Are porch roofs subject to damage?
Are porch roofs subject to damage?
Expert
Maestro
Roof structures are similar to other exterior components in that they are vulnerable to rot, insect damage and mechanical damage.
Pay attention to gutters and downspouts on porch roofs. A gutter that backs up and dumps water into the porch eaves can weaken the main beam running across the front of the porch. If the beam is covered with wood, the trim may show signs of rot. You can often insert a probe through a trim joint to check the beam underneath.
Mechanical damage to columns may be done by cars or trucks when porches are adjacent to driveways. Spalling of concrete or masonry can be an efflorescence or freeze/thaw problem related to rising damp. Rising damp is a capillary action problem where moisture is wicked out of the soil, and evaporated off the surface of the column.
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