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Front column sizing...

15 years ago

I have a total of five columns across the front of the house. From the garage side (left) the garage door is flanked by two columns. The protruding forward facing entry is also flanked by two columns. Then there is one more column to the right side of the porch at the homes corner, which is in the same plane as the garage columns.

The home shares the same finished grade at all elevations. I had originally poured column bases (19"x19") for the three columns supporting the front hip which are in the same plane. The two not yet poured which flank the protruding entry, were to be formed after built for precision. I am there now. I was originaly going to use a brick base and tapered shroud top. I have now decided to use round columns with a cedar shingled exterior.

As a rule, should all of the columns be the same height?

I am trying to figure a porch design currently. I was originally going to have the three porch columns resting on a concrete poured porch. All five columns were to be visually tied in with a brick base. Now, not using brick bases, the garage columns will be taller if the three porch columns are resting on a concrete porch. I'm enclined to think all columns should be the same size. So I am trying to figure out a different porch design allowing all columns to be run to a pad at finished grade.

Am I thinking right?

TIA

Comments (3)

mlo1
Original Author
15 years ago
Where I wrote "I have now decided to use round columns with a cedar shingled exterior." I meant the homes exterior will be shingled, not the columns.
mlo1
Original Author
15 years ago
Thinking out loud...mightyanvil had mentioned the possibility of using either tapered round columns or shingled square columns if the home was to use a shingled exterior design.

Would a combination of both style columns be fitting? Maybe use round columns only flanking the protruding entry way steps. And the square shingled columns flanking the garage on the left and at the far right of the front hip, as to not stand out. Or maybe default all of the columns to the shingled square style allowing them to blend into the home and drawing attention.
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The shapes, proportion and scale of the house in the photo are very challenging. The house is symmetrical, but the gable in the center does not have the same shape, pitch or fascia detail. The proportions of the house make adding a porch form (roof) challenging, as PPF suggests. Finally the scale of the porch and any columns should be sympathetic to the rest of the house. The columns in the first photo are much too small, while those in the second and third photos are much to bulky. A very careful study is need to see if and how a sympathetic porch may be added. If it was my house, I might be looking at a horizontal arbor or trellis type porch with appropriate detailed and scaled columns, rather than any sort of pitched roof. Google porch trellis or arbor for ideas. Good luck on your project.
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Is the look you modern farmhouse ? IMO first remove all the shutters none of them are the right size and the front door is to me modern farmhouse so choose a more modern light fixture with LED bulb instead of Edison . As for the posts I think wrapping them in wood to match the door would be good Some more modern planters square in black and some color for the cushions on the porch and if you want a bit more modern a new walkway and porch floor in slate.
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Just because they may not be primary weight bearing does not mean they aren't helping out, especially the corner post. Home style is so mixed these days it is often very difficult to determine. Your home has some features that look Georgian, but those houses were mostly brick and lacked covered porches. When they did have a porch the columns were round. Nonetheless, I see no reason square posts would not work, just make sure their size is comparable to what you have.
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And, actually, the window on the right doesn’t require shutters. Try taking them off for a new look. You might enhance the appearance of your cute home and down play the yellow tone of your brick by changing the color of your mulch from red to dark brown. And adding landscaping that will elevate the right side of your home. And if your porch floor can be painted, I would also think of deepening that color, too. Play with color apps provided by the major paint companies to try out different colors. Your brick home might look great with the sage green that is gaining in popularity right now. Good luck!
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mlo1
Original Author
15 years ago
Mightyanvil...may I contact you or you me via personal e-mail?

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