How to properly seal wood posts over concrete footings?

[strathcoup]

I own a 12 year old cottage that we bought 4 years ago with a beautiful pine timber framed 2 story wrap around porch. I am now suddenly noticing rot between the post and concrete footings. I have medium to advanced construction skills enough to know that wood and concrete don't get along.This job involves a skill level far advanced than mine. I want it fixed properly and don't mind paying as long as its done right.  I have only talked to one contractor so far (coincidentally, the same guy who built it). He recommends cutting 3 feet off the bottom of the post and raising the footings higher. Then bricking around the footings to give a beautiful stone finish. My question is: how do the pros seal or cap the joint between the post and footing to make sure this wont happen again in another 12 years? I have heard raw aluminium capping over the bottom of the post with lots of butyl caulk between the wood and aluminium as well as between the aluminium and concrete. The guy has a few ideas but they all sound temporary. I am curious if anyone else has had a good solution for this. I don't want to be a high maintenance client but i need a better gut feeling    

[sawguy21]

Welcome!! I am not a builder but my dad was, he used poly sheeting between concrete and the sill to prevent moisture from wicking into the wood. Tar paper also worked.

[Ianab]

Locally we use a heavy duty "tar paper" as a moisture barrier between concrete foundations / walls etc.  This sort of thing.

https://pinkbatts.co.nz/product-range/malthoid-dpc-wall/

[Don P]

Raising the pier does have good points but it does create a potential hinge. The connection also needs to be capable of handling down, up, and side loads. Simpson has a number of column post bases with standoffs that either have an air gap or a solid plastic base, strongtie.com
Permacolumn is a manufacturer of precast and cast in place concrete post bases that include column connections.
Treated timbers would also be a good idea.

[Crusarius]

This may or may not be a good idea. In my little world I think it will work very well and be a real easy fix for your current situation.

5/4 composite deck board.

Cut 5/4 off the bottom of the post. Cut the 5/4 deck board to be slightly smaller than the post. Slide cut composite deck board under the post and set post back on it.

Now you have a barrier between the concrete and wood plus you removed the damaged area of the post. 

If you have an anchor bolt in there you can just cut a groove in the composite deck board and go around it.

[Magicman]

 

 
This is really not a good illustration but I would never install any post without such as Don P described above.  These are a plastic material with an air gap underneath.

[canopy]

A lot of things can be used. An engineer recommended to me timberlinx fasteners with plexiglass pads under the posts. Works real well. I like how with timberlinx stainless steel rods can be used in the slab for longevity and that the connection is completely hidden inside the post. 

[Stuart Caruk]

I used to use shingles as the tar helped seal the post. For a couple years I too have been using Timberlinx connectors and laser cut acrylic sheet. If you have a router, you can make a slot for an LED light strip and power it with low voltage. The glow from under the post looks cool.