Wooden post on top of brickwork

[RobinClay]

Here
//www.diynot.com/network/user_album_update.php?album_id=17150
are pix of my porch. The side walls comprise brickwork up to waist height, topped by a square timber frame with mortice / tennon / dowelled joints.

Alas! The bottom horizontals have rotted, so I have cut them out. Also the bottom part of the untreated softwood vertical posts.

I had thought to replace the horizontals simply with half-bricks (engineering), but upon opening it up found the posts had rotted as well, so I shall need two more courses of brickwork as well.

Q1. Do you think I have cut back the posts far enough ?

Q2. What should I put between the brick and the bottom of the post ? I want to prevent the feet from rotting further.

a) Cement mortar, flush all round?
b) Cement mortar, recessed so that the posts over-sail?
c) Straight onto the brick? The bricks are black engineering, with a diamond pattern on one face - I could put that face uppermost, with the slots acting as drains to prevent the feet of the posts staying wet? Or the smooth face uppermost?

ANY advice / comments would be very welcome. Please ?

 

[rjm2k]

//www.diynot.com/network/RobinClay/albums/17150

 

[foxhole]

http://www.lincswoodline.co.uk/4x4-oak-post-at-3m-long

 

[RobinClay]

//www.diynot.com/network/RobinClay/albums/17150

Thank you ! I didn't know how to get that...

 

[pinenot]

One problem you have is evident from your pics, the lack of overhang and a water drip to your bottom runners/brick walls. To resolve this I would prop the roof temp. remove all supporting timber framework, replace or add the top brick course with double bullnose lengthwise bricks (you'll probably find getting these a problem) or concrete bullnose style copes. With something like this fitted the bottom runners can have a drip channel routed along the bottom edge, clear of the brick/cope allowing the rainwater to shed and not pond under it, as is evident. I would not want to retain any of the original wooden framework in situ, in the scope of things as this would not really be cost effective, in my opinion, rather I would want to salvage it and use it elsewhere, less demanding...pinenot