Sometimes, you can’t repair damaged columns, and the best solution is to replace them. In this blog, we’ll examine the most common column replacement signs to help you recognize when it’s time for a replacement.
Ignoring these signs will seriously endanger the integrity and stability of the entire building. That’s why you should act quickly when you notice them.
Let’s begin by understanding how porch column replacement contributes to your home’s safety and value.
The Importance of Column Replacement for Safety and Value
Besides their decorative nature, columns on your porch or elsewhere on your property play a crucial role in supporting the load of the roof, deck, or upper floors.
As a result, weakened columns compromise the entire building’s integrity and stability. By detecting column replacement signs early and taking immediate action, you can ensure safety, structural integrity, and maintain your home’s value.
On the other hand, ignoring such signs will lead to:
- Progressive structural damage
- More expensive repairs in the future
- Water infiltration
- Potential safety hazards
Let’s move forward and discuss these important signs in detail.
5 Common Column Replacement Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Our skilled contractors recommend that whenever you encounter one or more of the following signs, contact professionals to inspect your site and initiate the column replacement process immediately.
1. Rotting or Decay From Moisture
Wood columns are often susceptible to moisture and water damage. Poorly sealed materials and low-quality columns allow water to enter, encouraging the growth of fungi. As a result, you may see discoloration of columns, their abnormal softness, and cracks.
Look for unusual dark stains on the column. Touch columns you’re unsure about to find out whether there is a spongy or soft spot on them. Be cautious about musty odors around damp spots and look for possible peeling or bubbling paint on the base. These are the common column replacement signs you should be aware of.
If you ignore these clear signs that indicate immediate action is needed, the rot will spread and attract pests, escalating the issue.
However, if you spot these signs early, you may be able to overcome the problem by repairing the column.
Read more: How to Handle Rust or Rot in Existing Columns
2. Cracks, Splits, and Visible Damage
Seeing cracks or splits on columns is something you should pay attention to and requires further inspection. Cracks and splits indicate that the column is under heavy stress or already weakened. If it’s a wood column you’re inspecting, there can also be signs of uneven drying that are dangerous.
Vertical and horizontal cracks, especially near the base, are clear signs that you must not overlook. Widening gaps, splits along the grain, leaning, sagging, or distortion around the damaged section are all indicators that show the issue must be addressed promptly.
Another practical way to detect the problem is to run your hand over the surface to find possible sharp edges or splintering, which are signs that you may need to plan to replace the column.
3. Bending, Sagging, or Leaning
When the core column material, whether wood, concrete, steel, or fiberglass, weakens due to rot, cracks, or foundation issues, you may notice bending, sagging, or leaning. Our experts at Roll the Wall say that ignoring these key column replacement signs will result in serious consequences.
Check the suspected column from a distance and compare it with nearby columns to identify the issue. Checking the alignment with a level or a straight edge will also help. Sagging beams and rooflines are considered serious indicators, too. Moreover, gaps at the base or the top, where the column must connect firmly, are also clear signs of a problem.
Hire Professionals to Handle Column Replacement Safely
If your columns need replacement and you’re looking for experienced contractors to handle the job quickly, contact us now, and we’ll send our highly skilled professionals to your property.
4. Insect and Termite Damage
By now, you’ve likely realized that wood columns are more prone to damage compared to other column types. Another issue that threatens these types of columns is the damage caused by insects and termites.
Pests eat away at the column from within, weakening it. All the while, the outside looks undamaged. To detect this issue, look for small exit holes that wood-boring insects make on the column surface. Fine sawdust near the base and the hollow sound you hear when tapping the column can also confirm a serious issue, and your column may require professional inspection.
5. Water Stains, Mold, and Peeling Paint
Peeling paint indicates that the protective coat on the column has failed. Furthermore, water stains and mold are signs of ongoing water intrusion, which jeopardizes the column’s stability.
Dark streaks or water rings on the surface, bubbling, blistering, or flaking paint, spot mold near the base, are all clear column replacement signs that you should take seriously.
Additionally, you can touch the column surface to determine if it’s soft or damp beneath the peeling paint.
Now that you acknowledge these important marks, let us remind you of an important point about replacing decorative and structural columns.
Replacing Columns is not A DIY Job
You can save costs by doing the job yourself. However, the high risks associated with doing so, especially if it involves a structural column that needs to be replaced, make it unsafe to take action without professional help.
Since these columns carry the load of the roof, deck, or upper floors, making common mistakes during column replacement compromises the safety and integrity of the entire building.
Our skilled contractors have experience in replacing all types of columns and have access to specialized tools, including jacks and braces. They also know how to engineer temporary shoring to manage heavy loads before installing new columns in place.
Moreover, when you hire professionals for this job, you can rest assured that the outcome will meet safety standards. If you follow all maintenance tips, there will be no need for column replacement in the near future.
In summary, when you notice column replacement signs that indicate there is no choice but to remove damaged columns and install new ones, don’t hesitate to call professionals and ask for their help.
Take Action Quickly on Column Replacement Signs
If damaged columns in your porch, basement, or elsewhere on your property are beyond repair, you should act immediately and plan to replace them. That’s why we strongly recommend that you do not ignore common column replacement signs, which we discussed in this blog.
At Roll the Wall, we have been providing column replacement and other construction services for several years. So, if you are looking for a reputable company that can address the issue you’re dealing with, you can count on us.
Contact us to plan your project and schedule a time to replace damaged columns at your property.
FAQ
What are the first signs a column needs replacement?
The first signs often include cracks, splits, or visible damage on the surface, as well as water stains, peeling paint, or soft spots from rot. Leaning, sagging, or hollow sounds when tapped also indicate the column is losing its strength and may need replacement soon.
Can rotted columns be repaired instead of replaced?
Minor surface rot can sometimes be patched with wood hardeners or fillers, but this is only a temporary fix. If the rot has reached the core or compromised the load-bearing capacity, full column replacement is the only safe solution.
How do termites damage columns?
Termites eat through the inside of wooden columns, hollowing them out while leaving the outer surface looking intact. Over time, this hidden damage weakens the column’s structure, rendering it unsafe to support heavy loads.
How much does porch column replacement cost?
Porch column replacement usually starts around $799 for 8-foot columns, $949 for 10-foot columns, and $1,399 or more for taller options. The final cost depends on factors such as design, materials, and the complexity of installation.
How often should columns be inspected?
Columns should be inspected at least once a year, ideally in spring or after harsh weather seasons. Regular checks help catch early signs of rot, cracks, or insect damage before they become costly problems.
Have you ever had to replace columns on your property? What advice would you give others? What is the most dangerous sign that indicates it’s time for column replacement? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
