Need hard drying expanding foam (epoxy?) to solidify bases of 10-12 5X6 pine support posts on porches

[Dennis S]

They are solid roughly 8' 5X6 posts, probably pine, that support the porch roofs over two concrete porches. All have rotted to some degree and at least one has rotted at least 4 inches up. My idea is to skirt them with treated 2X6 boards. One side by the edge of the porch only has room for a 1X6. I would put up 3 sides and then spray the foam (or spackle it in if foam in not available.) Then I would saw the excess off from the open side, if possible, and then screw the final forth board to the post. For the worst ones, I might jack up the top with a 2 by board and hammer a 5X6 wood plate under the damaged post to fill the void as much as possible with good material.

In addition, I need silicone or a metal plate under everything to keep the posts from wicking water off the concrete in the future. I would stain the treated pine skirts with solid Olympic stain.

A handy man quoted the labor for this and some other stuff and it was outrageous.

[rgG]

This
https://www.minwax.com/wood-products/mai...d-hardener

Then this.

https://www.minwax.com/wood-products/mai...ood-filler

[mattkime]

Photos would help. Its unclear to me why you wouldn't simply cut well above the rotted portion and remove the rest.

It would also be good to make sure the appropriate footing is used as it could significantly extend the life of your work.

Wood hardener aims to prevent rot from spreading.

[davester]

This is similar to, and superior to rGg's Minwax recommendation:

https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-Original-C...oppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583932700241337&psc=1

and

https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-Epoxy-Fill...oppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726541074789&psc=1

More info: http://smithandcompany.org

[Forrest]

For long lasting structural support, you probably want to contact an engineer. I'm thinking steel poles set in concrete at the proper depth. Then a wood enclosure built around the poles similar to your idea.

[MrNoBody]

This Old House:
How to Repair a Rotted Porch Post* (7m) https://youtu.be/s6naaDBrZSc

How to Install Porch Columns (5m) https://youtu.be/R1RPHvJmEBE

* Required materials:
2x4s temporary support posts
Rough-sawn cedar 6x6
Construction adhesive
5-inch structural screw

[rgG]

davester wrote:
This is similar to, and superior to rGg's Minwax recommendation:

https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-Original-C...oppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583932700241337&psc=1

and

https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-Epoxy-Fill...oppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726541074789&psc=1

More info: http://smithandcompany.org

You did see the prices on those, didn’t you?

[davester]

rgG wrote:
[quote=davester]
This is similar to, and superior to rGg's Minwax recommendation:

https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-Original-C...oppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583932700241337&psc=1

and

https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-Epoxy-Fill...oppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726541074789&psc=1

More info: http://smithandcompany.org

You did see the prices on those, didn’t you?
You get what you pay for. It’s a structural repair so epoxy is going to be much stronger than the Minwax product. I e used both Smiths and Minwax BTW.