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Who set these Columns?

Framer | Posted in General Discussion on January 4, 2005 03:56am

I drove past this Townhouse complex today and saw these columns. The one picture there’s two sets of columns set wherever and the other picture there’s three out of 4 columns that match. I guess they just had to get the job done and they figured no one would notice.

Joe Carola
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Replies

  1. chills1994 | Jan 04, 2005 05:18am | #1

    Howdie Framer,

    Maybe it is just me or maybe its something you gotta see in real life, but I can't quite see anything incredibly wrong with the pics.  Something looks a little off but I can't quite place my thumb on it.

    Good catch though.  It's amazing what the "carpenter's eye" can pick up.  Like being at restaurant and picking apart the moulding installation.

    1. Piffin | Jan 04, 2005 05:34am | #3

      take another look at diameters and capitals and bases. The only way they match is that they are all white.Framer, this is un-freakin' believable! They set columns they way i type. 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. donpapenburg | Jan 04, 2005 06:01am | #6

        In C they match . Each set has the same base on the left. sheesh what do you expect them to do put them on different sides.

        1. Piffin | Jan 04, 2005 06:27am | #8

          If they match, then they did not even consider setting them plumb, pulling the base forward on some to show off more of it.
          But I don't believe they are a match. 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. donpapenburg | Jan 04, 2005 07:11am | #9

            Just the bases , they have the squared one on the right of each set. Ain't that a match?

            Went back and checked ,The  very right one looks to have a differant cap also.

            They got a deal that they could not refuse on them . Maybe half price if they take the whole bunch .

            Edited 1/3/2005 11:16 pm ET by don

      2. Framer | Jan 04, 2005 06:06am | #7

        I thought I was seeing things when I drove in there but tomorrow I'll take better pictures. The first picture they have two different sets of columns and I guess they decided to mix them up a little bit to confuse the eye. The second picture they had three columns that were the same and one different and they just put them in...I don't get it. I think Tim Uhler set them....;-)Joe Carola

      3. JohnT8 | Jan 06, 2005 12:25am | #40

        Well at least they're all round columns.  ;)

         jt8

    2. Framer | Jan 04, 2005 06:01am | #5

      The columns are totally different. I took the pictures with my camera phone. I'll take pictures tomorrow with my digital camera and post them. When you see them you wont believe it.Joe Carola

    3. Framer | Jan 05, 2005 03:59am | #13

      I took some better shots this morning. Building C is the one with two different sets of columns. Building D is the one with 3 columns the same and 1 different column. Building 3 has 4 columns all the same believe it or not but there's trees in front of them. Joe Carola

      1. User avater
        PeterJ | Jan 05, 2005 04:15am | #14

        This is new construction?

        If it was my building, I'd have heads on platters.

        What do you suppose the rest of the thing looks like?

        They could have a TV show...How Not To BuildPJ

        Whatever you can do or dream you can, Begin it Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.                             Goethe

      2. VinceCarbone | Jan 05, 2005 04:26am | #15

        Joe,

         I think it's great that folks in NJ are hiring the handicapped. But blind carpenters seam to present all sorts of problems that you wouldn't really think of at first.

        Although I did have a helper once who might do something like that, but would claim it was my fault because I didn't tell him they had to match.Vince Carbone

        Riverside Builders Franklin NY ICQ #47917652

      3. HeavyDuty | Jan 05, 2005 04:44am | #16

        Piffin might have bad fingers but he sure has good eyes.

        Now I see all the columns, capitals and bases are all mix and match.

        With the pictures from the cell phone, I could see the capitals and bases were different but I never thought they were that different.

        What phone do you have? It takes pretty good pictures considering.

        1. Piffin | Jan 05, 2005 04:57am | #18

          Lousy eyes actually, but I am anal about detailsUnlike the *%^#@! who installed these.I've been trying to imagine the scenario that led to this ( I can't even think of a good name for what this is) scene.The manufacturer shipped the wrong ones and there was a scedule at the bank?There was a clearance sale?Some of the original ones rotted out and the two closet replacements available in the catalouge were used?I know there's a story here someplace. This belongs on that last page of the Old House Journal - The 'Remuddling' feature 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. UncleDunc | Jan 05, 2005 05:15am | #19

            >> I can't even think of a good name for what this isStarts with cluster, rhymes with pluck.

