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Craftsman column pics? wada-ya-got?

Matt | Posted in Construction Techniques on November 13, 2007 04:08am

I’m looking for some pics of different style craftsman columns.  I’ll start it off with a few just to get it going…  I’m particurally interested in ones with a framed bottom half.  Stone probably isn’t in the budget.

What can you add?

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Replies

  1. User avater
    jagwah | Nov 13, 2007 04:29pm | #1

    Here's a few.

     

    1. User avater
      Matt | Nov 14, 2007 02:58pm | #2

      Thanks bud...

      I like that "1 of 3 Porch Columns" pic.  Care to give me a summary of what it was made out of and how it was built?

      1. User avater
        jagwah | Nov 14, 2007 04:36pm | #3

        The 3 columns along the front porch have cast in place concrete ledges. The styles and rails of the sides is exterior MED X board and the fields are concrete siding panel. All the corners are done using a lock miter joinery. It's been 4 years and nothing has opened up or otherwise failed.

        Here's a full shot of the house. 

        1. User avater
          Matt | Nov 15, 2007 02:37am | #4

          Bump...

          Matt - you got something for me? - I'm thinking I saw some pics of your work that was interesting...

          1. Stilletto | Nov 15, 2007 03:07am | #5

            I was going to put up some pictures but I can't find them.  I'll probably get some tommorrow.  I had a post all typed out and went to attach the files and they were gone. 

            I have to go check on a foundation next door to some I built a little while ago. 

            But mine are cultured stone veneer on 16"x16" chimney blocks. I know you want some all wood ones but these were very affordable in my book.    

            I'll attach a  picture of some Tuscan posts I set on many projects.  They are made of a fiberglass composite of some sorts.  THe name escapes me now for some reason.  But again they are very affordable.  The picture is of a porch I built a few years ago. 

             

             

            Matt- Woods favorite carpenter. 

          2. User avater
            Matt | Nov 15, 2007 06:32am | #6

            Thanks Matt.  Yea I use those posts a lot myself.  I can't think of the name either. Quick, easy, not too pricey and they come out nice.  Actually I was thinking about using them on the subject project as the top half of some of the craftsman columns.  I'm not in total control though.  This is that TH project and I'm collecting some photo's to show my boss man and try and talk him into changing it up a bit between the different TH units.  Each is to have a "rocking chair" front porch with columns.  The overall look of the project is to be craftsman style.  Personally I'm getting a bit tired of this craftsman thing.  Anyway, I mentioned to the archi that I had seen a lot of vintage craftsman style houses with the top half of the column as round - his statement - yea, well, you don't know how many of those had been changed out...

            If you can get any pics of craftsman columns please post them.  Actually I know where a bunch of "new-old" houses are so I probably need to go take some more pics down there too.  I have 7 pics thus far.

          3. User avater
            jonblakemore | Nov 15, 2007 07:00am | #8

            Are you guys trying to remember the name "Permacast"?Here's some columns that I saw in a magazine that I liked:View Image 

            Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

          4. User avater
            Matt | Nov 15, 2007 02:50pm | #9

            Thanks John.  It's a nice looking house in the pic.  Some comments:

            1) if my wife lets me build another house, I'd like to use the cultured stone on the foundation and have stone steps like that.  I've been working on her for a few years.  :-)  My attitude - current house has worn and dirty paint.  Time for a new one :-)  She has agreed we need to downsize, we just haven't met on how far to downsize.  She says she wants the craftsman stuff so that would be the look.   Building lots are really hard to find though.

            2) I really like the way those column bases stand out from the porch.  That is one detail that I got in the drawings for the current (upcoming) project.  It is a subtle design element of the craftsman style that alludes many people.  It really helps the top of the (large base) columns hit the beam right too.

            3) Those columns have a lot of taper on them.  I kinda like the look, but it would require that the porch beam be lined up with the columns exactly right.  It's easier to go with less taper and get yourself a few inches of leeway.  A lot of this goes back to the drawings - which is where we are at right now.  I'm not sure if this archi understands this whole concept.  I put it in my notes to him and on my initial sketches.  For some reason, I find that this whole thing is something that alludes many architects and designers.

            4) I like the look of those foundation vents, however on a low foundation like that I'm not sure how practical they are.  A while back I looked around on the internet for some vintage looking vents and found some cast iron (or aluminum) ones that looked pretty cool.  I'm not sure if they "operate" though, and I'm virtually positive the ones in the pic don't - they sell those kind at my regular BS.  The thing is that to me, including the space under a porch in the crawl space is just wrong - unless the porch floor is waterproof - which is somewhat problematic.  Heck - the next house I build might even have an unvented crawl space - it will have a crawl space though. 

            5) I also really like the look of those wing walls on the steps.  They don't meet code requirements as far as a handrail on the stairs though.

            5) those window upper sashes on the main house 1st floor have an unusual mutton (grill) layout.  Kinda cool.  Not sure what it would be like buying those in "affordable" windows though.  I like the ones on the garage and they are fairly readily available too.

            Like I said - it's a nice picture.

  2. user-51823 | Nov 15, 2007 06:56am | #7

    i like jag's 1 in 3 also, though i've never seen craftsman columns on what i think of as a ranch-style house.
    Don't forget the double column-

  3. User avater
    McDesign | Nov 15, 2007 03:06pm | #10

    I've got a thread somewhere on making these a year or so ago - anything like what you need?  They're just green 6x6 cypress; had to dry 18 months before paint.  Triples at the corners; doubles at the center.

    View Image

    Forrest



    Edited 11/15/2007 7:07 am by McDesign

    1. User avater
      Matt | Nov 15, 2007 03:30pm | #11

      Awesome!  Cypress huh?  Must cost a pretty penny?  Maybe I'm living in the dark, but I've never seen new cypress timbers.  Siding - yes - structural lumber no. 

      1. User avater
        McDesign | Nov 15, 2007 03:56pm | #12

        You're not too far North for cypress.  I got these at neat lumberyard at hour south of Atlanta; actually some BT buddy put me on to the place.  They came cut-to-order from a timber farm in Alabama, IIRC - couldn't have been more than a month old - soaking wet. 

        $ not too bad; (7) (rough-sawn) 6-1/4" actual square by about 13' long cost around $900.  Weighed 1830 lbs - I drove over the scale!  What's that, $.50/lb?

        Forrest

      2. User avater
        McDesign | Nov 15, 2007 04:04pm | #13

        Found the thread - http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=73046.1

        Forrest

    2. user-51823 | Nov 15, 2007 05:53pm | #14

      sweet house, beautiful columns!

      1. User avater
        Matt | Nov 16, 2007 05:24am | #15

        I presented the pics to my boss man today.  We are using a few of the designs in addition to the standard craftsman square tapered columns.  Nothing as elaborate as McDesign's though.

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