Left side of front wooden porch is sinking
by
Keith Hass
We live in a house that is 10 years old. We have a wooden front porch that is sinking slightly on the left hand side. This is at the steps to the porch. I think it is due to water from the gutter running down beside the porch. I have attached a flexible hose to the gutter to divert the water away from the porch. I want to get an estimate on what needs to be done to raise up that side of the porch. I don't know whether to hire a soil engineer or a contractor to jack up the porch. Please help and thank you!
2 answers
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if the porch was constructed on top of the backfill soil around the house, which is most likely the issue, the porch needs to be jacked up and footings installed to support it. The code requires that footings with size determined with load to be dug below the frost line in a bell shape. The cement needs to be brought to the surface so any wood framing is not below the soil surface. Then using proper mechanical fastening methods the vertical porch supports rest on top of the footing. If you have footings in place, they were not properly dug to solid soil, not dug deep enough, or they were undersized for the load and they are pushing into the soil. Your fix is first to determine if footings have been properly dug and put into place, If they were you will need to underpin these by digging larger holes along side and after drilling into the sides of the footings place rebar and pour a larger footing around the existing one. Once this has been done, the porch can be jacked up and new columns or extensions on the existing columns can be placed to support it level. A good quality deck contractor can help you with this project. Your also correct that water that drains off of roofs against basement, porch or any other footings can cause settlement in short order. You are correct by moving the water away. it should extend about six feet if possible.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Jul 09, 2014
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A local carpenter should be able to to fix or replace the porch/porch support for you that is causing the problem - get references or check Angie's list on line if you don't know anybody. You can also contact local lumber yards, ask for the manager, tell him you have a wood porch you need fixed and ask who he might recommend. Be sure to get several quotes, check them out, don't pay them until they are done and you are happy.
Moxie
on Jul 11, 2014
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