Rotted Canopy Legs Spliced and New Balustrade Fitted in Irvine
The bottoms of the timber legs holding up this front door canopy in Irvine had rotted where they met the ground. Rather than replace the whole structure, new timber was spliced into each leg and planed to match, and new balustrading was fitted either side.
- Free written quotes
- Fully insured
- Based in Irvine, covering all Ayrshire
Gallows Brackets & Canopies — Irvine, North Ayrshire
The problem
The canopy over this front door in Irvine stands on two timber legs set into the ground at the edge of the paving. Over the years the bottom of each leg had rotted where it met the soil — the timber was soft and breaking away at the base, which is exactly the part carrying the weight of the canopy down to the ground.
The customer's worry was that the whole canopy would need to come down and be rebuilt. The rest of the structure — the upper legs, the brackets and the roof — was still sound, so that was not necessary.
Splicing in new timber
The rotten section at the bottom of each leg was cut away back to sound timber and a new length of treated timber was spliced in and fixed to the existing leg. The new timber was planed down to match the size of the original legs so the repair lines up and the canopy stands solid again, without the lumpy, patched look that comes from simply bolting something to the side of a failing post.
New balustrading
New timber balustrading was fitted to each side of the canopy, running between the legs and the house wall. It frames the area in front of the door and gives the entrance a smart, finished look.
Why repair rather than replace
Splicing in new timber is usually far more cost-effective than a full replacement. It keeps the character of the original structure, and the parts that were still good stay in place, while the strength goes back where it was lost.
Scope of works
- Rotted bottoms of both canopy legs cut out back to sound timber
- New treated timber spliced into each leg
- New timber planed down to match the existing legs
- Canopy left solid and properly supported again
- New timber balustrading fitted to each side
- Existing canopy roof and brackets retained
The job
Photos from this project
Canopy repaired, balustrade either side Legs spliced and planed to match Seen from the street Balustrade and repaired leg Finished entrance Before: rot at the base of the leg Before: the second leg New section spliced in Splice joint and balustrade
Common questions
Can a rotted canopy leg be repaired rather than replaced?
Often, yes. If the rot is confined to the bottom of the leg, the damaged section can be cut out back to sound timber and a new piece spliced in. The rest of the canopy stays where it is.
Why do canopy legs rot at the bottom?
The base of the leg sits in or next to the ground, so it stays damp for long periods. Paint or stain on the upper leg does little to protect end grain that is sitting in wet soil or gravel.
Is splicing cheaper than a new canopy?
In most cases it is considerably cheaper, because only the damaged sections are replaced and the roof, brackets and upper legs are kept.
Can you add balustrading to an existing canopy?
Yes. Timber balustrading can be fitted between the canopy legs and the house wall to frame the entrance, as was done on this job.
Read more about our gallows bracket and canopy repairs across Ayrshire and external joinery, see what else we do for homeowners in Irvine, or see more completed projects.
From the customer
What they said afterwards
Delighted with the quality of work from Tom and his team. Very professional service throughout from initial contact to viewing the work required and receiving regular updates prior to the commencement of the work. Prior to choosing Tom I had been ghosted by other contractors so I was very happy with Tom’s professionalism and quick initial response. I had a fear that the work required to replace my rotted outdoor porch supports would be extensive, however, after assessing it, Tom quickly devised a solution and soon thereafter was able to source the required materials and promptly carried out the repair. As well as being very professional and skilled at what he does, Tom has a an extremely friendly manner and I would definitely recommend him and use his services again.