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Front Porch Columns

Types of Porch Columns

Front porch columns and porch posts are built or remodeled are commonly made from wood, fiberglass, FRP, stone, or other material. Not only do porch columns serve an important structural role, they also come in various decorative styles for instant curb appeal.

Versatile, you can easily use porch column wraps to change the look of your porch dramatically You can make round columns square or rectangular and square columns round!

Photo courtesy of Au Petit Chateau

Our columns photo gallery will give you more columns for your porch!

Wood Columns

Wood porch columns (like those pictured above) can be purchased with detailed carvings or left smooth to suit your needs and can be painted to match your home's decor, whether that be complementary or contrasting.

Wood Porch Posts

Wood front porch columns can be styled classically or customized to fit your special project and be rounded or square depending on your needs.
Wood porch posts are versatile in that you can combine them with stone or brick make a unique look.

Choose only the finest woods, though; such as mahogany, poplar, cherry, pine, oak, maple, teak and redwood.

Photo courtesy of Imparting Grace

Woods have differing characteristics so choose a species that best fits your purpose. For example, if you are painting the columns choose a wood that will take paint well like pine or cedar.

Important note about venting wood front porch columns: If you use hollow wooden columns, be sure to vent them at both the top and bottom to prevent moisture buildup and wood-rot. To keep insects away cover any openings with screening material. Venting size is also important. A few little holes will not do it.

Measure your column's diameter, divide that number by 2. That's the number of square inches of ventilation you need at the both the top and bottom of the wood column. Example: if your column diameter is 15 inches you will need at least 7.5 inches of ventilation at both ends (15/2=7.5)

Fiberglass Columns

Fiberglass front porch columns have become popular for both contractors and architects because of their attractiveness and impact-resistance. Similar to wood, fiberglass columns can be round or square and be smooth or ridged (photo at right courtesy of Superior Aluminum Products) They can also replicate classic column styles (see below) and can also be used for load-bearing in specific cases.
Benefits of fiberglass columns:

The ability to shape and paint to your taste.
Weather, moisture, and insect resistant
Impact resistance is better than wood
Can support up to in some cases approximately 30,000 pounds
Requires very little maintenance

Did You Know? Glass threads are spun into thin strands and woven into a strong durable material -fiberglass. Columns are then made of a compound of combined fiberglass and plastic, and are then heated and molded into shape.

Plastic makes the column structure and the fiberglass adds the strength and durability. Today's fiberglass can withstand heat, sunlight, rust, insects, and rot.

Aluminum Columns

Aluminum columns, like ones pictured here from Superior Aluminum Products, are very elegant and normally a lower cost alternative. They are available in various styles (round, fluted, square, etc.) and can be pre-painted.

Versatile, you can use them in both load-bearing and non load-bearing applications.

Lightweight, they can be carried by an individual and installed easily.

Pre-cast Stone Columns

Pre-cast stone front porch columns replace the traditional classic natural stone today. Using new technology, manufacturers can create the classical beauty of ancient Roman columns without the drawbacks of using natural stone.

Pre-cast stones are less expensive than natural stone. Natural stone must be chiseled from a large stone slab which is labor intensive.
You won't have to worry about hidden cracks or crevices with pre-cast stones
You have design options like weathering or color schemes
Pre-cast stone manufacturing allows for one-piece shafts, halves, or even sections to surround steel supports

See our Cast Stone Column section for ideas and cast stone photos.

Stone Columns

The most elegant of columns, stone columns not only give your porch a natural look but they also add immense curb appeal. Stones must be cut from large slabs which substantially increase the overall costs; however, the final look is a work of art.

See our Stone Columns Construction Pictorial and Considerations Guide for more information.

Brick

Front porch brick columns, like stone columns, are another great option. The same characteristics and factors apply to brick as they do for stone so I won't repeat them here. However, brick is less expensive than stone and not as expensive to build.

Photo at right courtesy of fl architect fan

Wrought Iron

wrought-iron-columns

Wrought iron columns don't have to be boring. Because of their availability, wrought iron is very popular. It comes in all types of designs, from simple to elegant.

Column Wraps

Craftsman-style Cellular PVC Columns

Front porch column wraps can convert ordinary posts and columns into a stylish column quickly and easily. They are usually made from maintenance-free PVC (fiberglass) and available in a variety of styles that fit around your existing columns. Column wraps come in kit form and usually include caps, bases, and blocks, etc. Column wraps are available at most home improvement stores.

Can dramatically change the look of your porch easily and is relatively inexpensive. (It's an easy and quick way to create curb appeal).
Come in a variety of colors, textures, hues, and also faux stone and wood
Installation varies. Fiberglass wraps have to be fitted around the column and caulked. Wood slat columns are installed in top and base components.
Can be painted, stenciled, or textured
Wrought-iron column wraps are available also. Styles include flowers, scrolls, and other artwork
Column wraps can be temporary fixtures. People use them to decorate for weddings, photography, and other events.

Be sure to see our non-structural vinyl porch column section for options and more ideas!

Use our columns photo gallery to see more ideas to use on your porch!

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