craftman-style column valid construction technique
I’m in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I have a reproduction of a craftman-style house that was built in 2006. The house has non-load bearing columns. The columns do not go to the top of the roof eaves; however, they are somewhat covered by the eaves. There’s approximately 30″ from the center of the column top to the eave. When in the process of replacing the caulk I was surprised to find that the top of the columns are not sealed. I think the columns are filled with a wood filler that has become a bit brittle over the years. Is this a valid construction technique? What should be done to maintain the column tops? I’m seeing what could be water damage at the column’s faux-brick base. The photo on the left shows the column under the eave. The one on the right is a bird’s eye view of the top of the column.
Replies
Are you saying there’s no top cap on that faux column?
That's correct. There's no top cap on the columns. The picture on the right shows the top of one of the columns.
Yikes.
Hopefully they don’t build them like that anymore.
I would take it apart and start over. There could (probably is) damage to the dwelling behind that thing. The wood “filler” I see looks like rotted framing material. This can’t be doing any good to what’s behind it.