How to Protect Your Porch Posts From Rotting

Rotting wooden porch posts can spell trouble. If rot damage is severe, the posts may not be structurally sound, which can compromise your and your family's safety. Depending on how bad the damage is, you'll need to either replace the posts or repair them. Both tasks will needlessly cost you money. That's why it's important to protect porch posts so they won't rot for the lifetime of your home. The time to protect wooden posts on a porch is before, during and after they have been installed.

Drop cloths
Sawhorses
Oil- or alkyd-based primer
Paintbrushes
Oil- or alkyd-based exterior paint

Instructions

- 1
  Store the wooden posts in a cool, dry area that's ventilated well. The storage area should be completely protected from the elements.
- 2
  Lay down drop cloths to protect the work area. Set up sawhorses. Move the posts to the sawhorses so you can work on them.
- 3
  Paint the entire surface of the wooden posts with at least one coat of oil- or alkyd-based primer. Use a paintbrush to prime the top and bottom ends of the posts too. Allow the primer to dry.
- 4
  Apply two coats of an oil- or alkyd-based exterior paint over the primer. Again, use a paintbrush to apply the paint. Allow the first coat of paint to dry before applying a second coat.
- 5
  Install the wooden porch posts by following the manufacturer's instructions.
- 6
  Paint the posts with an additional coat of oil- or alkyd-based exterior paint.

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