How to Replace a Wrought Iron Porch Post

To update and upgrade your home's facade, replace your wrought iron porch posts with a more modern option.

1. Choose new posts to replace the old ones. If you like the look of wrought iron, you can have custom posts made in a more modern design. Alternatively, you can use wood beams or pillars to support your porch roof.

2. Insert a temporary support post between the porch ceiling and the porch floor a few feet from the post you are removing. Use a screw jack to raise it into proper position, and protect the roof beam by placing a wood shim between it and the support post. This will support the weight of the ceiling as you remove the wrought iron posts.

3. Remove the old wrought iron porch post. Most of these posts are secured to the porch using masonry screws, but some may be embedded in the concrete. For those that are embedded in concrete, use a reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade to cut off the supports right up against the concrete.

4. Measure the distance between the porch ceiling and the floor.

5. Cut off the new porch post to the right length. For hollow porch posts, a handsaw will suffice. Use a circular saw if you are using 4-by-4s to replace your posts.

6. Position the new post in the same place as the old post and secure it into place. For hollow columns, a bead of adhesive around the perimeter will seal the post to the floor. 4-by-4s can be nailed into the ceiling and secured with a base plate.