How to find the right Millwork Columns AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Millwork Columns
- Load-bearing vs decorative
- If the column will support a roof or beam, buy only one with a manufacturer-stated load rating, or hide a structural post inside a non-structural wrap. Many decorative wood columns are hollow staved shells that are not meant to carry structural loads.
- Split vs full-round
- To dress up an existing post, buy a split (two-piece) column. Its inside diameter must clear the post on all sides. Split columns wrap an existing post, while full-round columns must be installed before the beam goes in.
- Sizing and proportion
- Specify the shaft diameter at the base and the finished height including the capital and base. For classical orders, keep height at roughly 8 to 10 times the base diameter. Undersized columns look spindly, and height is often quoted for the shaft only.
- Exterior detailing
- Outdoors, use a rot-resistant species and a vented cap and plinth (or a non-wood plinth). Seal the inside of the column as well as the outside. Trapped moisture at the base is the most common way wood columns fail.
- Taper
- Choose a tapered column with entasis for classical styles and a straight shaft for craftsman or modern square styles. The wrong profile looks off next to the rest of the trim.
Brands that matter
- HB&G: Wood and composite columns, including load-bearing lines.
- Chadsworth Columns: Wide choice of wood species and classical orders.
- Turncraft: Established column maker offering wood and composite options.
- Pacific Columns: Wood and fiberglass architectural columns in many sizes.
What to avoid
- Using a decorative staved column as the only support for a roof
- Wood bases in direct contact with a porch slab
- Columns sold by shaft height only, without the cap and base dimensions
Questions
Can a split column carry weight?
No. The post inside it carries the load, and the split column is only a decorative wrap.