Subject:: Post and pier foundation repair
Date: Wed, 03 Jun 1998I have a post and pier foundation consisting of treated 8"x8" posts set in 3' diameter concrete piers. The posts are 26 years old, working on a 30 year guarantee. About 5 years ago one post sustained a small amount of termite damage that I would like to repair with epoxy. The post is still able to bear the load, but I am concerned that water may enter the termite hole. Can I repair such damage with your epoxy? If I do, will the repair meet the UCB, and can I convince the local building department that it does? Thanks for any help.
Well, yes, you can use our system to repair the damaged post to a point where it is stronger than the wood surrounding it. Whether this kind of repair is satisfactory for the local building dept., I cannot say. It has been used in similar situations without any apparent problems with local codes. This system was originally devised for the repair of wood in boats, which are under a great deal of structural stress. In the marine industry, wood and epoxy are considered to be one of the strongest combinations available.
What you would do is saturate the termite damaged area with our Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer (CPES). The wood needs to be reasonably dry. The CPES should flow naturally through the damaged area, but if you can also drill a few downward-slanting holes to aid access. I'd apply 2 coats, allowing about 3 days between the applications.
Now, you can either flow in our thick Layup & Laminating Resin (24 hr cure time), or use our Fill-It Epoxy Filler, or both. They will all bond together at the molecular level for a strong final finish. Just exactly what you do depends on the configuration you are looking at, mostly the issue of gravity flow. Our L&L Resin is slow-setting so it will work its way down into the termite damaged wood.
Doc