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Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Debating the contractor about post size, 8" or 10" on our small porch

last year

We are renovating our front porch, currently have double 8" round columns on either side. We are going down to 1 square column on each side. The contractor says that he thinks we should go with an 8" square but my gut says 10" square with trim at the top and bottom. The porch is 15 feet wide and 7 feet deep for a sense of scale.

Here is the before:

Here is today's picture after removing one column from each side and a new front door

I think we need something beefier on each side. Thoughts?

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Comments (12)

decoenthusiaste
last year
Maybe they should be matched to the width of the pilasters flanking the doors.
ShadyWillowFarm
last year
Can’t you box in the existing posts?
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PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
If you go8- 10" can you just wrap them over replacing them? more cost effective I would think. Unless they are rotting? For me I would do ten, but the entire porch is quite well interesting, with the double steps. here is kinda what I think the subtle difference maybe.https://www.pinterest.com/pin/267260559128134297/
KH 888
Original Author
last year
Wrapping our current columns isn't possible for a variety of reasons. I did a mock up with the different sized columns and I think 10" are the best.

And here is one of my inspiration photos for comparison
PRO
Home Reborn
last year
If it's any help, here is a porch with 10" square columns
Bungalow Top-Up Addition - Elmont Drive · More Info
millworkman
last year
"Bungalow Top-Up Addition - Elmont Drive"

Thats a bungalow?
KH 888
Original Author
last year
@Home Reborn If those are 10" columns, it must be a very shallow porch.
KW PNW Z8
last year
@KH 888 If you want 10”, I think that’s what you should have - unless contractor has given you a structural reason for 8”. Unrelated sort of question. Does your update include widening steps to porch width & walkway to step width - whether widening steps or not?
kempek01
last year
Tell the contractor you want 10 inch columns. If he says that you only need 8, that's OK. "Too much" column will be fine.

If you wanted 8 inch columns, and the contractor felt that 10 inch columns were needed for safety, that would be a different conversation.
KH 888
Original Author
last year
@KW PNW Z8 We have a great contractor and he will definitely do what we want, I think he was just thinking that 8" would look better and I am thinking that I want a more hefty column since the porch is so visually heavy on top. As far as the steps are concerned, yes . . . we have considered widening the stairs and the walkway. I don't know what it's like for everyone else but in our part of the world, it is impossible to get people to show up and do work. The contractor that we are working with is a friend who stepped in with we were ghosted by yet another contractor. All that to say, I haven't been able to find someone to show up and do the brick work so we probably will not widen the steps, but we will have the walkway repoured and it will be wider to match the step width.
PRO
Norwood Architects
last year
Porch columns are consistently undersized on homes that I have seen. I would suggest 12" square columns. Have your contractor purchase some 8", 10" and 12" boards, cut them to the needed height and have him stand the boards in place to see which looks the best.
KW PNW Z8
last year
@KH 888 It’s the same everywhere I think - finding a good contractor to do a ”smaller” job is challenging & then, get in line & wait! Just having the wider walkway will be a huge difference. You can be creative with interesting big pots sitting on big square pavers in the indent next to steps & against porch. Plant with a low flowering evergreen like small azaelea or something like Lavendar - depending on your plant zone.

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