Column sizing...

15 years ago

Our build will have five round tapered columns. From the left going right...Two flanking the garage, two flanking a protruding entry's steps, and one column at right corner of the front hip which is in the same plane as the two flanking the garage.

By design, should all of the columns be the same height and diameter?

I was originally going to rest the protruding entry's two columns and right side/hip corner column, onto a porch. That would mean the garage columns would be taller and may enhance "it" over the homes entry. Finished grade is level in relationship to the home. Would one try to play off of diameters to establish a visual heirarchy, or work more to having them all the same height with porch/step design etc.?

TIA

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Comments (7)

teddas
15 years ago
I truly think a photo is necessary here to help. I can not visualize your home...Mine are all the same size on the porch, the front porch and above the front door portico thingee...
mlo1
Original Author
15 years ago
I will try to get a photo shortly.

Once I started looking at porch/entry photo's with round columns, I notice not a single one included differing length columns. On my build the columns are functional to support an extended hip roof overhang that runs across the entire front of the home, only interupted in the middle for a small extension over the entry porch.
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mlo1
Original Author
15 years ago
Here is a couple photo's showing all five column placements. The two diagonal braces flanking the entry are temporary and will be removed.

I am framing a flair currently that will encompass the entire foundation perimeter. I have been unable to figure a good way to build the front porch and integrate it with the flare. So by default I am sort-of going forward with the intent of building a free standing porch off of grade beams and carrying the flare under the doorway's.

For those that are inquisitive on my slow progress, I was forced to stop building over the last couple of months. I am just getting going again and am a one man show. I just yesterday committed to 24 squares of old growth red cedar shingles by a gentlemen with a contract through the DNR for heli logged windfalls. They are the nicest I have ever seen, so wrc shingles with a 5" exposure it is for the entire exterior.

We are thinking natural shingles, hickory painted fascia (5/4x8), lt. blue under eve 1x6 t&g, lt. butterscotch front door, and no window trims. I am wondering if I should cut the fascia down 2", that gives me plenty of overhang for the soffit edge and still have a couple inches under the gutter. I am thinking a dark gutter as well, like hickory. We are open/hoping for any input!

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artielange
15 years ago
LOVE your house but I can't help but feel that square box columns would look better than round tapered with your craftsman - arts/crafts look. In that case the varying heights wouldn't be a problem.
mlo1
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for chiming in artielange. Square columns is all you see around here and I was hoping to be slightly different, though not goofy.

As a retired machinist I find the actual assembly very rewarding, though I am slow. I have been unable to connect with a local proffesional who seems to care for my build style. It has been an interesting ride for sure.
mekon1971
15 years ago
I appreciate you sharing the photos, after you described the shingles, I have to kind of agree with atielange, but to change it up a little, instead of gowing with a "square" column you could do a combo one where the bottom half is square with the shingles and the top half is round?
mlo1
Original Author
15 years ago
Is there any architectual precident in a shingle style (sp?) for using solid wood square columns, say 6x's?

If there was the problem may be finding a decent enough quality timber today that would stay true.

Column sizing...

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teddas

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Column sizing...

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teddas

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