![]() ![]() If all has gone well, you should have a bunch of sides and joists attached to the footing posts remaining. Then remove the steps and put them aside or in your dumpster. Simply pull out any nails attaching the steps to the porch frame. If your porch had any steps, you'll want to remove them now. If your porch foundation is in good condition and you plan to build a new porch on it, you can skip this step. We detail how to remove a concrete foundation below these steps. Please note: The steps below outline how to remove supports from a wooden deck. ![]() Some porches are only made of wooden supports and a lattice cover, while others could be supported by cinderblocks or bricks, which take a bit more heavy lifting. The type of porch you have will affect how long this part takes. If the nails are stubborn or you’re working at a difficult angle, wedge a pry bar under the boards and hit the pry bar with a mallet to remove it. Use a hammer as necessary to remove any nails in the way. Wear knee pads for comfort and use a pry bar in the sawed-out areas to rip out the boards. If you’re throwing out the boards, make sure to cut them into small enough pieces so that they won’t hang over the sides of a dumpster as you get rid of them. Also, be careful not to grind the saw against any brick or concrete around the boards. You should set the length of your circular saw to avoid cutting through the supports under the floorboards for now. Use a circular saw to cut the boards down the middle into smaller pieces. If your columns are made of stone, consider hiring a professional to complete the removal. Knock the columns down with a sledgehammer if you need to, or pull them free with your hands if you want to preserve the columns for a future project. Pull out the nails connecting the columns to the floor. If you choose this route, you can skip step 3 as the posts and columns will already be gone. If you're planning on scrapping the lumber, take your circular saw and cut the columns and posts as close to the porch deck as possible. If you want to save the wood, you'll need to use a hammer to remove any nails connecting the spindles and rails to the columns or posts. Then, simply take the screen off your porch. Use the claw side of your hammer or a power drill to remove any staples, nails or screws holding up the screen. If your porch was screened in, it's time to get rid of what's left. Luckily, both parts are pretty straightforward as there's no weight pushing down on them to cause problems. With the roof gone, you've got a two-part step next: removing things attached to the porch floor and removing the floor deck itself. Be sure to stand outside the perimeter of the roof while doing this step. Keep in mind that as you take pieces off, the roof will become more and more unstable. ![]() Use a circular power saw to cut the roof deck into sections that can be ripped off by hand. Separate the Remaining Roof From the House Remember to wear a hard hat to protect your head if wood or shingles begin to fall. Stand under the roof to cut through the beams and joists. If the nails can’t be pulled out, use a circular saw to cut through each beam as close to the house as possible. Even if some nails can’t be removed, the sledgehammer will take care of the frame. Once you’ve done that, you should be able to pull the beams off the porch frame or knock them off with a sledgehammer. If you want to avoid buying or renting an electric saw, you can start by removing the nails on these beams with a hammer. If your porch roof is flat, then it only has joists, usually supported by trusses. Joists are the horizontal beams connecting the porch roof to the home, and rafters are slanted beams that form the frame. Just remember - shingle weight can add up quickly! 2. You should also peel the flashing away from where your porch roof connects to your home. Use a ladder to access the roof and a shovel to dislodge the shingles.
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