AboutMichael J. Owen Expertise Most questions about how to build, repair and maintain wood decks and fences.
Experience Have built many wood and man made decks in California, Bahamas, Florida and Georgia.Now living in Panama, Central America after 25 years in the U.S.
Organizations None
Publications Just had my late mothers book published. A murder mystery set in England.
Education/Credentials High School, College graduate.
Awards and Honors None
Past/Present Clients Too many to list in three countries and three states.
Expert: Michael J. Owen Date: 7/16/2008 Subject: Deck/Sunroom
Question Hello,
I recently bought a house with a sunroom attached to the house and next to that a deck. It looks to me like the sunroom was built on an existing deck. The sunroom is beginning to slop away from the house. About an inch of a 14 foot span.
I went under the sunroom to exam why this is happening and it looks like the 4x4 posts are sitting on cement blocks on the soil. The sunroom is about 14' x 14' square, and has about 6, 4x4s about two feet from the end of the sunroom.
What should I do about the 4x4 posts sitting on the cement blocks. Some 4x4 points are not even sitting on the cement blocks but directly on the soil.
I was thinking of jacking up the sunroom to relevel it, dig a little earth away, put stone down and then use cement blocks and some type of hardwood shims under the 4x4s.
The cement blocks are about 1.5" x 6" x 14" and are laying flat with the 4x4s sitting on top. It looks like the sunroom is about 10 years old and seems to have settled.
Also the beam that connects to the 4x4s only has screws and nails connecting it to the 4x4 posts. Should there be some type of lag bolt used instead so the nails and screws don't shear off?
Any help would be great.
Thanks.
Answer Hi Adam. It certainly sounds as if you do have some settlement going on here. Also, it seems as if the previous owners just used some pavers to set the 4 x 4's. Lag bolts would certainly be a better fixing that nails or screws. Your idea of jacking up the sun room is the way to go. Then dig out below the posts and either pour a concrete base about 12" deep and at least 12" x 12" wide. Then use Simpson Strong Tie 4" x 4" post brackets to attach the posts.
If the 4 x 4's are laying flat and not actually standing up straight, then your other suggestion of shimming up would work.
Hope this helps.
