I'm in Australia. We are in the market for a house, and one we found is sort of a colonial style done badly from the 80s. I stumbled across your channel while looking for solutions to make it better should we purchase it. I found several houses in the same country town that look like the builder just repeated the style with slight variations and all of them are not right. I have always respected proportion. When making a bed I'd designed about 20 years ago, my woodworking teacher could not understand why I needed to see each part of the bed ends before figuring out the size of the next piece (I couldn't draw proportions very well). Your expertise is on display in this video and it is so very interesting. I wish I'd done architecture. Thank you.
I just lost it as soon as that I saw that column I half expected to see Micky and Pluto pop out from behind. Then you said 'already it's ugly' I fell out of my chair. Thank the stars they have right man to fix it.
Wow. I stumbled on your page a few weeks ago hoping to figure out ways to fix my porch with tall columns like this. This video answers all my questions. How perfect- thank you! Love your videos!
You were very generous with your comments about the builder. “Cartoon” is a good description. Does a pilaster ever wrap around the corner of a building, projecting to the front and the side?
Hi Brent, great video! At minute 3:05 you show a drawing of the front of the house with the taller entablature (which was made taller by lowering the height of the beams that rest on top of the columns). I thought on the front elevation that the lower beam height makes it look like the porch ceiling is "crowding" the tops of the second floor windows but then at minute 4:50 I can see in another photograph that there is in fact a raised porch ceiling behind the lowered beams (which is presumably the existing height of the porch ceiling). However, at minute 6:30 there is another photograph of a different house that shows the porch ceiling and the bottoms of the column beams are roughly the same height off the ground and that they run from the column tops to the house wall (while still leaving some space between the porch ceiling and the window tops). I have two questions: 1. Proportionally, is it better to lower the height of the beams resting on top of the columns (and make the front facade look from a distance like the porch ceiling is crowding the window tops) or would it be better to leave the column heights as they are and raise the entire porch roof (and porch ceiling) so you can then insert a taller entablature? 2. How do you manage water when you have to tie a relatively flat porch roof (and attic railings) into a sloped main roof?
Well it is always a challenge, but the designer (you) get to choose. You are asking about the very things i ask myself in the fix. I think a successful design will combine those elements in a pleasing way. I don't think there is a rule that will apply to all projects. Water too is a challenge.
Hello Brent, again many thanks for the video and the education. What's the thoughts on just tearing down the porch and introducing a modest portico. And modeling the house in the federalist style. However, it's easy for me to say, not my budget.
Wonderful fixes. Those 30” diameter columns and the capital are gross. I’m confused about the column diameter. 3 weeks ago you stated in a video about 5 Things to Get Porches Right that for every foot of column height there should be 1” of column diameter. The example used was that for 8’ from porch floor to entablature the porch column diameter should be 8”. So why aren’t you making the columns 18” diameter for 18’ column height? Help me understand why for an 18’ column height the ratio is 1:8 or 1:7 instead of 1:12 in the video 3 weeks ago.
Maybe he misspoke on that. There isn't an order that has those proportions (1:12) (I can't say never--there's bound to be something somewhere), though the Corinthian can be 1:10. The Doric and Ionic are both stouter.
I was thinking about this and if 3 more feet of entablature should be added then the columns would only be 15'. So would the diameter now only be a maximum of 2'-2.15' to stay in the 1:7 proportion or is the ratio based on total height of columns + entablature? P.S. I was watching with my son and he was impressed with your drawing skills.
Haha, tell your son thanks. You aren't just going down on the entablature you are raising it as well. These pieces need to be managed by the designer for the most pleasing look. Thx for watching.
I don't think the Greek Ionic would come off like that either. It's looks so nuts I guess that's where they stopped and called you? Without the flutes, it hard to judge for sure, but no. Is this a copy of antebellum mansions? Didn't they bend the rules in certain ways in regard to column height and spacing?
OMG. What person with a right mind would even consent (let alone pay for) to having such a hideous column installed in their home. If I lived across the street, you might find my drapes were closed more often than not.