          2. Snort | Jan 05, 2005 05:40am | #20

            dang, I can't see what all the hullabaloo's about...the portico's still up. Picky, picky,picky.LOL<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!

          3. HeavyDuty | Jan 05, 2005 06:48am | #27

            Form follows function.

            Who said that?

          4. UncleDunc | Jan 05, 2005 08:01am | #30

            >> Form follows function.I was going to use that line in the thread about the true divided lights.

          5. User avater
            Sphere | Jan 05, 2005 02:46pm | #34

            Oh that...we call it a Charlie Foxtrot. Goes right over most HO's heads. 

            Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            I'll just do it>

             

             

          6. RLightfoot | Jan 05, 2005 07:45pm | #36

            It's pretty obvious to me that the builder owns a custom column shop and is using the complex as a catalogue in order to show the variety of columns available for sale. A big tax writeoff. Could also be that the client couldn't make up their mind in the show room and said "give me one of each" Who knows?  lol

          7. UncleDunc | Jan 05, 2005 08:30pm | #38

            >> It's pretty obvious to me that the builder owns a custom column shop ...I might have believed that till I saw the picture of the window trim.

          8. PatMcG | Jan 05, 2005 07:59pm | #37

            Price. Quality. Service. Pick any two.

        2. Framer | Jan 06, 2005 03:25am | #43

          Tom,I have the Verizon LG VX6000. I've had it for about 8 months now and it comes in handy. I was a the lumber yard one day and one of the guys called that was on the job and was telling me he needed a piece of trim for the rakes and couldn't explain it and he also has the same phone so I told him to take a picture of it and send it to me and he did and within 2 minutes I had it and opened it up and bought the trim and it was that simple and fast. There was a guy standing behind me and said he was going to go and get one when he saw that.Last week the job I'm on now called for the dormers to have 2' fly rafters and I told the owner that they are to big so I built one with a 2' overhang and the second one with a 1' overhang and he called the Architect and the Architect told him he wanted to come out the next day to look at them and I said I would take a picture with my camera phone and email to him and so I did and he called back within 5 minutes and said make them 1' and so we did. It can save you time in certain situations.Here's a couple picture with the phone the one is the dormers with the overhangs I sent to the Architect.Joe Carola

          1. chills1994 | Jan 06, 2005 05:58am | #44

            Hey Framer,

            WOW!!!  Quite the response about the pics.  YEP, I can definitely see their mistake now.

            Good catch!

          2. HeavyDuty | Jan 06, 2005 06:20am | #45

            A picture is worth a thousand words, spoken or writen.

            In the case of the fly rafters, I would add a picture is worth a thousand minutes.

      4. gdavis62 | Jan 05, 2005 04:54am | #17

        You guys are too picky.

        I'll bet if you survey all the folks who live or work in these fine buildings, none of them have ever noticed it.

        1. Framer | Jan 05, 2005 06:15am | #24

          I'll take a picture of the entire building in the morning but as I was leaving I saw from 100 miles away the bump out bays joints on the outside corners and I also took a picture of the bay roof. These joints should be on the cover a magazine along with the columns...........Joe Carola

          1. Piffin | Jan 05, 2005 06:27am | #25

            Forgot the level the day they ran fascia 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          2. calvin | Jan 05, 2005 06:44am | #26

            joe,  fun isn't it when you live your life with your eyes open.

            thanksRemodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

            Quittin' Time

          3. Framer | Jan 05, 2005 06:48am | #28

            I went for lunch today and saw this building with an interesting Rake and Fascia detail.Joe Carola

          4. Piffin | Jan 05, 2005 08:01am | #31

            You've gota secure second career as the town "after-inspector inspector" ( That is if you don't get punched out for pointing the camera at bedroom windows) Your card would read AII, pronounced Ai-ie-ie! 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          5. Snort | Jan 06, 2005 03:11am | #42

            Joe, I know I've shown this before, but still the sweetest and most apropos fretwork I've ever seen...it's on a Bahamian "don't worry be happy" digs...what the hell am I doing here? LOL Don't worry, we can fix that later!

