I had a new porch/steps built by a local carpenter. The "deck" of the porch is tounge-and-groove cedar. The porch wasn't completed until the spring and I'm having the whole house painted now.

The painter caulked the porch and now it's full of standing water. It seems to be pitched the wrong way. The carpenter says it's pitched correctly, but not enough. That doesn't make sense to me. If it's pitched correctly, the water will run away from the house. It's clearly running toward the house and now that there is caulk in place, it's standing on the deck-- lots of water.

The carpenter says the answer is "drain holes." Drain holes you ask? He suggests 1/8th inch holes, 2 per board, all the way across the porch-- about 10 feet or so. That's a whole lot of holes in my deck. The carpenter says if that doesn't do the trick, he'll make the holes bigger.

I'm thinking these drain holes will lead to rotting wood. I'm also thinking they will look horrible!

Any thoughts?

Man, no way a new porch should have standing water. "Not pitched enough" means not pitched correctly/acceptably.

He should definitelyy correct it, and that doesn't mean make it into swiss cheese. Your options may well be dictated/influenced depending on your contract with him, any guarantees, whether you accepted his work, etc....

Read all the paper you have very carefully, be adamant about what must be done, give him an opportunity to correct it, and then you might want to talk with a lawyer. Whatever you do, don't rely on legal advice you might get from the maroons who frequent THESE forums!

Is this a covered porch or a deck?

Sounds like a covered porch...and it sounds like you are correct. I have a million year-old house with a covered porch and the east side of the porch has a small standing water issue that I have to address each year.

There has to be a way for the carpenter to raise the flooring along the house side, but keep in mind that I don't think you'll ever have a water-free situation regardless of how well it was built. Water will ALWAYS pool in one area or another.

Thanks Dins and Clam.

I needed some affirmation that the "drain hole"idea was not a good one. He implied it was normal and that he forgot to put them in!

It's not a covered porch-- just stairs and a landing. It also faces north and doesn't dry out well. I don't think he'll correct the problem other than his offer to drill holes all over my porch. I imagine a lawyer will cost me more than a new porch but I imagine that'd be the only option.

Until the porch was caulked, I was willing to deal with the standing water I'd observed in the center. Now that it's caulked, it very obvious there is a serious problem in the pitch. I guess that's why he didn't caulk it when he built it.

Touch base with me if you want to avoid this local carpenter.

Saddened on Hill,
CityGirl

Also, if you haven't done so...I'd use sanded oil-based porch paint on the stairs and landing. Even if you have already had it stained, I'd recommend doing that next year. Don't forget the sand...or you'll be in for a surprise come winter.

In all honesty, doesn't sound like you'll have a ton of problems, especially if it is cedar (are you sure of that, BTW?...most tongue und groove p flooring is fir if I recall correctly). My little area of problem...I just sweep the water off if I see it sitting there.

Sounds like a small area...surprised he can't do a better job. Water is a mother******.

Citygirl - Have the carpenter bring his level out to show you how much and what direction the pitch is. It should be 1 inch per 12 foot of deck. No holes should be drilled unless you want to clean these holes out every year. I would suggest some bottle jacks be used to jack up the front of the porch and use a saw to cut the correct amount off of each post.

Thank you, neighbors.

I am not sure of anything at this moment. I thought it was cedar, but I could be wrong. I shouldn't be allowed to take care of stuff like this! I know, buyer beware, but this is really not my area of expertise.

I just called the village. There was only 1 of the required 3 inspections completed-- after the foundation was laid. There was no inspection after the framing or at the end. So, I've scheduled an inspection for Monday.

I'm thinking if the building inspector finds anything wrong, at least I'll have that as leverage.

Do you ever find yourself sick and tired of fighting over stuff like this? Arggg!

quote:

Originally posted by Dinsdale:
Whatever you do, don't rely on legal advice you might get from the maroons who frequent THESE forums!

Care to name names?

I think it is obvious that he is referring to you.

Well, if that is true, it isn't very civil.

Not at all.

Fish, got your e-mail....it made me very happy for you. It is amazing how much you owe me now.

quote:

Originally posted by CityGirl:


I'm thinking if the building inspector finds anything wrong, at least I'll have that as leverage.

If the inspector finds anything wrong, you'll have leverage and problems of your own. Please say that you haven't fully paid the carpenter yet. That's real leverage.

I hope it is cedar, it shouldn't rot as bad as untreated lumber...just get a good squeegee...

This weather will be a good test of the porch pitch....

City Girl...is that porch even there any longer? Or did it wash away in the past 4 or 5 days?

Sorry to leave you all hanging.

Yes, I paid the carpenter a ways back since I had no idea anything was wrong. Call me "Chump" but frankly, I couldn't feel any worse that I already do for paying him.

Yes, my porch is still there an is primed/painted.

I canceled the building inpection. No point. I decided I couldn't live through a legal battle with the carpenter and if I could force him to fix the problem correctly, he might not do it correctly. How would I know if something else were wrong.

Fast forward to yesterday. I called him just to get off my chest how I felt about it. Call me needy or naive or whatever. I "needed" him to know how I felt.

He came over and told me he stands by his work no matter what. He admitted that it was his fault the porch is holding water. He had two solutions to correct the problem. The first involves lifting and triming posts. If that doesn't do the trick effectively, he will disassemble the porch and correct the problem from the framing under the deck. He assured me he wouldn't leave me in this situation and he'll take care of it next week.

I had a family member their during the visit so that I wouldn't be on my own with him. I feel better, but we'll wait and see.

I am hoping for a good solution. Thanks for listening and for all your help. I'll let you know how it turns out. By all accounts, it's a great porch except for the pitch. Solid, and looks great. I'd like to keep it that way.