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To: Caipirabob

There's a way to brace that porch up significantly, we use it to help hold down tents during mountain storms in the Rockies and higher. The general idea is to fix the midpoint of each vertical support pole in space, so that it can't move, and the technique used is rope under tension from at least three different directions.

To minimize the amount of rope needed, a star pattern works best. Starting at a stake (3 foot x half inch rebar will go in easy with a sledge hammer and hold a lot) halfway between two vertical supports, out at a 45 degree (or more) angle from the base of each, run up to a pole's midpoint, down to the next stake, midway between two posts out at 45 degrees, etc., all the way around. Looking down at it from above, the rope will follow a star pattern around the porch. That puts two points of attachment to each pole, and the third happens as follows.

Next you finish it out with X bracing (rope) from corner to corner, again halfway up the vertical poles. You need to know how to tie knots that can be adjusted for tension, use rope that will not stretch under tension, and you have to make sure the guy points can't slide down the poles. Duct tape will work for metal poles, fasteners for wooden ones.

If you're already into those beers, I suggest a double-jacking technique for setting the stakes. In other words, you swing the sledge, while someone else holds the stake.


640 posted on 10/23/2005 9:21:34 AM PDT by jeffers
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To: jeffers
Hey, thank you, Jeffers!

To be honest, I pushed myself physically to the point where I could not attempt this and be safe, it's 18' high over the pool and I'd need scafolding to get to much of it.

I'll be perfectly happy if the house and roof are intact after the storm.

I'll complain and moan about the patio, but I'll be smiling on the inside.

You have reminded me to shore up the support on the garage doors, though. The cross support scheme should work perfectly on them. I have some steel pieces that should do the trick and I should be able to do it without killing myself.

Thanks again!

710 posted on 10/23/2005 11:27:56 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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