Interestingly my 1883 bluestone cottage has what is a barely still standing concave verandah above a Jarrah deck out the front. I've not found another one like it in the area but it certainly seems original.

I want to rebuild the whole thing and have a swag of questions for those with a bit of experience:

1. The existing deck is actually tounge and groove floor boards. It does cop some rain...I assume I would be better off using decking boards with a 3 mm gap but I'm concerned that this will allow moisture into the bearers and joists etc below that were probably never meant to get wet? (see pic)

2. The posts for the verandah currently sit directly onto the deck - I think they are just skew nailed down. Im sure this is a no no, but it seems to have survived nearly 130 years. The reason for this is that there is a 100 x 45 bearer/joist (it seems to serve both purposes) sitting on a bluestone footing immediately below the post. To run the post to the ground would require cutting out some of the bluestone and replacing the bearer / joist. Is it acceptable to use a post holder and coach screw it into the bearer / joist?

3. Perhaps the most simple of questions. The original verhandah I think is made of oregon. I'm not sure if I should use LOSP, treated pine or a laminated hardwood post etc...The original fascia etc had a profile routed into it I would like to replicate this if possible.

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