In choosing new columns for a colonial revival 100+ old house, I’ve been told by a contractor to pick what I like, by others to use Lally columns and build the boxes around them with knives to replicate the columns now in place. There are polyresin columns in different styles, and architectural companies that advertise in FHB; there are columns that are load-bearing aluminum sold by Lowe’s and Pear’s of Texas. There are wood columns from Schwerd’s, Chadsworth, and I’m sure many more. There was the article in FHB, #153 “Rejuvenating an Old Porch” with fiberglass columns. Is there any way to may any sense of all this information? H – e–l–p!
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Replies
Do the new columns have to match remaining old columns?
Fiberglass columns (Turncraft is one brand) are strong, rot-proof, and affordable. Just be sure to clean them real well before painting, or the paint may peel! Pay attention to the size of the original columns and try to match that if the scale looks right.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
Trish
Like Al says, do they have to match existing columns or are you replacing all of them. Are they round or square, you refer to building the box around lallys, that says they are square, dont think that you can build a round column around a lally in place.
If they are square they shouldnt be that difficult to replicate.
Where you at in TX, never heard of Pears of Tx.
Any craftsman in the area should be able to build square columns, some can do round ones.
Doug
Trish
I'm restoring to the best of my ability a circa:1680 house here on LI in NY.
One of the things I'm doing is adding a front porch where there use to be one.
The historic society here told me that in that day years ago no round columns were ever used in case thats of interest to you.
If it were me doing your house I'd use dble 2x4's as a support or a lally column and build a square column around it with nice trim work top and bottem...PS...make sure to use pressure treated lumber at the base.
Be old
Namaste
andy
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