OT:Porch Columns???

[Thomas Rogers]

Given we have a diverse bunch here, what with some of you building contractors I thought I would ask about porch columns.



Anyone know a good supplier of porch columns? One column on our front porch have rotted at the base, and I am thinking of replacing them all with poly/fiberglass replacements.



I am looking for 8" x 9' tapered, round columns. I found prices online around $200 each, and if I am going to do this, then I will replace them all so I would need 6.



Any other helpful, related info besides suppliers would be nice too.



Oh, and I painted these every-other years since moving into the new house. They appear to have rotted from the inside out, though everything was there for proper drainage and water shedding (including a fiberglass base, etc). Come to find out the wood columns are only warrantied for 10 years...I almost got 8. Argh!



This is a "next spring" project. The one that "went" is a corner post, but the porch is only 4 feet deep with a porch roof above, and their isn't much of a load on the columns. There is still "some" wood left at the base, though I did poke at three spots pulling away rot until I looked in and realized that, duh, there wasn't a metal post in hollow the center like I thought. I suspect there is enough still there to hold things okay (I gave the column a good shake, I still couldn't move it). I wrapped the base in alum flashing and painted white to get us through the winter.



It's always something.



TJR

 

[Robert Stanton]

Strangely, I have a similar situation with a support column in my carport. Same issue, rotten at the bottom, except mine is four 1x4s in a square. It would appear that there is no internal post for support, and the column has already buckled a little bit.



Any suggestions on what can/should be done would be helpful. I'm probably not going to wait for spring, as this seems a little more urgent.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

For a square column you could always "sister" a couple boards on opposite sides for support, temporarily.

 

[Robert Stanton]

Not a bad idea, thanks.

 

[Christopher L]

TJR,



I work for an architecture firm and we do restoration projects constantly. For the fiberglass columns your looking for, I would recommend Turncraft Poly-Classic columns.



http://www.turncraft.com/products/poly-classic.html



These columns are what we specify on most all our projects, because they are correctly proportioned to classical columns, and they have a wide selection of sizes. Also the limited life-time warranty is pretty sweet. I beleive you can order these thru your local Home-Depot, or any other local lumber supply company. I don't know if Lowes deals with Turncraft or not.



Bahb,



As for your situation, I wouldn't feel comfortable with only 4-1x4' ganged together to hold anything even in perfect shape. I would suggest replacing that with at least a 4x4 or better yet, a 6x6 post.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Thanks, Christopher. I will check them out. I found those same columns from a few suppliers online, many shipped for free. I will compare HD's prices.



Now to start saving between now and spring. Argh, those columns are expensive (not so much for 1, but for 6...argh).



TJR

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Christopher,



Can I assume you recommend the fiberglass over the wood with all things considered (cost, maint)?



Also, here is a pic of my house...the left corner column is the one starting to go (no the shrubs don't touch it, but they might shade it a little, the picture is taken facing due West):



[Broken External Image]:



That doesn't seem like a big load on those columns, does it?



Do you recommend swapping same for same (I like the looks of the round tapered)?



Thanks,

TJR

 

[Michael Cacioppo]

I've seen wood and poly columns at Home Depot.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Yup, me too. Just got back from HD. $175 each for the 8" x 9' round poly columns, including base and caps. Not too bad. Maybe I won't have to cancel Christmas.

 

[Chops]

Tom, holdout for a 10% off coupon that routinely is offered when things get slow, or, take advantage of the no payments - no interest for a year offer.

Just make sure those are not load bearing columns and replace with like-rated.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Chops,



Yes, I will be awaiting a 10% off, and if I can couple that with a no-intererst for 12 months or more it will be done in a heartbeat.



Actually the current ones are load bearing columns, just not much of a load on them, and the poly columns are load bearing as well (not just decorative). These aren't your el-cheapo poly like you might be thinking. The stuff is reinforced fiberglass about 1/2" thick.



TJR