Oak Posts standing in water .. with pictures

[darrenh]

hi all

I have the following issue .. 4 heavy oak posts which sit on a steel rod and embedded into a stone base... water accumulates under the posts. It did have silicone underneath but i had to strip this out as it was holding water.. doing this has made it marginally better as air is getting underneath … but as you can see it hasn't solved the problem. Some posts have a large gap / threshold than others.

I know these have been fitted wrong - but chap who did it is long gone!

I am looking for idea as to how to fix this (note: i am unable to remove the posts as they support large canopies with tiles on top etc). so need to fix in situ.

Darren

 

[Tigercubrider]

suggestion.
Cut/saw/rout a horizontal grove around the post and inset a lead sheet (flashing) that directs the water away (if it's coming down)

and/or

use an angle grinder to cut some groves in the coping/slab about an inch away from the post to direct rain water away before it reaches the post

 

[foxhole]

Posts need oil treatment to discourage water absorption.

 

[darrenh]

Issue is getting the treatment under the end of the post... by will do my best. Right now I need it to dry out first.
I like the idea of the lead flashing bedded into a groove .. issue though would that the base of the lead would just sit on the stone and water can get under it .. a cut channel in the stone would help

 

[foxhole]

Issue is getting the treatment under the end of the post... by will do my best. Right now I need it to dry out first.
I like the idea of the lead flashing bedded into a groove .. issue though would that the base of the lead would just sit on the stone and water can get under it .. a cut channel in the stone would help

No need to get oil under it will be absorbed thru the post , have similar sizes posts buried in slabs and no water absorbed , I treat them with oil 5-6 times during hot weather .

 

[darrenh]

Oil has made a big difference! And on one of the 4 posts I added the lead protection.
thanks for your advice