Those capitals were so comically huge it's like the builder was punishing the homeowner for putting in a change order. And the almost non-existent entablature just highlights that the builder didn't understand the basics of what the role of the columns is supposed to be. It's taking once functional elements and making them wholly decorative with no regard for their functional history. It's like adding doors that don't open because it's a nice look.
Beyond vulgar. If my neighbor across the street did that to his house, I'd have to move. Hope you can help restore some sanity to this project, because that monstrosity looks far worse than the original.
These builders have a lot to answer for. They cost homeowners hundreds of thousands of dollars because of their lack of architectural knowledge. It’s criminal.
This is by far the worst one youve shown so far. Great solutions as always. No wonder you beat the drum of proper proportions 😂😂. That was a real capital
That capital was the silliest thing I've seen for a long time! Great video, thanks.
Thanks for watching.
I'm in Australia. We are in the market for a house, and one we found is sort of a colonial style done badly from the 80s. I stumbled across your channel while looking for solutions to make it better should we purchase it. I found several houses in the same country town that look like the builder just repeated the style with slight variations and all of them are not right. I have always respected proportion. When making a bed I'd designed about 20 years ago, my woodworking teacher could not understand why I needed to see each part of the bed ends before figuring out the size of the next piece (I couldn't draw proportions very well). Your expertise is on display in this video and it is so very interesting. I wish I'd done architecture. Thank you.
Thanks for watching. Cheers.
I just lost it as soon as that I saw that column I half expected to see Micky and Pluto pop out from behind. Then you said 'already it's ugly' I fell out of my chair. Thank the stars they have right man to fix it.
Noted. Thanks.
When I saw the first picture, I really thought that it was something that you put together as a prank. Another great video!
It was crazy.
Glad the home owner hired your company to fix that mess! love the new desighns.
Same here. Thanks!
I learn something, and become more convinced of your genius, with every video.
Wow, thanks
Wow. I stumbled on your page a few weeks ago hoping to figure out ways to fix my porch with tall columns like this. This video answers all my questions. How perfect- thank you! Love your videos!
Thanks, I'm glad they help.
I'd love to know what the 'after' ended up looking like!
I'll try to share.
Every time you showed that oversized Ionic capital I started giggling uncontrollably!
It was crazy.
I love the format of your videos. It's great and informative.
Glad to hear it! Thx
How did that builder walk away from that? One look and I started laughing
IDK agreed.
You were very generous with your comments about the builder. “Cartoon” is a good description. Does a pilaster ever wrap around the corner of a building, projecting to the front and the side?
Thanks, not generally.
That looked like someone was compensating.
😳 🤣
Haha.
Hi Brent, great video! At minute 3:05 you show a drawing of the front of the house with the taller entablature (which was made taller by lowering the height of the beams that rest on top of the columns). I thought on the front elevation that the lower beam height makes it look like the porch ceiling is "crowding" the tops of the second floor windows but then at minute 4:50 I can see in another photograph that there is in fact a raised porch ceiling behind the lowered beams (which is presumably the existing height of the porch ceiling).
However, at minute 6:30 there is another photograph of a different house that shows the porch ceiling and the bottoms of the column beams are roughly the same height off the ground and that they run from the column tops to the house wall (while still leaving some space between the porch ceiling and the window tops).
I have two questions:
1. Proportionally, is it better to lower the height of the beams resting on top of the columns (and make the front facade look from a distance like the porch ceiling is crowding the window tops) or would it be better to leave the column heights as they are and raise the entire porch roof (and porch ceiling) so you can then insert a taller entablature?
2. How do you manage water when you have to tie a relatively flat porch roof (and attic railings) into a sloped main roof?
Well it is always a challenge, but the designer (you) get to choose. You are asking about the very things i ask myself in the fix. I think a successful design will combine those elements in a pleasing way. I don't think there is a rule that will apply to all projects. Water too is a challenge.
