I have this concrete porch that I've come to really love. When I moved in, there were wrought iron support columns, but I had to take them out because two of them were rusted out badly. Now, I've replaced them with wooden 4x4 posts. There are only three of them, but I'm not completely thrilled with how the skinny 4x4s look. I'm curious about other people's opinions. Do they really look that bad without any wrapping? Would wrapping them make them look better, or would staining them be enough to not seem 'unfinished'?
3 Answers
I wrapped my posts with trim, added some caulk, and painted them. I used a durable hardiboard trim, and I think it looks way better. Plus, it gives the posts a bit more width, which enhances the overall look.
On a similar project, I used 6x6 posts to give it that bulkier look. I routed the edges and stained them after smoothing them out. They turned out looking great, a bit rustic but finished perfectly.
I really wish I had chosen 6x6s instead. After a bad installation by a pro, I had to redo a lot of work. Now I just can't bring myself to spend more money on that.
You're spot on! Wider posts do help support the visual weight of the roof. Wrapping them in fir or Azek and matching the trim to your house will pay off in the long run.
That sounds relatively inexpensive too, right?