My daugters new(to her) house in windsor ontario has turned 6x6 posts (laminated from 2x6) on her front porch . These posts are part of the structure that holds up the roof. The are about four years old and already starting to rot. The wood is painted and under the eaves of the porch. I plan to cut out the rot and place with pressure treated lumber is there a way to prevent this from happening again after making the repairs, the decking and the stairs are also rotting. the house is less than 1 block from the river and i assume the humidity has something to do with the rot.
Answer:
The rot has more to do with poorly prepared pine or cedar lumber than anything else. I've seen these support posts approach a hundred years on river and lake shores without rot. I'm no longer in favour of PT lumber and the more research done on it, the less impressed I am. Unless there is substantial rust, you can still do a number on them with proper cleaning, priming and then painting.
