I’m considering building my own porch columns to keep costs down. I’m thinking PT 6″x6″ wrapped with 3/4 cedar then stained white. I could flute the sides and build out base and capitol for some nice detail. I would appreciate any clever ideas or suggestions. Pictures of some that you have done would be great.
thanks,
john elliot
Replies
Hi John,
I would approach your design by researching the style of column that is appropriate for your home. The biggest mistake homeowners often make is applying the wrong type of column on their style of home. For instance a fluted column on a bungalow would be a travesty. The second biggest mistake as I see is getting the proportions of the diameter and the base/ cap incorrect. I often see homes that skimped on the column size to save money and it looks like tooth picks are carrying the load of the roof.
You should go read Gary Katz's article Caulk-Free Column Wrap for his take on how to accomplish the task.
John, I second the advice to research the appropriate details for your house's style. A few years back, I added a side porch to my house. I matched details from an existing front porch (down-scaled slightly).
Four-by-four posts were adequate, structurally, and they extended from the footers to the beam that carries the porch roof. I boxed the posts with eastern white pine, and milled bases and capitals from pressure-treated southern yellow pine. The base is slightly off the porch floor, and there's small gap above the capital, allowing air circulation inside the column; there's plenty of empty space between the 4 x 4 post and the white pine box column.
There's a similar approach illustrated in Fine Home Building No. 132 (July 2000), "Building a Grand Veranda" by Kevin Wilkes. His columns are wrapped 6x6s, as you plan. And they set on top of the porch flooring, which is the traditional approach.
Here's a look at one of my columns (capital and base), and some of the unassembled pieces. (Attached below).
Allen
I appreciate the replies...
good food for thought......
(that Gary M. Katz is thorough)