One of the best ways to spruce up your home is to incorporate columns--indoors or out, custom columns add style and elegance in a relatively small project. When you look at Pinterest or home magazines for inspiration, you'll notice that columns come in a huge range of options, from simple round spindles to layered and decorative designs. The more ornate columns are all custom made--something that seems extravagant but in reality is nothing more than mixing and matching.
As indoor-outdoor living has become a more popular lifestyle, homebuyers are once again asking (demanding) for a front porch. And why not? They are a multifunctional space that frames the home's entrance while providing instant curb appeal. Similar to all major home-improvement projects, a good plan is vital. Here is a look at some of the key things to consider when designing the perfect front porch.
Our column builder tool has allowed us to monitor which column material is the most popular. To our surprise, wood is chosen quite often. Wood is not always the best solution for most projects however. Fiberglass columns have become the most widely used column material in todays building industry and here is why.
Ordering fiberglass columns can be overwhelming and mind-boggling when you have no idea what you should be buying in the first place. Questions with regards to quality, manufacturer reputation, column longevity, warranty, materials and shipping come to mind. No worries, we have come up with a list of 10 questions you should ask your manufacturer when purchasing columns.
As an essential element gracing the front entrance of many homes, architectural columns have traditionally served a dual role, adding both structural support to front porch overhangs and creating a distinctive architectural style. While columns can be viewed simply as an upright pillar used for decorative purposes, or on the exterior of a home to support a roof or within a home to support ceiling beams, there is no minimizing the visual effect that classical or contemporary architectural columns can add to a home's decor. Depending on the style of columns used, they can add either graceful elegance or visual power to a home's entrance or interior.
In the past, a home's front porch served as the main outdoor gathering place for social visits and family relaxation. As a matter of fact, the history of our changing culture can be seen through the various architectural forms and purposes of the front porch. Why was the front porch so significant to family life during colonial times? A University of Virginia thesis on The Cultural Significance of the American Front Porch supposes that the front porch was the family's connection to their land, and to nature - in a country where the wilderness was still yet to be tamed:
In essence, the porch served as a vital transition between the uncontrollable out-of-doors and the cherished interior of the home...In many ways, the front porch represented the American ideal of family. The porch, in essence, was an outdoor living room, where the family could retire after the activities of a long day.
Columns are one of those architectural details that can be used in a wide variety of materials and styles. While all columns are lovely, wood has benefits no other material can give. Today we want to focus on the benefits you receive when using wooden columns inside your home.
The vertical support that holds up your porch roof should not be taken lightly. Porch columns are an important feature of a home. They come in all different shapes and sizes and with that comes all different prices. Because of that, it should come as no surprise that prices are all over the place!
There are so many different things that can affect the price of porch columns. Here are a few...
The fiberglass column is a structural element that not only supports your roof, but also lends extra character to the overall aesthetic of your home.
Fiberglass is lightweight and both water and rot resistant with a class A fire rating. There are multiple choices when it comes to fiberglass columns. Which one is the best choice for your home?
Round tapered fiberglass columns
These fiberglass porch columns, additionally known as cast columns, is one of the most popular designs today. Reminiscent of the old Tuscan order of columns, but with a wider base and a slimmer top, this column draws viewers eyes upwards. These regal columns could be ideal for a home porch and are most widely used on most projects.
Handed down from the ancient Greek and Roman empire, the 5 Orders of Architectural Columns are still used in modern architecture. The Greek supplied us with the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian designs while the Romans introduced us to the Tuscan and Composite look. Each of these elements are unique in their own way. They are used in specific structures at precise times to bring together a stunningly designed building.
Worthington’s delivery process guarantees that you receive the right product at the most affordable shipping cost. Here are some of the most common questions that customers have after placing their orders.
Are Fiberglass Porch Columns Hollow?
Yes!
In fact, all porch columns, no matter if they are round, square tapered or non-tapered fluted or plain are all hollow. Also when you look at the different materials: polymer stone, fiberglass, PVC and even wood they are all hollow. This has to do with the way each of them are made. The fiberglass and polymer stone porch columns all come from a mold that has the shape of the part. The fiberglass mixture is poured into a closed mold, rotated very quickly, and then then the columns dry while they are spinning leaving the column hollow. FRP porch columns are made in halves by spraying with fiberglass strands similar to the manufacturing of a fiberglass boat. The halves are glued together in the factory or on-site creating a whole column once assembled, glued and after Bondo is applied. A wood porch column is made by gluing staves together in a circular form and then turning and cutting them on a lathe. Lastly, PVC porch columns are made from a cut out of a flat sheet of PVC and then assembled in our factory (or on-site) to make the finished square product.
You would think that selecting the architectural columns you want for your home would be just as easy as it sounds. But that couldn't be further from the truth. When it comes to columns there are so many different choices and options - from material, height, diameter and capital decoration to whether you want the column split or whole.
Buying architectural products like molding, columns, railing systems etc. can potentially put a big dent in a projects budget; but it does not have to! Small little changes can add up to big savings in the long run if you stay consistent with them.
If you have ever tried to implement your own wood columns, then you know how some of the best designs are made out of these products. For the interior of your home, there is almost no better idea then to include these great architectural columns into your home. These wooden columns provide a strong product that can be used to decorate your home. As you know, a column is a great addition to any home because it gives an older, more historical feeling to your home. There are many styles to choose from, so if you are interested in getting a contemporary design or a simple classical design, then there are customizable wood columns available for you.
