Many older homes are graced by columns supporting a porch roof. Most of these columns will eventually need repair or replacement, as they suffer the effects of age and weather. With a little know-how, this job can be done by the homeowner on a do-self basis.

The first task is to determine the extent of the repair. Sometimes, you will only need to replace the plinth (the bottom trim piece at the base of the column) or the capital (the top trim piece.) Small holes in the pillar or trim pieces can sometimes be filled with wood putty, or soft spots hardened up with wood hardener. Once the pillar shows signs of significant deterioration, however, it’s usually necessary to replace the whole thing.

Locating a replacement column can be tricky. Some columns are made from aluminum, others from composite materials, and still others from wood. The round-style wood pillars are hollow, made from vertical strips of wood laminated together. Older columns tended to be larger than their modern counterparts – the wooden columns most readily available today are 8” in diameter, while older ones were often 9-1/2”. You might be able to match your column at an architectural salvage place; otherwise, you’ll probably have to replace all your columns to have them match one another. (Read more….)