I have a front porch problem I need to solve. Long story short, the previous front porch collapsed from rotting wood and particle board. The previous porch was all stand stone/flagstone mortared to a particle board that rotted and collapsed. The house is pier and beam, and under the front porch holds a lot of moisture. I'm thinking of going to a steel frame for the added support and moisture resistance. Fortress makes these 2"x6" steel joists and frame supports. I can cut these to size to build a solid platform. I can't use the existing wood that's there. I'll need to connect to the metal posts for the support.

The next question is how to connect the back of the new frame to the house? The front has 2 metal, 4" posts I can mount to on the front side. The back side at the house, I'm not sure how I want to connect.

Once I build a solid foundation, what material can I put the sandstone/flag stone on to mortar and secure it? I would love to know how someone else would do this. Thanks so much!!





Back corner, house side, same on both corners


Front corner, 4" metal post, same on both corners

Dirt, rebar and concrete, thin set and stone.

2x8 treated run left to right in the top picture, 12" on center and bridging blocks in the center, 3/4" treated plywood, 1/2" hardi backer concrete board, thinset, flagstone.

put the first one against the bldg using the blocks there, the center blocks keep it from flexing. use all stainless deck screws for assembly.

fastest/easiest

same way I set this top 3 yrs. ago. buy a good sealer after the stone has set a week or so and is dry, triple seal it first time.

I agree. Fill with good dry clay dirt to get the level up. Weld some tabs or cross pieces across and tie to 4x4 tubing and what looks like a beam at the house. and then re-bar/re-mesh across all of it and concrete to final height. Mortar in your new deck stones. If I had to use any wood in it anywhere, I would probably look at recycled PVC like TimberTech which has a 20-50 year warranty for their different exterior applications.

to dirt fill that you will have to reinforce the sides or the dirt settling will blow them out.

concrete/flagstone is gonna have some weight to it.

Get with JG he will get you taken care of

my suggestion would be to scrap that whole deal and start over, put in lattice or some vents/rock on the 2 sides so it is not wet all the time.

a nicely done treated deck type porch would work good, it would vent the subfloor some and keep things drier imo.

same goes if you want the flagstone, put a couple of vents in the sides so air can move under the porch, things will last a lot longer.

jmo

Trex

No no no...he's working on my house right now!