Replies

1. 
   MalibuJim | Aug 19, 2003 07:51pm | #1

   Hi John,

   We plan on doing this exact same detail on our ne house this year.  I do not know what the exact proportions are, but there is a ton of reference material on craftsman style houses.  Just a rule of thumb that I will be following is to keep the taper very slight and think of "Massiveness" when designing them.  It's only my opinion, but the columns that I've seen that are very wide and stout look allot classier then skinny ones.

   I think anything less than 16" square at the base is too small.

   Check the internet and book stores for reference.

   Jim

2. 
   LittleLloyd | Aug 20, 2003 12:50am | #2

   Sketch it out!  It helps a ton.  Take a picture of the current porch.  Scan it into your 'puter, then using whatever rinky-dink drawing program you have (MS-Paint, Powerpoint, FreeCAD) and try different things on top.  I don't recall the numbers off hand but there is a lot of Golden Rectangles (1.61:1) proportions, and the taper is very slight.  ~4 degrees if I remember.  Much more does not quit look right.  I did the same for our fence.  6x10 looks much better than a standard 8' span on a 6' tall fence.

   
3. 
   jagwah | Aug 20, 2003 01:51am | #3

   My home is along the style you mention . I wanted the same columns but found little help as to proportions. I decided that I need to make them large after seeing a lot of pitiful efforts by others.

   I am glad that later FHB if memories serve me came out with an article about wimpy columns and how bigger was better.

   Any way here's a photo or two. One has a framing square at the base for comparison.

   The bottom column is 23" square before the base was applied. It is 33"tall before the concrete was poured in place.

   The column on the concrete goes from 19 1/2"square to 11 1/2" square in 47 1/2" of height.

   The concrete is 3" thick with gingko and other leaves embedded for looks.

   The top is a 1 1/4" cap with a 2 1/2" crown added above the 47 1/2".

   I made the styles and rails from MDX 3" wide. The inner panels are a textured concrete siding board that comes 4'x8'. I hoped all these materials would reduce any chance for material failure.

   J.ust A G.uy W.ith A H.ammer 

1. 
   RobKress | Aug 20, 2003 04:41am | #5

   jagwah,

   Nice touch with the gingko leaves.  I'm currently building an Arts and Crafts home and was thinking about gingko leaf accents but instead thought I would change it up a bit.  So I picked a red bordered pixie (butterfly).  Have to be careful though.  As with everything, too much of a good thing....

   John H,

   I have been looking diligently at craftsman bungalows now for about 2 years.  In all that time, I have only seen one house that had the columns proportioned just right.  And it was obvious.  All the others just looked a little "off".  Personally, I don't prefer the very chunky arts and crafts columns so I am doing mine a little more slender but still "substantial" enough.  I have no idea what the proportions should be but .... you must get it right!  It will be obvious.  Do some scale drawings (that's what I'll be doing).  And I may go back and measure those columns that I saw that ONE time.  And I would totally start with the golden ratio as well.

   Good luck,

   Rob Kress

4. 
   DougU | Aug 20, 2003 04:11am | #4

   John

   Another suggestion is to drive around, there are literally thousands of these houses out there, find one you like and copy it.

   Doug

5. 
   WayneL5 | Aug 20, 2003 05:06am | #6

   You can measure the angle right off of a photograph of a column that looks right to you.  Blow it up on a photocopier if it helps.

   Another possible design that's also sometimes used on Craftsman homes is a pair of straight columns, say, two 6" x 6" columns a foot apart.

6. 
   xMikeSmith | Aug 20, 2003 05:24am | #7

   here's two we did last year...

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   jagwah | Aug 20, 2003 06:37am | #9

   Very nice. I was very close to deciding on a taller column like yours. I can see I would have made equally a good choice. I do like the shingle look.

   Great !

1. 
   DeanWine | Aug 21, 2003 08:05am | #10

   This goes to all who responded, thanks for the input, I guess it's time to do some scale drawings and make some mockups in 1/4 ply to see if it looks right. 

   I guess Frank Lloyd Wright could just draw them, but he leaves the rest of us to search for the right match.

   I'll post some before and after photos when I'm done.

   Mike Smith: nice photos, but what's that funny white stuff on the roof and ground (just kidding, I'm originally from Western New York).

1. 
   IMERC | Aug 21, 2003 08:50am | #11

   Frozen pipes can get interesting.

   
1. 
   xMikeSmith | Aug 21, 2003 12:57pm | #12

   imerc.. i don't think AAA is going to renew that certificationMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

7. 
   kbmunkholm | Aug 20, 2003 06:18am | #8

   John,

   check out

   Fine Homebuilding - December 2000/January 2001 - #136

   page 106 - Building column with entasis

   Some good info there.

   KM