Refresh Your Front Porch Columns

If your front porch columns are looking worn or dated, updating them can completely transform the look of your home's exterior. Refreshed columns introduce appealing visual elements that align with your home's architecture and reflect your personal style.

But where do you start to update your entryway columns? Follow this guide covering start-to-finish steps for planning, preparing, installing, and decorating your refreshed porch supports.

Reasons to Update Your Front Porch Columns

Before diving into a column upgrade project, it helps to review what motivates a makeover in the first place. Here are top reasons for updating tired or damaged front porch columns:

• Restore structural integrity: If your columns show signs of decay, wrapping or replacing them enhances porch stability.
• Improve curb appeal: Freshly updated columns can completely transform your home's facade.
• Correct previous water damage: Symptoms like cracked paint or warped boards indicate moisture issues that wrapping will address.
• Introduce architectural details: Columns lend themselves to decorative trim additions aligning with your home's style.
• Showcase your unique taste: From classic to modern materials, new column finishes display your personal preferences.

Once you decide to upgrade your columns, careful planning ensures your new pillars not only look amazing but also stand the test of time.

Planning Your Porch Column Renovation Project

Success begins with diligent planning covering structural assessments, material choices, measurements, and key design decisions.

Assessing Your Existing Columns

Before making any column changes, complete thorough examinations revealing current conditions. Check for:

• Structural damage like cracks or rot
• Signs of past water incursion including warped surfaces or mold
• Presence of pests that may have compromised integrity

Record all inspection findings to inform required repairs. Then clean columns to remove loose debris and flaking paint in preparation for upgrades.

Choosing New Column Materials

With condition assessments complete, decide on your preferred wrapping medium. Top options include:

• Plywood: Budget-friendly boards that provide a smooth facade for paints or stains.
• Fiber cement planks: Moisture-resistant composites perfect for withstanding weather shifts.
• Brick or stone veneers: Natural finishes introducing appealing traditional textures.
• Decorative foam covers: Lightweight faux options offering versatility across styles.

Consider the level of maintenance, textures, structural requirements and costs when selecting your new exterior column finishes.

Measuring and Design Considerations

Taking accurate measurements ensures properly-sized materials for seamless installations.

Use a tape measure to capture the height, width, and depth of each column along with any decorative elements like molding or trim.

With exact dimensions in hand, create rough sketches mapping desired updates. Will you introduce new caps or base trim? What about fluted edges? Make note of planned additions guiding your material purchases.

Finally, choose stain or paint colors aligned with your homes existing color scheme. Sample various hues against brick, siding or other exterior elements.

Preparing for Column Installation

With planning and design work done, shift focus to preparing both site and materials for forthcoming installations.

Tools and Materials

Ensure required tools like circular saws, hammers and screwdrivers are on hand along with these materials:

• Selected column wraps like plywood boards
• Weatherproof wood glue, screws, and nails
• Workhorses and planks for access if columns are elevated
• Sandpaper across various grains
• Exterior-grade wood primer
• Caulk for sealing joints
• Paint or wood stains in chosen hues

Work Area Setup

Prepare your porch and surrounding site to safely complete upcoming installation steps:

• Use workhorse ladders or scaffolding to create easy column access
• Cover nearby plants and porch surfaces to protect from debris
• Set up a step ladder with paint supplies for finishing work
• Place a tarp nearby to temporarily hold discarded column pieces

With the right supplies on hand and your workspace organized, it's time to install refreshed facade supports.

Installing New Porch Columns

Careful demolition work followed by securing new wraps lets you reinvent front entry columns with long-lasting structural enhancements.

Removing Old Columns

First, take down existing exterior column cladding using these steps:

1. Use a pry bar to remove any decorative trim or molding
2. Hammer columns to break apart boards, taking care not to impact structural posts
3. Pull away pieces fully exposing column posts
4. Sand and clean posts, preparing surfaces for new wraps

Putting Up New Column Structures

With fresh blank canvases ready, it's time to install replacement exterior column structures:

1. Align plywood or other wraps on posts and mark cutting lines
2. Use a circular saw to cut boards to height and width
3. Apply wood glue to boards and posts
4. Attach boards to posts using screws spaced at 12 inches
5. Use corner trim and fill gaps with caulk for clean lines

Take care reinforcing the middles of columns using plyboards cut specifically for bracing across center widths.

Applying Surface Materials and Trims

Newly wrapped posts serve as the perfect backdrop for decorative elements:

• Nail molding strips evenly across tops and bottoms or at seams
• Attach custom column caps atop pilots to introduce unique silhouettes
• Use foam accent pieces for fluted or ornamental textures

Finally, apply primer across new boards, allowing surfaces to fully dry before painting or staining.

Decorating Updated Porch Columns

With fresh structural Columns now in place, it's time to add final touches fully aligning facades with your home's look.

Choosing Color Palettes

Carefully consider how painted or stained columns will complement existing exterior elements like brick or siding colors. For cohesion:

• Select a lighter or darker version of your home's current hue
• Choose a color popping against neutrals like white columns on grey houses
• Echo tones seen in other features as with green columns against olive window frames

Visit home improvement stores and use color sample cards to view potential palette matches before committing to final painting or staining.

Adding Decorative Touches

Beyond structural changes, leverage columns as platforms for infusing personal flair with these creative ideas:

• Incorporate custom lighting like sconces or spotlights
• Build planter boxes around column bases for flowers
• Add house numbers, family name signs or decorative emblems
• Showcase collectibles or art inside column recesses

Implement one or more decorative touches making your updated columns artistic showpieces reflecting unique tastes.