Help us modernize our ranch house's porch
April 30, 2018 11:15 AM Subscribe
The front and back porch of our house are held up (we think) by metal poles. Please help us figure out what sort of professional to contact to help us update the look of the columns.
We'd like to modernize the front of our house, but aren't sure what kind of professional's help we need. We have several metal columns (artwork?) on our front porch. Neither of us has any clue if they're structural or not, but we do know we dislike how they look. Can the same person who helps us determine if they are structural also help us come up with an alternative column that looks more aesthetically pleasing? (My guess is no.) Also, who helps us determine if they are structural? And who do we need to help us make them look better (an architect?)? We'd also like to the same in the back - the poles in the back seem much likely to be structural, so we probably don't need help on that end. We're in Austin, TX, in case it matters.
Pictures!
We'd like to modernize the front of our house, but aren't sure what kind of professional's help we need. We have several metal columns (artwork?) on our front porch. Neither of us has any clue if they're structural or not, but we do know we dislike how they look. Can the same person who helps us determine if they are structural also help us come up with an alternative column that looks more aesthetically pleasing? (My guess is no.) Also, who helps us determine if they are structural? And who do we need to help us make them look better (an architect?)? We'd also like to the same in the back - the poles in the back seem much likely to be structural, so we probably don't need help on that end. We're in Austin, TX, in case it matters.
Pictures!
The poles could be surrounded with wood to look like a wood column, in whatever style. The poles would still support the porch. Any good carpenter could do this.
It also seems likely that the decorative metalwork could be replaced by a constructed wood column.
posted by H21 at 11:47 AM on April 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
It also seems likely that the decorative metalwork could be replaced by a constructed wood column.
posted by H21 at 11:47 AM on April 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't think those are artwork, so yes they're probably structural. This is the style you commonly see currently, and it says it can support a load of 566 lbs. Since yours looks pretty similar in scale, I'd feel pretty comfortable selecting any porch post (which is likely to be a more useful search term than column) that can support at least that much.
Instead of replacing the rear columns, you could do column covers or sleeves if you wanted, rather than replace them. You could start looking online to see if there are prefab styles you like before you hire someone. Menards has a pretty good website for reference, or you can check a builders store somewhere more local to you.
posted by Kriesa at 11:50 AM on April 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Instead of replacing the rear columns, you could do column covers or sleeves if you wanted, rather than replace them. You could start looking online to see if there are prefab styles you like before you hire someone. Menards has a pretty good website for reference, or you can check a builders store somewhere more local to you.
posted by Kriesa at 11:50 AM on April 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
It looks like those are supporting a beam than holds up part of the roof overhang. You don't need a structural engineer. Any reasonably skilled carpenter can figure out whether they are indeed structural. It's not rocket science.
You could easily replace them with wooden or fiberglass columns something like this. The work is not especially difficult and could be done in one or two days, not including order time. The carpenter would put in temporary 2x4 or 4x4 supports, install the new columns, then remove the temporary supports. You could do the paint finishing yourself, if you are so inclined.
posted by JackFlash at 11:51 AM on April 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
You could easily replace them with wooden or fiberglass columns something like this. The work is not especially difficult and could be done in one or two days, not including order time. The carpenter would put in temporary 2x4 or 4x4 supports, install the new columns, then remove the temporary supports. You could do the paint finishing yourself, if you are so inclined.
posted by JackFlash at 11:51 AM on April 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Those are likely holding up the porch roof, or at least assisting.
You can get a wood + decorative column to replace the existing stuff.
Don't pitch the existing stuff, though, even if you have it torn down. That cast-iron stuff can be used for restoration on other houses. There was evidently a lot of different styles available back when, so someone might really want it if it matches perfectly.
posted by notsnot at 12:34 PM on April 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
You can get a wood + decorative column to replace the existing stuff.
Don't pitch the existing stuff, though, even if you have it torn down. That cast-iron stuff can be used for restoration on other houses. There was evidently a lot of different styles available back when, so someone might really want it if it matches perfectly.
posted by notsnot at 12:34 PM on April 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
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If you have a really strong idea of what you want to replace the front post with, you could likely just go for the contractor and tell them what you want. If you’d just as soon remove the front post altogether, you could go straight to an engineer. You could also look up the prescriptive requirements for a load bearing exterior wall and compare it to the size of the opening it is spanning and see if it meets code minimums. An experienced contractor could do that for you as well.
posted by amanda at 11:41 AM on April 30, 2018