Commocean

We've got two decorative walls at the front of our house, that are spanned by two beams on the front and back of the wall, which are around 2"x10"x20'. There are also 2x4 beams going from the spanner beams to the house. Hopefully you can make it out in the picture below. I replaced the entire structure with cedar around 4 years ago, which was sealed with a stain, thinking it would hold up to the Florida sun/rain, but the large spanner beams are rotting out. The project was an absolute pain in the derriere, and I don't want to do this every 4-5 years.

Is there something else I could use besides cedar that won't rot? Aluminum crossed my mind, but I have to imagine it would be a fortune to have the spanner beams manufactured. I'm pretty sure there's no composite options in that size, and besides, they'd probably lack the structural strength at that length anyway. And no, knocking down the walls and doing away with the structure is not an option, although I did broach the subject.

I thought of redoing it with cedar, and using WoodRX instead of a stain which would hopefully prevent rot, so I guess that's an option as well. Any options I might not be thinking of?

mikefloyd

Are the beams really necessary? I can't really tell from your picture. If not I would consider doing a normal soffit and fascia with Hardie Board products. Any framing underneath should be pressure treated. One more question is water coming off the gutters keeping them damp?

Commocean

Unfortunately, the picture does make it look like the beams are under the roof/soffit, but they're not. The wall on the left is actually freestanding, and around 5' from the house, and the wall on the right is integrated into the structure/roof. The spanner beams are actually in free space, 3'-4' out from the roof. It's decorative, so not required, but the wife likes the way it gives dimension to the elevation of the house, and I can't disagree. The spanner beams were getting hit with a sprinkler, but I've remedied that. Maybe it was the sprinkler that caused the premature rot?

Commocean

Here's a better picture...There's now actually some sort of mushroom/fungus now growing on them.

mikefloyd

Sounds like they may have been too wet. Maybe switch to cypress.

Commocean

Sorry, I have to correct myself, they're not cedar, but cypress...I had them made at a local sawmill, but they closed last year...

Viper12

Look into ipe, but be forwarned. It'll be spendy, and hard to work with.

BIGnUGLY

Ipe will be there forever. It sucks to work with.

I left the drops from my Ipe dock in the back yard and they got covered with a wood chipper pile and grew over. I dug them up on accident 11 years later with a tractor and they looked as good as new. Lord knows how long it takes for that stuff to rot.

Commocean

Hmm...I've heard of IPE, but it was totally off radar as I didn't think I could get it in the size needed for the spanner beams. Does anyone do custom sizes?

Aliboy

May be able to get the beams laminated if you can't get them milled to that size..

Lemonbayboating

Ok since you can't take it down which I think the house would look way better with out it I am going to think outside the box here and think you can do it with Aluminum.

You need to get a custom pool Lanai fabricator out there as there is no weight being supported and its just for looks I believe they can make you the aluminum to span the 20ft and aluminum for your 2x4 pcs and I bet come in under replacing the actual real wood and you can get the aluminum painted in the same color as you currently have.

I think you will be very surprised what these pool lanai fabricators can do and the price for it.

Then you never have to worry about it ever

ReelNauti

I'd rip that shit out. Once gone you may actually like it.

FinReaper069

Axley Bro’s was the best. The big guy that was generally behind the counter was the nicest guy. Big corps and money bought out another little guy.....

Commocean

Yep...I didn't realize they had been sold until I looked online for their number to see about getting replacement wood...Sad...

Commocean

The problem with taking it down is then I have a wall standing in free space, so I'd have to remove that as well. Might still consider it though.

STIPulation

https://buyhardwood.advantagelumber....-x-10-ipe.aspx

fijon

Since this a boating site... Hot coat with epoxy then bottom paint.

Commocean

Perfect! Thanks!!! I'll look into aluminum as well. I forgot the size of the beams on some of the big enclosures.

STIPulation

No problem. I just ordered a batch of ipe decking from them Monday, being delivered this coming Monday. They have good reviews, I'll follow up when I receive my stuff.

ChannelTwo

Can you put up PT wood and then trim it out? Maybe PVC trim and paint.