An architectural column is a structural or decorative column that can bear weight. Made from wood, aluminum, or a fiberglass mix, they are used indoors and out and are available in several different shapes and sizes.
Many home owners are intrigued by historically accurate architectural columns, columns reminiscent of glorious structures like the Parthenon in Athens or ancient Greece. Greek architecture, for example, famously incorporated rows of columns to transform public temples and other buildings into majestic open structures rather than closed, stone box-like structures.
Greek and Roman Styles
The two most common types of architectural columns are the Greek and Roman styles. Greek columns are further divided according to style into three more categories: the Doric Order, the Ionic Order and the Corinthian Order. All three of these column designs have a Roman version in addition to two purely-Roman styles: Tuscan and Composite.
So Much To Choose From
Architectural columns can be square or hexagonal. They can be twisted, a double set, plain or decorated. They can be simple and traditional or feature unusual bases and contemporary capitals or tops. The many variations on the classic characteristics of Tuscan, Ionic, Doric or Corinthian columns can be tossed aside to create an entirely unique architectural look for your home.
Part of what makes this wide scope of originality possible is the range of raw materials available for the manufacture of columns today. These include everything from wood, to stone, fiberglass to chrome, bronze, and brass. Many are created from a mix of materials, usually a natural material reinforced with fiberglass. Examples included glass fiber reinforced stone (GFRS); glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP); glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC); and glass fiber reinforced gypsum (GFRG).
Where To Begin
In fact there are so many choices in materials, styles and design that it may be difficult to choose. Start with the overall look that you'd like for your porch, interior, exterior or yard. Contemporary or classic? Simple or ornate? Then consider the use of the column: Load bearing or decorative? If it's load-bearing, is it a part of the structure or a single-standing unit?
Each of your functional and decorative choices will help you narrow down your materials and design. If you like sleek and simple lines, early Greek Doric or Ionic columns are a good style for you. If you like ornate and contemporary you may want a modified Roman Tuscan column. In the same way, if you'd like an intricate design on your interior column, you may prefer one made of a soft wood like pine. However, improved fiberglass molding techniques provide excellent detail to decorative components of a custom column.
If your column will stand outdoors as the support for a bird bath or a sun dial, then you may prefer fiberglass or a fiberglass mix that is slow to wear due to weather and insects. Another choice for exterior columns of non-standard size is pre-cast stone. Indoors or out, some architectural columns are shell designs that wrap around load-bearing shafts of wood.
Don't Be Afraid To Ask For What You Want
Today's architects have an assortment of technological choices for creating columns styled to their specifications. About 80 percent of the columns sold today have some mix of fiberglass. Most fiberglass mix columns contain close to 40 percent fiberglass with the remaining 60 percent a mix of other composites to achieve the desired effect. That effect may be load bearing capacity, texture, or the look of traditional materials such as stone, plaster or marble.
Custom sizes and shapes are also common with most manufacturers. Many distributors will maintain a stock of both decorative and load bearing columns in a range of heights and diameters, each with bases and traditional top designs to match. If you have a special design in mind, don't be afraid to ask around until you find it. Chances are, if it isn't already available, you can have columns created to fit your unique specifications with no problem at all.
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