      5. User avater
        JDRHI | Jan 05, 2005 05:44am | #21

        Thats freakin` hillarious! (In a sad sorta way).

        Hey Joe.....do my eyes deceive me? In the original photo it appears that the half columns up against the house are square. But I guess, if you`re gonna mix columns, ya might as well try and get as large a selection. J. D. Reynolds

        Home Improvements

        "DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"

        1. Piffin | Jan 05, 2005 05:57am | #23

          Square pillasters against the wall are common with round columns but the details are wrong. Flat, smooth pillasters and fluted columns, and contrasting capital and base details. 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. rasconc | Jan 05, 2005 08:09am | #32

            It was done too soon after payday and the local crack dealer was running a clearance sale. 

          2. User avater
            skyecore | Jan 05, 2005 10:20am | #33

            the good thing about it is that it makes me feel like superb carpenter-->

            measure once

            scribble several lines

            spend some time figuring out wich scribble

            cut the wrong line

            get mad

        2. tuffy | Jan 05, 2005 11:48pm | #39

          Those square half-columns are called pilasters, and their use there is absolutely proper. (Well, proper if one ignores everything else that's specifically wrong in the situation.)

      6. User avater
        CloudHidden | Jan 05, 2005 05:45am | #22

        I's the latest design rage...nouveau eclectica.

      7. jpainter | Jan 05, 2005 04:26pm | #35

        Framer:

        What street is this on in Mo-town? My father lives in town (Colles Ave) and I've got to send him over to check this out.  That is really a new form of stupidity.

        J Painter

        1. Framer | Jan 06, 2005 02:55am | #41

          If you go down South Street towards Morristown Memorial you turn right onto James Street and go about 1-1/2 miles and cross over 287 and then turn right into the complex.I'll find out the name in the morning. I don't no how many units there are but if your father sees them he wont believe it either. Joe Carola

        2. Framer | Jan 07, 2005 03:23am | #46

          When you turn onto James Street you go about 2 miles and once you cross over 287 you'll turn right into James Street Commons. There's all kinds of people there for taking pictures of the columns for their magazines so tell your father to get there early......;-)Joe Carola

          1. JohnSprung | Jan 07, 2005 04:55am | #47

            > There's all kinds of people there for taking pictures of the columns for their magazines so tell your father to get there early......;-)

            Aha -- That's the real reason they did it.  Pretty soon there'll be TV news crews there to show the crowds of carpenters laughing their a--es off.  It's to get publicity for the tract.  ;-)

             

            -- J.S.

             

  2. Shep | Jan 04, 2005 05:34am | #2

    Looks like someone didn't quite know how to measure for length.

     Nice little improv on those column bases.

    Morristown, huh? Are you from that area?

    1. Framer | Jan 04, 2005 05:57am | #4

      I'm from Caldwell. I'm doing an Addition in New Vernon and I was passing through Morristown today. Where are you from?Joe Carola

      1. Shep | Jan 04, 2005 06:14pm | #12

          I live in South Plainfield.

          I've done a little work up in the Morristown/ Morris Plains area, but its been awhile.

          I think there's a bunch of BTers from NJ. Maybe we should try to get together sometime.

  3. tuffy | Jan 04, 2005 11:21am | #10

    Offhand, it looks like some dumbasses mixed up two different sets of columns. I'm even about to take the time to count, but maybe if they would have paid attention to what they were doing, each building would have its own full matching set?

    Sigh. At least they're not upside down.

  4. superwork | Jan 04, 2005 05:08pm | #11

    That looks like a## .

  5. efix2 | Jan 05, 2005 06:59am | #29

    Sooooooooooooooo,

    Have you contacted them and offered to fix all this for a nominal fee? (hehe)

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