Thread: Column construction

Tweet

I have seen images from this site showing how columns are built and they pretty much follow the same basic structure. They all seem to have plywood or similar for the sides. My question is does the plywood help hold it together or can you just put styro on the sides so that it will be lighter?

Mark, I built mine from 2x2's with three frames for the top bottom and "middle" covered them with 3/4 foam However I added 1/4" lauan to the bottom to give it some ridigity. One person can pick it up and carry it very easily. I recommend that you make the back a door or removable panel, as you may want to get inside to add and modify them as time goes by.

@scareisburg: I just looked your PB album and was curious about the blower units you have installed on your columns... Care to share some details?

I used 3/8 inch plywood and they are not very heavy at all but still have enough weight not to be blown over very easily. Now they did get blown over a few times last Halloween but I'm hoping the wider base that I added this year will help with that some. Plus they are only going to be out for about 2 days this year as opposed to about 10 days last year.

My neighbor was discarding some 4x8 sheets of paneling which I salvaged and attached to a 1x2 frame.

Entrance Columns :: P1010008.jpg picture by GhoulishCop - Photobucket

As you can see, it was a pretty pink color. I glued and nailed the cut panels to the frame, added a top, a decorative trim piece, paint, and sealer.

Next year I plan on constructing much taller entrance columns and will turn these into pedestals for grave markers for the yard. I'll also be upping the detailing on them and would like to perhaps have fog emitting from a skull or other face attached to the side. But that's all next year...I was pressed for time this year and found these fit the bill for now.

Entrance Columns :: The finished columns in place picture by GhoulishCop - Photobucket

These are lightweight and I might consider a broader base on the next set to help them from toppling in the wind.

Rich

Scareisburg, when you say "lauan" is that the board that goes across the inside of the column and touches the floor or do you mean the three vertical pieces on the sides?

Markof13,

Lauan is a thin type of board. It's a veneer that's placed over a wood core. If you go to Lowes or Home Depot and check out their interior doors, the light colored wood ones are made from lauan.

You can buy lauan in sheets as well and the DIY stores often have it pre-cut in various sizes. 1/4" thick 4x8 sheets are relatively inexpensive. I just did a quick check of Home Depot's website and they sell 1/4" 2x4 panels for under $5.00.

Hope that helps.

Rich

Markof13,

You can disregard that last post of mine. I just re-read your post and realized you were asking for placement of the wood, not what the wood was. My bad!

Rich

GhoulishCop ,
Actually, that helped because I didn't know what a Lauan was. So thanks for the post.

I have basic tools like a hammer and circular saw just to get basic stuff around the house done. But, I am nowhere near a carpenter so alot of the terminology and techniques are new to me.

With that said, I built a frame that resembles scareisburg's but doesn't seem sturdy. That why i was asking about the plywood that everyone puts on it. I'm going to add the lauan and see what that does.

Is it pronounced "Lou Ann"?

My columns are made of 2x3's (not much more expensive than 2x2's and a LOT stronger) glued and screwed together. I put a horizontal brace in the middle of the long vertical expanse at the position where the cross-rail of the fence would hit it. That allows me to attach the fence, if desired, to actual wood. The outside is 1/2" styrofoam. The columns are very light, easy to store, and relatively stable standing by themselves (of course, you need to stake or weight any tall column to prevent it from toppling in wind). Once attached to the fence, they're rock solid.

Luan is pronounced "lou-anne" or "lou-aaaan" (soft a) in my area.

Craig