Porch columns, especially in Toronto, are most often made of wood, and are therefore subject to rot over time. Often the porch itself is in usable condition and the columns themselves need to be replaced.
It can be tricky to replace these columns, as they are usually load-bearing, supporting a roof above. In this case we must support the load above, usually with a hydraulic jack and temporary supports. Once the load is supported, we are able to remove the old posts and fabricate new ones to fit. The new posts must fit snugly, and be cut accurately for this purpose. We will often raise the roof above a hair higher than where we want the final height to be to slip in the post and then lower the roof onto it once it is placed correctly. We also typically secure the new post into the concrete pillar below and the beam above supporting the roof over the porch.
The typical construction of a basic wood porch column is a 6 x 6 pressure treated post. Sometimes it has decorative square pads cut from larger lumber like a 2 x10 at the top and bottom. More elaborate and decorative posts can be wrapped (boxed) with wood or even PVC trim all the way around to give a more finished, decorative appearance. Like any type of trim carpentry inside the home, there are many possibilities of trim we can apply around the top and bottom of the column to really make it pop. It really comes down to style and budget.
We recommend priming/painting with an appropriate exterior paint and primer, especially when decorative trim elements are applied. If done correctly these pieces are pre-primed on all sides to prolong their lifespan.
Don’t wait another season to replace those old porch columns! If they are truly failing from rot they can cause a lot more damage to the parts above they are supporting if they fail and cause a much larger job than simply replacing the columns.