Hello Brent, again many thanks for the video and the education. What's the thoughts on just tearing down the porch and introducing a modest portico. And modeling the house in the federalist style. However, it's easy for me to say, not my budget.
Good idea, the owner was pretty sold on that look. THx.
Brilliant! Hopefully they'll be a follow up video. If so, I look forward to seeing it.
When using square posts / columns, could you build out at the base to create a sense of entasis?
Square posts and pilasters do not generally have entasis. I'm not sure on your second question. It would depend on how you did it. Thx.
@@BrentHull that is really helpful. I was wondering how entasis was handled on square columns.
Looks like an inflatable toy you'd get after visiting a Greek theme park.
Haha, true.
Wonderful fixes. Those 30” diameter columns and the capital are gross. I’m confused about the column diameter. 3 weeks ago you stated in a video about 5 Things to Get Porches Right that for every foot of column height there should be 1” of column diameter. The example used was that for 8’ from porch floor to entablature the porch column diameter should be 8”. So why aren’t you making the columns 18” diameter for 18’ column height? Help me understand why for an 18’ column height the ratio is 1:8 or 1:7 instead of 1:12 in the video 3 weeks ago.
Maybe he misspoke on that. There isn't an order that has those proportions (1:12) (I can't say never--there's bound to be something somewhere), though the Corinthian can be 1:10. The Doric and Ionic are both stouter.
Good question. I need to do another video to clear it up. I'm working on a new one now that I can show. Thanks.
Yes. thanks.
@@BrentHull thank you! Look forward to seeing the clarifying video.
I was thinking about this and if 3 more feet of entablature should be added then the columns would only be 15'. So would the diameter now only be a maximum of 2'-2.15' to stay in the 1:7 proportion or is the ratio based on total height of columns + entablature? P.S. I was watching with my son and he was impressed with your drawing skills.
Haha, tell your son thanks. You aren't just going down on the entablature you are raising it as well. These pieces need to be managed by the designer for the most pleasing look. Thx for watching.
Why use a pilaster in this situation instead of an engaged column?
Historic precedent for one. Pilasters communicate strength better than an engaged round column. THx.
I don't think the Greek Ionic would come off like that either. It's looks so nuts I guess that's where they stopped and called you? Without the flutes, it hard to judge for sure, but no. Is this a copy of antebellum mansions? Didn't they bend the rules in certain ways in regard to column height and spacing?
Yes, they wanted something historical but didn't know how to get there. The historic precedent varies.
Whoaaa that is a MASSIVE capital 😂
Massive.
😮that just hurts you in the soul😞.
haha, true.
OMG. What person with a right mind would even consent (let alone pay for) to having such a hideous column installed in their home. If I lived across the street,
you might find my drapes were closed more often than not.
Haha, true.
Is it April 1st already?! 😂
haha, feels like it.
Columns definitely need to be more refined, appropriate size and balance.
Agreed. Thanks.
I don't know why, but when I saw that porch, my first thought was Disney's Toon Town houses.
haha, me too!
Seems like they were going for a ‘Parthenon’ look😂
I know, crazy.
I thought this was a joke at first. :D
I know right.
Those capitals were so comically huge it's like the builder was punishing the homeowner for putting in a change order. And the almost non-existent entablature just highlights that the builder didn't understand the basics of what the role of the columns is supposed to be. It's taking once functional elements and making them wholly decorative with no regard for their functional history. It's like adding doors that don't open because it's a nice look.
Agreed. Thanks.
Beyond vulgar. If my neighbor across the street did that to his house, I'd have to move. Hope you can help restore some sanity to this project, because that monstrosity looks far worse than the original.
Noted. Thanks.
These builders have a lot to answer for. They cost homeowners hundreds of thousands of dollars because of their lack of architectural knowledge. It’s criminal.
Yep. Thx.
This is by far the worst one youve shown so far. Great solutions as always. No wonder you beat the drum of proper proportions 😂😂. That was a real capital
It was crazy.
I'll bet the column capitals came from a demolished federal bank building. Geeze!
Haha. Crazy.