How to Reconstruct a Victorian Porch

Raising the Roof

• 1

  Inspect the porch roof and deck and make note of any areas of concern. Pull away some bead board on the ceiling and lattice or other facing on the deck to inspect rafters, frames and sills. Look for invasions by carpenter ants or termites and bring in an exterminator to clear your way, if necessary.

• 2

  Remove all of the ceiling bead board, latticework and decorative woodwork. Save the gingerbread, railings and balusters -- you’ll need this material to match at the lumber store or for milling patterns later.

• 3

  Slide 2- by-6-inch bases for the porch jacks under the porch at the corners and insert others along the porch, at least at the same intervals as existing columns. Bases should extend out at least 6 feet beyond the porch.

• 4

  Notch one end of a 4- by-6 inch timber to shore up the roof and set it under the sill, the board that connects the roof rafters. Set the bottom end of each shoring timber on the base and move it in toward the porch. Tap the bottom of the shoring timber toward the porch with a sledge hammer until the roof rises 4 to 5 inches. Brace it with a scrap piece of 2- by 6-inch or thicker board butted up against the bottom of the shoring timber and secure it with 16-penny nails.

Deck and Rails

• 5

  Remove railings and columns and label structurally sound, reusable parts with their location. Make new columns, bases, pediments, balusters and rails using original pieces for patterns.

• 6

  Replace rotted sills with laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and attach new composite decking with deck screws.

• 7

  Assemble the new columns and pediments. Nail the bases into position on the floor. Tip each column onto its base, beginning at the corners. On a wraparound porch, set end columns, followed by posts, at corners, then work from the center of the veranda to the ends.

• 8

  Remove the shoring timbers by prying off the block and sliding the shoring timbers back. Remove the corner shoring timbers last.

• 9

  Attach the bottom rails, balusters and rail caps.

• 10

  Cover the base of the porch with small-opening lattice skirting. Use 1- by-2-inch framing to attach it to the porch sill.

• 11

  Nail bead board to the ceiling, using rafters or 1- by 2-inch framing on the inside of the sills. Frame in the bead board with quarter-round or cove molding.

• 12

  Attach the gingerbread or other period-appropriate decoration to the roof sill with galvanized finish nails.