRIBLE. It would be much easier for me to support the structure with a floor jack and replace them.
I was wondering if the Cedar would be too soft or weak to support the structure.
Is it sturdy????
weadjust
Well-known member
Beemer533
Well-known member
Excellent idea. The problems are that each post has two supports at a 45* at the upper end of it. Think a Y with the vertical part continuing up. Like a peace symbol.......I hope I'm making sense explaining it.
Second problem is that I'm no good at trim work....I mean HORRIBLE. It would be much easier for me to support the structure with a floor jack and replace them.
I was wondering if the Cedar would be too soft or weak to support the structure.
Yeah, I can see what a pain that would be... I'm not the greatest at trim work either, I consider myself a rough finish carpenter
I don't think cedar is recommended for an application like this, but your best bet might be to consult an engineer.
Maybe you could sort of compromise and just pull the 45 bracing out, skin the existing posts with cedar and make new 45 out of cedar to simplify it?
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rsanter
Well-known member
What you are talking about is rough trim work.
If you can replace the post then you can do the cladding.
I would do the sides of the post that have to braces coming from them first. Just miter cut the trim to meet up against the Y bracing.
Then clad the other two sides next and have them go corner to corner
Bob
If you can replace the post then you can do the cladding.
I would do the sides of the post that have to braces coming from them first. Just miter cut the trim to meet up against the Y bracing.
Then clad the other two sides next and have them go corner to corner
Bob
astroracer
Well-known member
It's pretty simple to clad these, just like Bob said. Then again, if they have been there for a while simply staining them with a cedar color stain would do the job also.
Mark
Mark
I thought about that. The columns are in the back, so company wouldn't necessarily see them. The builder used green lumber on 4 of the 7 posts so mildew bleeds through the paint. I tried to Kiltz and repaint but it came back.
I think I'm going to go ahead and replace them with 6 x 6 Cedar. My thinking is if weadjust's 4 x 4's will hold up, a 6 x 6 has an even better chance of holding up. We've determined that my carpentry skills **** at best so clading them aint happening. My Homeowners insurance is caught up if crumbles, I just hope I'm not under it when it comes down.
Thanks for the input guys.