Porch Column Styles

Columns can add a dramatic visual element to a front porch.

Porch columns hold up the roof, but they can do a lot more. Selecting the right porch column can add beauty and style to the front of a home, which may translate into added value when the time comes to sell. Classic Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns in materials like wood, brick and fiberglass are among the choices for porch columns.

Parts of the Column

The capital is the ornate feature at the top of the column. Capitals come in several architectural styles. The shaft is the long part of the column. It can be plain, fluted or tapered. Tapering originated with the ancient Greeks, who figured out that the column seems to grow larger at the top. To offset this effect, the shafts were tapered on the upper part of the column. The base of a column typically comes in the Attic style or the Tuscan style. Before selecting a style of column, it is vital to predict how much weight the column will bear. In cold climates that get a lot of snow, a 12-inch-diameter fiberglass column may be in order because it can support up to 18,000 pounds. Consulting with a professional is recommended to find out weight-bearing requirements.

The Doric Column

The Parthenon in Greece features Doric columns. The Doric column is a simple structure that originated in Greece and spread to southern Italy and Sicily. Doric columns give a plain appearance and traditionally feature 20 flutes that come to a point. The shaft has no base; the shaft is placed directly on the floor of the porch. The capital is generally a simple curved molding. The historical Doric column height was 5 1/2 times the width of the column.

The Ionic Column

The Ionic column is narrow and graceful. It typically features a capital that resembles a ram's horn. Classic Ionic columns have 24 flutes on the shaft, starting just above the base. The height is around nine times the diameter.

The Corinthian Column

Corinthian columns are extremely decorative. The column is usually fluted, and the capitals feature rows of leaves. In contrast to the capital, the Attic base is more refined. Corinthian column height is 10 times the diameter; they often adorn the front porches of homes in the South.

The Roman Column

Traditional Roman columns, found on the Theater of Marcellus in Italy, also have a height based on the width of the column. The height of a Roman column is eight times the diameter. Fluting is altered or absent. Today, Romanesque styles are square with a large base that is wider than the top of the column. Mission and Craftsman style homes feature Romanesque columns.

References

• Guide to Columns: A Brief History of Columns
• Front Porch Ideas and More