Building a Home Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Front porch post/column size?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Is there a formula used to determine (from an aesthetic standpoint) the size of posts and columns for the front porch? We are doing rough sawn timber posts with a stone surround toward the base. The current plan (see pic) is calling for an 8" rough sawn posts with a 1 foot wide and 4 foot tall stone column below them. The porch will be approximately 40 feet long, and is 8 feet deep. Theportico extends approximately 3 feet in front of the porch (See side view) Are these going to look to small? I keep thinking the stone base should be 2 ft wide and 4 ft tall.

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Comments (11)

PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
2 years ago
No, I think the design is good as is. A 24" square base for the post will look too chunky for the proportions of the portico as designed.
PRO
PPF.
2 years ago
Where are you in the process -- already under construction?
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Just scanned through the other ideas and thought I would comment as I have done quite a bit of problem solving on contemporary buildings before. A basic prinicipal is to make a clear decision on the style and refine this down to two possible options which could work ncely for the design. The first is to go minimal and discreet. This could be achieved by installing a high strength steel box section with attachment clips at either end to fix it in place. The other option in contrast to that, which could work well is to oversize the column with timber posts as discussed earlier this could be clad with with a thin sheet steel profile to match the rest of the house possibly powder coated to water seal it. Sounds like an interesting project I will be interested to see some as built photos. There are more ideas like this on my website www.plan-and-build-a-house.com
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Pictures would help us to help you.........................
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10" x 10" with no column blocking the windows. Not sure why changing columns would give you a craftsman or farmhouse look, which are much smaller scaled and often do have porch railings. Here are some beefier columns in a craftsman-ish style house with no railings. Yours are awkwardly place and too thin for such a huge house.
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You can use a pump sprayer with an extension wand. You should be able to easily reach it with a ladder.
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S O
2 years ago
Foundation is poured. Working on underground plumbing
PRO
PPF.
2 years ago
Ask your designer for several 3D renderings showing different sized columns.
Nidnay
2 years ago
Not an architect or a pro, but I do agree with you that the stone bases seem skimpy (though Sabrina makes a good point about them being proportional to the portico as designed….although it’s difficult to see on a 2 dimensional drawing). Maybe there can be some reworking of the portico to give it a bit more presence and enable beefier columns?

This may or may not help, but this shows 11” columns (column only..measurement does not include base and cap). Different style house etc., but may help to see something that’s the size of your stone base.
suezbell
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
You might consider one similar to this one: The largest practical portico between the windows with the door centered underneath it with two large thick square front posts (posts by house exterior wall optional) and leave open the forward facing gable for maximum natural light. Stone at base of posts, would, of course, match the other stone.

https://www.ekenamillwork.com/_wp/index.php/2020/03/25/easy-front-door-update-with-the-perfect-portico/
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
2 years ago
The columns may be fine, the stone piers are under sized.

The porch roof pitch and materials are poorly designed. The transition from shingles to metal will be tricky and it looks pretentious.

The stone should go all the way around the building so it does not look like you ran out of money or is a movie set.

Something is wonky about the roofline above the garage in the side elevation.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
2 years ago
Do I really see clapboard, shingle, board and batten, AND peel and stick stone all on one small house? That's A LOT. I would pick two- probably all clapboard with board and batten or shingle in the gable. But that is just me. Whatever is happening on the roof is weird as Mark points out...
chispa
2 years ago
Too many materials on the exterior. Looks like you couldn't decide which you liked best, so you used a bit of everything ... 4 siding materials and 2 roof materials!
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
2 years ago
Two more siding materials and one more roof material and you qualify as a "Showroom".
suezbell
2 years ago
As the pros indicated, the roof is "wonky" -- and the more angles you add the more it costs and the more likely you are to have maintenance issues. Consider rethinking the roof to have one center ridge and one left facing gable and one right facing gable ... plus a smaller forward facing gable over your front entry door.

Personally dislike a "hip" roof ... or multiple hip sections on a roof. Too much of a pain to ensure they're properly vented and if they're not, that can create huge costly maintenance issues.

Would keep the entire exterior of the home one siding only. Having brick partially up the exterior wall visually creates an "unfinished" vibe ... as if you ran out of money and couldn't finish with the brick. Having lots of brick on the garage but not the entire house short changes the house -- as if you value the garage more.

Also, if the foundation for the garage is not also already poured, instead of a three car garage pairing attached to the house -- giving the house a bit of a McMansion vibe -- and, lot size permitting, of course, consider creating a separate structure with three equal sized garage doors connected to the house at the kitchen via a screened porch or breezeway.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/ATeVpfMurrJkhaHlc5UYO3hEx6CFH8QZcHEWMHEKMf326HPzl7xVaec/