1890 Queen Anne porch columns

[tonypeoni]

Hoping someone here has experience with old house construction. This house is located in the Midwest. I have a 1890 queen anne with a 10x25 porch. When I replaced the columns (round wooden) with new (round wooden) I noticed the original columns were not nailed into the porch or the header. Just the weight of the porch roof keeps them in place. I estimate the roof weights about 2000 lbs. There are 4 columns supporting this porch roof. I have a flat roof porch.


My questions is.. Do I need to nail these columns in to the porch? I live in Indiana so no hurricanes

[intakexhaust]

Pics would help. Should be anchored, not nailed. If they're small columns, perhaps they would have been toe-nailed. Are they wrapped with trim? If so, maybe underneath the trim one would see anchoring or toe-nailed.

And what about under the porch deck? Any footing - concrete pad / blocks or are they supported by a ridge / floor joist? Any obvious or visual sagging?

However, no surprise with anything that old and apparently seems its lasted this long, but if wanting to preserve it, my concerns would be to correct it.

[dad911]

Are the new wood columns structural? If not, you need to run a structural support through the center.

I would bolt/screw/tie them down top and bottom. Not only for wind, if the column shrinks or the porch settles, I've seen the tops loosen up/move.

[craigster59]

They might have been "pinned" in place with wooden pegs or dowels that rotted away over the years to the point that they weren't noticed on removal.

[tonypeoni]

Best picture I have for now. The columns I used support 8000 lbs. The old ones had no pins or nails they were most likely 50/70 years old. The porch has blocks under it. This was done in the 90s. The porch was completely rebuilt but they reused the old columns.

[HardDrive]

I would attach them simply because the railing is attached to them. Doesn't have to be lag bolts, a couple 3" weatherproof deck screws would do it.

[dyount]

Odd that they aren't attached other than a few nails. I'd look for a round plate attached to the framing up and down that the posts are then thru nailed/screwed into the framing round plate.

Best guess as well would be that the round trim on top and bottom is hiding whatever fasteners they may have used to secure the post.

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I would attach them simply because the railing is attached to them. Doesn't have to be lag bolts, a couple 3" weatherproof deck screws would do it.

Originally Posted by dyount

Odd that they aren't attached other than a few nails. I'd look for a round plate attached to the framing up and down that the posts are then thru nailed/screwed into the framing round plate.

Best guess as well would be that the round trim on top and bottom is hiding whatever fasteners they may have used to secure the post.

Not wood by I installed structural fiberglass columns on my house front and rear. Contractor advised a couple of screws at an angle or small 90* bracket. Hardware hidden by the base and the capital. Weight of the roof does most of the holding in place. -J

[yellowperil]

My house built in 1896, I had new columns built (pictured) about 1985. Eighteen in total on my front veranda. Turned down by lathe locally, and not very expensive.

[yellowperil]

Another picture: The historical society Plaque. Called Queen Anne revival "stick"style. Lots of these homes in this town.

[yellowperil]

Sorry, I missed your question entirely. How are they attached?? I far as I can recall, they are just sitting in place with the huge and heavy veranda (above) keeping it all together. But I'm not positive, so I guess no help to your question. Again sorry.

[look 171]

Would hurt to keep them attaached some how. Since most of my work is done down here in Earthquake Paradise, why not attach them?

[tonypeoni]

Originally Posted by look 171

Would hurt to keep them attaached some how. Since most of my work is done down here in Earthquake Paradise, why not attach them?

Nailing them at this point would require predrilling and counter sinking the nails. Also great risk of damaging the columns themselves they are hollow and a miss with hammer could crack them. Finally wood filler sanding painting. This is a labor of love.

[dyount]

I'd stay away from little metal brackets etc... If countersunk carefully and toe screwed with (I'd use stainless fasteners) I'd say good to go.

I've seen plenty of them that just sat in place without issue but if it was up to me I'd want even a little attachment just in case crazy cousin Mary gets drunk and wants to pole dance.

Larger advise I'd have for any columns is to let them ventilate through the bottom base portion and not caulk them to the decking. Many years ago I started in woodworking by turning columns and making bases/capitals by hand. They'd rot on the bottom because they didn't get a chance to air out on the base. And trust me, custom turned to match parts were stupid expensive. Coopering together a 20' long blank would easily take a day before getting to turn it. Do not, however, leave openings in the top where it connects to the porch support beam. Wasps/bees will move it. Ask Vash about bee driven sprints

[id10t]

Doesn't Indiana get the occasional tornado though?

At least with a hurricane we get a weeks notice to go nail stuff down....

[wdfifteen]

Current code requires hurricane straps on roof trusses or rafters, so I don't see you getting by with letting those posts just sit there. Why the drama over driving some 16 penny nails in them?

[dyount]

Current code only requires straps in very certain conditions, otherwise it's typical fastening.

I will agree that the weight of the roof is not necessarily all needed to restrain it from uplift. Consider the columns to support the beams that support the roof. If I was inspecting it while being constructed it would have structural fasteners.

Being that this is a "as constructed" issue I'd go with SS screws to connect that way rot or pressure treated lumber/fastener failure isn't an issue.