I am building a craftsman style home. It includes a front porch the full width of the house. I have four 6×6 treated structural columns that I want to wrap. Top half will be tapered and the bottom half will be faux stone. I’ve not been able to find any plans, guidelines or instructions on where to begin as I build the tapers and support structure for the stone. Does anyone have experience with this? Any articles or books with specific instructions? Thanks
Edited 5/31/2005 10:57 am ET by onebusyman
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I am planning similar columns for my home. I, too, have looked around to find the "best design". It seems that there is no standard, but some stuff looks right and some don't.
I've sketched out a few designs, and, to me, I got something pleasing to my eye using the golden ratio of 1.618 to 1 (and did some rounding):
8' total height=3' base, 5' tapered area (which, coincidentally, puts the railing between the columns at a nice height)
2' square base with the sides looking like shaker cabinet doors (flat panel)
tapers from 2' base to 1' at top
Top of taper has simple "top" of 1x3 around it like crown molding
Sketch that out to scale and tell me if you think that "looks right" to you.
Though I lack your specific needs of plans, etc., I wish to share with you what I am considering (actually hoping to achieve on new home. Have been wondering what do I tell builder as to specifics, so hopefully your post will provide better info. I will be subscribing to learn just what needs to be involved in your construction. Appreciate pic if you have one.
p.s. Both attachments are same. First experience with attaching file & do not know how to delete duplicate picture!
I am going to do full height tapered columns similar to the ones on the converted ranch to a bungalow in the latest "houses" issue of FHB. I'm looking at Chadsworths Bungalow column which is a PVC wrap around. I called them and talked to their designers about any rules of thumb for the degree of taper and they said that the top is generally 2/3 of the bottom, i.e. 12" bottom, 8" top.
Go to the library and bookstore. There are a ton of books out in the last 5-10 years on Craftmans/Bungalow?Arts&Crafts/Mission/Sears style homes.
All kinds of pictures that you can see which work and scale off of them.
And there is a quarterly magazine, "American Bungalow" and they feature "reproduction" and "modern interpretations" of bungalow homes from time to time.
http://www.ambungalow.com/AmBungalow/home.htm
Check their bookstore for titles of books.
Also they have forums where you can ask questions about designs.
Interestingly I just went through Strickley's "Craftsman Homes", which is a reprint of his magazine, and I did not see any homes that had that feature.
Look at the Fine Woodworking site or their discussion group "Knots" for advice on how to lay out the tapered joinery. There have been numerous articles about tapering jigs & layout geometry.
A simple braced plywood box will support the wire mesh and faux stone.
The tapered columns can be fashioned from plywood in two ways. Mitered edges would be the most complicated because of the compound angles involved. You should also note that mitered exterior plywood does not weather well and will develop splits and gaps over time.
Cover the vertical edges with an outside corner moulding. This will allow you some play in the accuracy of your cuts and will last longer with less maintenance.
Unfortunately I can't recall the exact issue but FineHomebuilding had an article on exactly this project.
The key to having it look right besides the proportions is that you have to build in entasis (spelling?). This is not only a taper but a curved taper. Think of it as fattening the taper a bit. If you don't do this you'll get an optical illusion that will make it look like it curves inward.
Wally
I have done a few tapered columns in my day, and the best way to make tapered columns is to use the EZ Smart system. No fancy jigs, router setups,or sleds for the table saw needed.
Check out http://eurekazone.com or search Breaktime. for more info.
Hi Homer.
That was no 8 on the Ez challenge.
9 and 10 is even better.
8. make a tapered column.9. Why not a fluted tapered column.10. You know what, lets make it a seamless fluted tapered column and get done with this list so we don't have to go on and on and on....
Today was a good day of testing. Now we have repeatability on both sides of the blade. Without moving the fence we can make paper thin strips all day.
Thanks for thinking.
YCF Dino