Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

It is really very surprising that, that rest house of your dad is still standing and not falling apart considering the fact the most of the wooden posts are now hollow. Are these existing wooden posts as your thread titles says "old 6 X 6 coconut posts" can be considered as old coco-lumber ?? If so this type of wood really don't last since this type are fibrous in nature and as it dries out, it looses its strength and hardness. I just hope these termites have not spread on other parts of the wooden house but if they have then that will be terrible and might as well do some thorough assessment of the rest house whether it is still safe or not. 😮

ANYWAY, are these posts embedded in the ground( soil ) or on top of a concrete pedestal then secured with "kabilyas" ? just curious here bro. If you will replace them posts with another wood type post make sure it is soaked in an anti termite solution/chemical plus you will have to treat again the surroundings of the rest house. :rolleyes:

Or you can opt for a concrete post changing those termite infested post, perhaps one by one, for sure the concrete post will last longer, perhaps a lifetime When you replace the post, provide extensive supports on other wood structures under and which are attached to that post.

May I suggest too that you get an opinion from an architect or structural engineer on how to go about replacing those hollow wooden posts. 😎

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Do not scare the termites away. The termites with their hands holding each other, are practically the only reason why the structures are still standing (kapit bisig).:D Seriously, I had the same issue with my former shop when i started. Being on a tight budget I used Coco lumber for my posts but only later to find out that it was a favorite food for termites. I decided to replace them all with concrete and never looked back. IF you have infestation issues you must be able to treat them first before you make the Post replacement. This way you prevent the termites from scattering all over the place controlling contamination.:)

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Do also consider using steel post.

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

It is really very surprising that, that rest house of your dad is still standing and not falling apart considering the fact the most of the wooden posts are now hollow. Are these existing wooden posts as your thread titles says "old 6 X 6 coconut posts" can be considered as old coco-lumber ?? If so this type of wood really don't last since this type are fibrous in nature and as it dries out, it looses its strength and hardness. I just hope these termites have not spread on other parts of the wooden house but if they have then that will be terrible and might as well do some thorough assessment of the rest house whether it is still safe or not. 😮

ANYWAY, are these posts embedded in the ground( soil ) or on top of a concrete pedestal then secured with "kabilyas" ? just curious here bro. If you will replace them posts with another wood type post make sure it is soaked in an anti termite solution/chemical plus you will have to treat again the surroundings of the rest house. :rolleyes:

Or you can opt for a concrete post changing those termite infested post, perhaps one by one, for sure the concrete post will last longer, perhaps a lifetime When you replace the post, provide extensive supports on other wood structures under and which are attached to that post.

May I suggest too that you get an opinion from an architect or structural engineer on how to go about replacing those hollow wooden posts. 😎

Hi Rosy, yes, it's still standing. hehe. I guess the number of posts make it stand till now.I think there's around 18 posts. We are on a hillside. So the way the house is constructed is also different. Half of it is supported by cement. That explains why it did not collapse. What's critical are those front posts which totally relies on the coconut post for support. Most posts are free standing on a cement posts and just bolted. Just only one bolt. I see most have two. Dad's kumpare really did not expect his rest house to last long.. that's why he just sold it to my dad. Yes, I would definitely do that. Treat the new wood to prevent further damage.

That's our next option. One by one change the posts with concrete. But its a 2 storey house. It would be less complex if it was just a single floor. How to support the beams etc.. - really needs alot of attention and added extra cost. Also my dad mention that the base concrete post would have to changed as it can't carry the load of a full cement post. Was meant only for the 6x6 coco post. That made me have second thoughts on how to. Its solid rock beneath. I guess it won't be that big issue because everything is still wood. We won't convert everything to concrete. Only the posts. They are the most critical part. The walls are easy to renovate/change if I have the posts.

I did ask in another forum for advise. A construction contractor. Sent photos just of that single room where its more dilapidated. And roughly he gave a quote of 100K+. :boom1:

So we tried hiring a carpenter instead for daily wage. And geez, that carpenter doesn't seem to know what he's doing. Didn't even bring his own tools the first day. Obviously just killing time, with very little work done after a day. That didn't give us a good impression on him. He only lasted 2 days. We kick him out.lolz!

That's why I said, I can do better than him. How hard can it be? hehehe! DIYers kaya tayo db?

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Do not scare the termites away. The termites with their hands holding each other, are practically the only reason why the structures are still standing (kapit bisig).:D Seriously, I had the same issue with my former shop when i started. Being on a tight budget I used Coco lumber for my posts but only later to find out that it was a favorite food for termites. I decided to replace them all with concrete and never looked back. IF you have infestation issues you must be able to treat them first before you make the Post replacement. This way you prevent the termites from scattering all over the place controlling contamination.:)

Lolz! Termites are really abundant in our area. They're almost every where. You can see mud tunnels. Lots of foliage around. A semi-forest. hehe! It's those dry wood termites that's hard to detect, especially if you don't see any frass. What amazes me is I don't see any soldier termite for dry wood. All are workers, fat workers that is. And they seem to be in small groups. May clan clan din ata cla. haha!

Yes, I'm doing that. The DIY boric acid solution seem to reduce their presence since I sprayed it around. With the large area of the house, using expensive chemicals like solignum or the likes. It's just simply not practical. You'll probably need in drums. Not in liters to cover the entire house.

