Hello everyone,
This summer I plan to remodel my front porch in the Craftsman style. Even though I’m reasonably handy with tools, I’ve not built anything like this before. So I’m hopeful you can help me get the start I need. I intend to build square tapered columns that will sit atop a square base. I’ll have railings and a sawn balustrade. I’ll be building off of the existing 4×6 posts (plus I’ll be adding one more 4×4 for looks).
After basic construction technique, my greatest concern is moisture. I want to make sure my construction materials and techniques will last through many, many Oregon winters.
First of all, if anyone is aware of a good resource with drawings, I know that I can take it from there. I’m pretty good at following plans. Then, any suggestions on building materials would be appreciated. The house is sided with cedar lap.
Any help is appreciated!
Replies
Greetings E, As a first time poster Welcome to Breaktime.
I took the liberty of resizing your diagram file to make it easier for dial up patrons to view it.
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
View Image
Cheers
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
bump
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
Allow me to be the first to recommend the EZSmart system for cutting the sheetgoods for your tapered columns. I'm using my own guide system now, but will be ordering one of their packages in the near future.
Search "EZSmart" or visit
http://www.eurekazone.com/
For a review
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/reviews/ezsmart.htm
MDO (medium density overlay) is a type of outdoor plywood used for highway signs, that is one option for those columns.
Check out my blog for an image of the tapered column porch we are going to build.
Adventures in Home Building
An online journal covering the preparation and construction of our new home.
jhausch,
That's going to be a really nice home! I really like your elevation images on your blog!
The tapered columns on your house with the square base and the rails w/ balustrade is exactly what I'm looking to do. If you have more detail of that part of the plan I would love to see what you're going to do there.
It would be great if you had a view of the construction of the base. Thanks!
-EN
Thanks - I'm glad you like it. I am going for an efficiently designed "Contemporary Craftsman". . . we'll see if we manage to pull it off. Revisit the blog in a couple of days or so for more updates.
The source of those elevations are CAD re-renderings from my old-fashioned pencil and drafting machine drawings. The CAD draftsman did his best to recreate my porch "in-general", but he did not put in all of the details.
Since I am in an area with a 48" frost depth, I will do the columns as follows:
30"x30" footing8" concrete block laid 4/course/column (a 24" square) to get up to the bottom of the deck joistsCap block or poured topFrame a traditional deck and hide 4x4 PT posts in the columnsCover block above grade with cultured stoneBuild columns out of MDO and TechTrim (http://www.ufpi.com/product/techtrim/index.htm)
My rails/handrails will probably be techtrim. In lieu of balusters, I plan on using cable rail.
http://jhausch.blogspot.comAdventures in Home BuildingAn online journal covering the preparation and construction of our new home.
I would think the new plastic/composite "lumber" might work--Azek comes to mind; it's PVC. There is a thread further down about laminating Azek to make boards thicker and less floppy. I would think that in Pacific NW, water would be more of a concern than sun. Hot sun can make Trex and other such decking, and so on, very hot to the touch.
Edited 4/7/2006 2:15 pm ET by Danno
Danno,
Thanks for your suggestions! I'll have to do some more reading on that type of building material. I'm not familiar with it at all.
You're right about the lack of sun in the PNW. We have seven different words for rain!
-EN
I forgot about cedar--that would be good--resists water and rot and has a Craftsman look (cedar shakes). Could trim in cedar too for that matter. Fotr tapered columns I'd recommend Medium Density Overlay (plywood (also called "signboard") with a phelolic resin imprgnated paper surface that really takes paint well.
Edit: I've also seen cedar shakes on tapered columns too.
Edited 4/7/2006 7:30 pm ET by Danno
Sorta like this?????
Pickings,
You're definately on the right track there with that image. Thanks! I hadn't considered a stone base before. I think it would look great that way.
The base has been the part that I've had a mental block with. I was originally thinking that I would frame around the 4x6 post with treated 2x4's and cover with outdoor ply, then attach cedar lap siding and trim. I would then build the columns on top of that using more cedar. Cedar is readily available here. But, the sketches I do always look over-built.
There must be a simpler way!
-EN
I just had that detail close by........
Cedar shake bases were done a lot in the Craftsman homes and would look fine.
Getting ready to do a very similarly themed (contemporary craftsman) renovation on my own house. Will most likely end up with a polymner composite column on top of a stone base.
I'm looking for maximum durability and efficiency of construction, so I will probably end up with a pre-fab column instead of trying to build one up in the basement shop. If you're working over the existing columns, you would have to see if you could get a two piece or you might have to rip it in half.
Here's one source for columns I found so far... (sorry, it's a big .pdf file)
Also included is a quick pic of my drawing for my front porch -
http://www.polyclassiccolumns.com/Craftsman-Column-Brochure.pdf
Good Luck
Edited 4/10/2006 2:18 pm ET by KevinH