Porch repair cost

6/13/2016 at 12:25:57 PM

Deck blocks are just inviting frost heave. The contractor should have used concrete filled 12" sonotube 48" min. below grade.

6/13/2016 at 12:49:28 PM

I would have thought so too but it survived last winter and doesn't seem to have had much frost heave. Does $800 sound reasonable for this project. I'm not a super handy guy or else I would just do it myself.

6/13/2016 at 1:19:34 PM

The beams I believe your referring to are the 2 angled 4 x 4 braces on each post. If this is all your referring to. I'm assuming 3 posts in the middle with 2 braces per post that would be 6 braces in all. Yes $ 800 for just that seem a bit high, but I would have to see your situation.

6/13/2016 at 1:37:06 PM

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the response. I'm actually referring to all six posts and braces supporting the outside portion of the porch. My neighbour's porch was just sticking out and didn't have any support on the outside portion and over the past 20 years it started to sag just slightly. Our house has the same setup (I think the same guy built both) and it is starting to sag just a little. I was hoping to figure out if $800 was reasonable or not for this small project.

6/13/2016 at 2:57:44 PM

Nothing about this is code and the way it is built will only be structurally sound until the first winter. A beam should have been run along the span supporting the joists. This would enable you to use less posts (probably 3). And the posts should be supported by small concrete piles or screw piles. What has been built is useless and a 100% rip off no matter the cost.

6/13/2016 at 3:38:51 PM

Thanks for the reply Adam. Good to know. It's been through one winter already but probably over time it'll start to give way.

6/13/2016 at 6:26:11 PM

You must have some sort of code there in Ontario which would be more than here in NB something like this here I would price like 1800 hundred and have post tec in the ground min 6 ft

Thanks

never moves

6/13/2016 at 6:43:12 PM

Hi Bill,

I'm sure there is a code...I wouldn't know the specifics on that though. Wow $1800. I would expect the bulk of that cost is coming from the fact that you would have to drill 6ft holes. AM i right? As I said, so far my neighbours support seems to be working. Keep in mind that originally there was nothing there so I guess he just wanted to have something added to support the outside as he mentioned that it would flex a little when walking on it.

6/13/2016 at 9:06:03 PM

Hi Mark,

The 800 mark price to install the posts and and supports is not too much so for a similar job would cost about the same. As for code i'm not sure it meets it also the V supports are there more for a visual rather than structural support, from what i can see from the photo.

Good luck with your project.

6/13/2016 at 9:41:02 PM

I think you're right about the V supports Bob. They're probably more for looks than actual support. From the photo you can see that they are just screwed into a board between the porch joists. It's good to know that $800 is an acceptable price for a job like this. It gives an idea of what I should be changed if I end up hiring someone. My porch isn't going to fall down if I don't do anything but like my neighbour's it just flexes a little when walking on it. I saw him do this to his and thought maybe should do the same.

6/14/2016 at 7:40:19 AM

The right way is to put the posts is concrete. 10" min sono tube and a 4x4 posts should be fine. 4'into ground.

A two ply 2x6 or 2x8 beam should sit under the deck and on top of the posts and then you can attach you V pcs if you choose.

I think in the 800 dollar mark is a fair price for this work. For what your neighbor had done I would say 800 is a little high.

6/14/2016 at 9:20:43 AM

Porch is all wrong. Go get some posts and do it yourself. Any price for that kind of work is too much.

6/14/2016 at 1:16:14 PM

Yes, You can do it by yourself.

6/14/2016 at 11:37:05 PM

If the deck was originally built without posts the joists would be cantilevered. This also means that they may have had some slope away from the house from the start.

I would be concerned with the way your neighbours deck had be supported if the post frost jack at all they could do some serious damage to the house structure.

6/15/2016 at 9:19:38 AM

Hi Jason,

You make a good point. It was originally designed cantilevered out (as is ours). However it was starting to flex a bit where his wife would stand when hanging clothes on the wash-line and was dipping down more on one end than the other which is what prompted him to have the supports added. Are you thinking that if there were frost heave it would push the porch up too much and cause damage? I probably should let him know, but it's already endured one winter and there doesn't appear to be any issue.

Thanks for the help!!