That's why I'm trying to acquire those termiticide powders for domino/transfer effect. To wipe out their colonies. It's a daily battle. Weeks after, they seem to return. The dry wood termites.. The subterranean has long been gone years ago but has already done some damage. Always on constant inspection from time to time for signs of termites. Even bought a stethoscope, haha! Try to hear them on the walls.On where they are feasting- So I can focus my attack. Drill holes along the area and using a syringe inject some chemicals. But maybe I'll make an electronic stethoscope instead - if I have time.

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Do also consider using steel post.

Yah, that also came up as another option. With my new DC Yamato welder, that would be interesting. hehe! But kinda dangerous too. As the wood around easily heats up and get into flames.

The last few days I've been searching the internet and in youtube for those type of videos. Different steel beams,etc.. Makes me smile to learn new things, stuffs that I never got any attention now suddenly becomes that important. Can spark some ideas. hehehe!

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Hey bro,

Hope you find a good guy that can assist you in your rest house renovation ! 😉

By the way how do we call or address you for short, kasi medyo mahaba username mo pag mag type, LOL, 😀

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Hey bro,

Hope you find a good guy that can assist you in your rest house renovation ! 😉

By the way how do we call or address you for short, kasi medyo mahaba username mo pag mag type, LOL, 😀

hi rosy, hmmmm.. on tight budget. What's the use of our being a handyman kung sa iba natin papagawa.. hehe! I'll definitely do it bit by bit. Still saving and acquiring some tools needed to get the job done. I can't expect my kuya to help me out as he'll be busy.

Really get some crazy ideas on how to.. like hi-breed type.. cement-wood or cement-steel or steel-wood combination on my posts. Meaning the base and first floor would have a stronger composition and the 2nd floor would be "lighter". That way parang modular gawin. Mahirap kasi gawin kapag dretso till rooftop gawin ang post. That's my approach/idea though.

Currently eh concentrate naman ulit termite control. Kanina ko lang accidentaly na discover na dito sa room wall eh may mga subterranean termites naman. Wala naman ako nakitang mud tunnels around the house. They must have gone "underground" and passing through tight crevices or on the internal hollow posts they're gateway.

Before use the DIY boric acid. Now, I'm using a termiticide Agenda 10 SC.. hehe! Instead of applying it to the ground. I'm directly injecting the solution to the mud tunnels. Why wait for them to come to the house. You attack them where they thrive, and I think its effective. They used to be really stubborn, keeps coming back. But this time they are not. Instead of the termiticide bonding on the soil. Its bonding directly to their mud tunnels. -- I search around our area and administer this injection process. There must be more than one colony. Tomorrow, I'll be crawling again and inspecting inch per inch. Injecting the wood junctions etc. Or drill the areas where they are feasting.

With almost 95% wood house. Sometimes you feel on the losing battle against this termites. They are just so abundant around. And with the rainy season starting. More of this flying alates are on the loose. New colonies would be made again.. such a lifetime battle..

You can just abbreviate my nick. NTD, hehe.:icecream::rolleyes:

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Well as usual, good luck again, the battle continues 'til you control or get rid of those termites and specially the "QUEEN" termite that continuously lay eggs by the hundreds. Sigh !!!

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Thanks! Got so many distractions. Recently found this link http://www.familyhandyman.com/carpentry/how-to-repair-a-load-bearing-post/view-all

Gives me some idea on how to. But I need to acquire or get some of those shoring jacks! hehe! I wonder if anybody here had weld and made some for themselves.

That's the problem in doing this repair. Before you can get to the main problem. There are other things/stuffs you need to acquire first before work can really be done.. Though temporary wood columns is the usual. I prefer those shoring jacks as they are more solid and convenient.

Now my concentration is again diverted.. to shoring jacks.. lolz!:whistle:

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

HEHEHEHE, that's how it is, if you have a certain project in mind and specially a big one, I guess you will have to plan everything from A to Z, making sure almost everything will be in order, in other words, the "LOGISTICS". Are you sure you can do the DIY renovation/replacements of almost all the wooden posts by yourself ?? HMMMMM, better have some more heads there to assist you specially for some man power.

Anyway with regards to Shoring Jacks, you can fabricate it yourself if you prefer it that way or you can rent some or buy some so it saves you time. Check out Sulit, plenty there being advertized, you can buy them or rent them shoring Jacks to help you support perhaps beams in your Dads rest house.

Who knows you might also need some scaffolding which you can fabricate as well or rent again.

CHEERS and plan well your moves so everything will proceed smoothly and as planned. :rolleyes: :whistle: 😉

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Yeah, really expensive. Have to acquire all the tools needed. The raw materials. Then the labor. At times being a handyman has its disadvantage.lolz! Hmmm.. how hard can it be? hahaha! I've seen more worse workmanship and yet the house stands. Maybe too much paranoia just makes things complicated as they really are.

That own fabrication also came to my mind (would be much cheaper). I've seen shoring screws with pin for sale. But then again, the thought that I'm still a newbie in welding may not make my shoring fabrication that straight or vertical - which can be catastrophic as the load would not be properly supported if my fabricated shoring jack is not perfectly vertical. Haissttt.. too much thinking. lolz!

Renting is not feasible. Most require a minimum of hundred shoring jacks to be rented monthly.

Thanks! Hopefully. Slowly and surely. This would be done. Money is just the biggest factor not to proceed as planned.

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

This is really a neat idea. Absolute wall. Puwede improvise sa maging wall using fiber cement boards on both sides for a smoother finish. hehe

http://www.absolutewall.com/index.html

You'll really find many ideas online. 🙂

Re: Old 6"x6" coconut posts on old wooden house

Sir, may I know where you bought the Agenda 10SC, and how much? TIA