Covering porch posts

Re: Covering porch posts

Michael Wangler in Rochester, NY

>Max,

I would suggest using a paint grade exterior plywood or MDO I got my overlay exterior plywood from a local cabinet shop. It was costly ~$95 a sheet for 3/4". It takes primer and paint great. It still looks good after 2 winters. I designed and built the porch myself. The taper is only 3 degrees, but looks like it is more.

Best luck,

Michael

Re: Covering porch posts

MaxM

>That's the idea, but I would like to taper them from top to bottom w.o the bases. If that's 3 deg, I would guess a 1-1.5 deg taper would do for me. I also would like to keep them as narrow as possible.

I have a TS with Bies fence to rip the material, but how should I taper it? Should I taper two opposing sides then use square stock on the other sides, or compound miter the corners?

Thanks.

Re: Covering porch posts

George@Colonel's Workshop-Havertown PA

>Good Morning Max,

I sure like the columns the way they are. Couldn't you substitute columns from man made material to preserve the classic appearence.

George

Re: Covering porch posts

MaxM

>The columns are fine, just not the style I'm looking for. I have seen the PVC columns and they look horrible. This is what it used to look like:

Re: Covering porch posts

Ernie Miller

>It's not realy a compound miter. but I wouldn't miter at all Cut you four tapers. then atach them at 90� angles so they lap all the way around on one corner only. You will be able to use the existiog post at the bottom to secure it to but you will need to build it out at the top some way to hold them solid. if you are using 3/4" stock than the post are 3 5/8" then you will need to make the bottom of the taper 4 3/8" and the top would need to be larger depending on the taper you want Something like 6 3/8" You may want to make the bottom 4 1/2" in case the post expands in wet weather. I would screw and glue it together with the screws countersunk and filled over with putty. I can draw you a picture if you don't understand? I would make a mock up out of card board to get the taper you like.

Re: Covering porch posts

Mike Fitterling

>Taper all four side. All the old homes here have tapered columns and all the joints are just butt joints. You will have to make two of the sides slightly narrower than the others to keep all sides the same width when assembled. MDO is an excellent material for this.

I'm with you George.

Don Henthorn

>I might use a little gingerbread to dress up the parts near the ceiling but I would sure leave the rest alone. The house has character. I know how one gets tired of things sometimes but I think ii is often not good to try and change a good design.

'Nother possibility for you

Ellis Walentine

>Why not replace the posts instead of trying to clad them in place? Then you can make the new ones in your shop -- either out of solid 6x6s or boxed 1x6s.

I replaced my porch posts last spring and it was pretty easy. I used solid Doug fir and they feel much more substantial than the old boxed ones that I replaced. Solid posts would allow you to easily cut the taper on your bandsaw instead of constructing it with tapered pieces, but if you do decide to use 3/4" material, I would either biscuit them together with butt joints (the biscuits will keep the pieces in registration when you glue them up) or use a lock miter router or shaper bit. Also, if you box them, install solid material in the top and bottom and seal the bottoms with epoxy to keep water from leaching up into them.

Ellis Walentine, Host

Re: 'Nother possibility for you

Chuck Lenz

>The problem I see with boxing in your existing posts is your deck isn't big enough. To add a taper to your existing posts you would have to widen the posts at the bottom and taper up, then add a bottom plate that is a bit bigger than the base of the post. With all that you would be over hanging your deck with the base of the posts by quite a bit. If you do wrap your posts I would suggest you move them in from the edge of the deck and up above, I think I would do as Ellis suggested also, butt joints with biscuits and I vote for Gorrilla Glue or a equivelant type glue. The ginger bread idea brought up by someone else in here is another great possibility for you too. Personally I think it would fit your house nicely, and could possibly lead to alot easier upgrade. And if you don't allready own a scroll saw, well theres your excuse to buy one.