How to seal a leaky porch?

by Nik Knacks

+11

Answered

Ack! So while doing some spring cleaning this weekend, I hosed off the front porch and vinyl siding... I then found, to my chagrin, that the water leaked at SEVERAL points down into my basement.
We can't afford to replace our porch yet, so I need to do something to stop leaks, potential rot, and whatever the heck else may be wrong. Thoughts?
The house itself is a 1909 build with an inset porch and corner wood support (rotting, and I hope to someone that it is decorative and not structural). The house was raised in the forties and a full concrete basement poured in. The porch itself is just plywood sitting on the concrete base. In looking up from the basement, I can clearly see daylight out of one hole, which I will be sealing with expanding foam.
But what can I do on the top side? Caulk all seams where vinyl siding meets the floor? Add another layer of plywood? Exterior paint? What would you do?
...and if you have any tips/tricks for dealing with the corner post above, I'd be especially grateful. Thank you!

4 answers

Hope Williams on Mar 30, 2015
First, when sealing the hole with light through it, put some steel wool in there also to prevent rodent invasion. Second, go to big box store or machine shop and get a piece of sheet metal that goes the length of the porch. Bend it so that half goes up under the siding and the other under the plywood. Tack it where possible. Caulk or seal it with outdoor sealer. That should hold you for a while. As far as the rotting posts, be sure they are NOT support before installing just decorative columns. They do make gorgeous support columns too. Hope this helps, Hope

Helpful Reply
- See 4 previous
- Nik Knacks on Mar 30, 2015
  Thank you for the tips, Hope! I will definitely put in some steel wool and see if I can figure out a flashing option on seams.... The plywood is contiguous to the interior floor of the house, so it can't go under... But maybe if I put another layer of marine grade plywood on top... Hmm. And yes! I don't know if putting columns in is in my skill set at this point, and I need to figure out how to determine if it is load bearing or not, but one step at a time, right? Thanks for your thoughts!
  
  Helpful
- Hope Williams on Mar 30, 2015
  Yes, research, watch YouTube videos, DIY network videos, etc. Chances are that the columns you have ARE load bearing. Treat them as such whether they are or not. If you can stick a screw driver completely through the rotted area, you really need to address this first and foremost. Especially if it goes through every one of them. You don't need additional damage from the porch ceiling collapsing. Pull back your vinyl siding and see if the plywood goes just under the outside wall of the house. It would not hurt to really get a good look at that "seam" at all. Just slide it out.
  
  Helpful
- Nik Knacks on Mar 30, 2015
  Thank you for the advice! I'm definitely going to treat the post as load bearing - I think it was, originally, though does not appear to be now as it has separated from the overhang. We can't afford to replace it now, but I'm thinking if I put in some treated 4x4s to act as support and build a weather surround on two sides after I redo the floor of the porch that should at least get us a few more years so we can save up to have a contractor do a proper job of it. I'll definitely keep doing my homework. Thank you!
  
  Helpful
- Hope Williams on Mar 30, 2015
  Example here: say your posts are 8X8. You can brace really close to the post you are working on. Cut out the rotten part and put a new 8X8 in. You can sister the posts with 2X4's on opposite sides, but in addition, use the brackets that have the up and down bolt holes. I'll get a pic in a minute. That will buy you a few years definitely.
  
  Helpful
- Hope Williams on Mar 30, 2015
  This is the bracket. It hooks one to another. If it's rotted into the ground, I can get you a pic of the concrete pad thingy the new piece will sit on. It really is pretty easy to do just time consuming.
  
  Helpful
Handy Lady Red on Mar 30, 2015
Without pics its hard to get a clear idea of the damage could you take some?

Helpful Reply
- See 3 previous
- Nik Knacks on Mar 30, 2015
  Certainly! I haven't figured out how to edit the original post from my phone (or if one even can), but here are some I've just taken attached to this post.
  
  Helpful
- Handy Lady Red on Mar 31, 2015
  For the corner post it is a load bearing so you have to put a temporary post as close to the corner as you can get. I put in a board diagonal across the corner and a post centered under it. Then you can remove the old one and put the new one in. In the other areas remove the old caulking and scrape out the old wood then use paint able putty then sand and recaulk and paint. I would also put in a flashing or rain gutters around the porch to help stop the dripping on the decking. I would also start preparing to replace the decking and raze the side by the house by 2-5 degrees so that it would drain the water off better. You can also use the spray on rubber sealant in clear on the edges after painting and when you repaint just paint over it.
  
  Helpful
- Nik Knacks on Apr 01, 2015
  @Handy Lady Red Thank you so much for the thoughts on this! It does help me make my plan of attack. I think we're going to put some temporary posts and build a surround around the old one to last a few more years as I honestly don't have the skills or tools (yet!) to do something like raise the side of the house. We'll hire a licensed contractor to do it once we've been able to save up for the process. Scraping, painting, caulking, and sealing, though? Definitely at the top of my this-summer list. Thanks!
  
  Helpful
- Handy Lady Red on Apr 01, 2015
  To Raze the side you just scab on a board to the side of the house that is 1/2" higher than where the floor is and you do it when you replace a piece of plywood I would use marine plywood. Its not as hard as it sounds.
  
  Helpful
Darla on Mar 30, 2015
If your roof gutters are good and not blocked, and you haven't had problems before, you should be fine. You should probably get that corner post replaced, though.

Helpful Reply
- Nik Knacks on Mar 30, 2015
  Well, we just had the roof and gutters done, but there is no overhang over the exterior of the porch, so the outer edges get leaky during every hard rain - otherwise I could definitely see what you mean. Thank you for your input!
  
  Helpful
Duv310660 on Mar 30, 2015
Figuring out where the water is getting in is key; in the meantime minimize the recent damage by using a dehumidifier.

Helpful Reply

Related Discussions

How to get rid of mice?

Jessica Hill Answered 3 days ago

We seem to have some unwelcome Mickeys and Minnies in our house. What is the best way to get rid of them?

q what s the most effective way to get rid of mice in the house, pest control

336

See Answers

How to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos?

Abby Answered on Apr 13, 2024

I want to remove my popcorn ceiling, but it has asbestos in it. How do I go about this safely?

how to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos

See Answers

How to trap fruit flies?

Irv Pomeranz Answered 3 days ago

Does anyone know how to get rid of fruit flies with a homemade trap?

See Answers

How to remove popcorn ceiling with vacuum?

Abby Answered on Feb 06, 2024

Is there a way to use a vacuum to remove a popcorn ceiling?

See Answers

How to fix a crack in a door frame?

Mary-Ann Farr Answered on Mar 10, 2024

How to fix a door frame with a split in it?

See Answers

Tile backsplash when there is existing countertop backsplash

Kate Griffin | Eating in the Shower Blog Answered on Feb 24, 2024

We are thinking about how to add a backsplash to our kitchen. Unfortunately when we had our countertops installed we ordered a small backsplash that comes part way up... See more

tile backsplash when there is existing countertop backsplash, Here you can see the amount of space available to tile if I left the current backsplash intact

See Answers

Contractor mis-cut the floor when he put in the toilet

Staci F Answered on Apr 13, 2023

Hello, Our contractor didn't "measure twice, cut once" when he put in our toilet. Check out the photo. I'd appreciate any suggestions on a fix or a way to hide this m... See more

contractor mis cut the floor when he put in the toilet

See Answers

How to seal a leaky porch?

Suggested Project Book

14 Free Storage Ideas Using Cardboard Boxes

Other

More

How to seal a leaky porch?

Suggested Project Book