What to use for verandah post?

gregmw

What timber should I use for an old houses  120 x 120 verandah post to replace the existing hardwood one 

the corners of the post will need to be chamfered to match the existing then painted dark green 

I see all the FJ /Laminated treated & pre primed pine posts say they should be painted in a lighter colour , and I don’t know how they stand last with any  kind of machining/chamfering on the corners etc with the finger joins and treatment 

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @gregmw. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about replacing posts.

It would be best to stick with a similar timber, so I'd suggest you look at the 115mm Hardwood Merbau Posts. These posts are finished to 115mm and obviously 5mm less than the current post. Alternatively, you could go for a 140mm post and cut it down to the correct size. 

You could switch to Pine posts, though you'll need to investigate whether they are suitable to bear the weight of the balcony and roof structure above. With laminated timber, there's always a chance that it can be torn out when machining. However, I think you'll find that there won't be an issue with sharp router bits. The hardwood posts are likely to be less susceptible to any tear-out, though.

Given that you are replacing a structural post, if you are not familiar with such works or are not confident in completing this project yourself, I'd recommend you enlist the services of a professional. If you do complete this work yourself, ensure the balcony is adequately supported with props before the post is removed. We have Acrow Props for hire if needed.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell