Information: Sanders Trading Co., 596-2303;
Architectural Stone and Design Group, 839-4900.
A guy's home may be his castle, but can it be his temple as well? Nothing gives that Doric-Ionic look as well as a couple of shapely columns dressing up the facade. Columns for
a touch of classActually, columns are an important architectural element, being load-bearing structural elements that also allow open space. In Hawaii, they often frame a porch or allow a garage roof to float above the ground.
But in Hawaii, they're also generally made of 4-by-4 or 6-by-6 wood or stacks of rebar-filled cinder block. Functional, and easy to attach hurricane straps to, but less than pretty. Hey, we column as we see 'em!
Traditional Greek or Roman or Beaux-Arts columns are made of turned wood or cast cement. New composite materials, however, mimic the appearance of traditional columns and make them lighter, stronger, more versatile and weather- and insect-proof.
Poly-Classic columns, available from Sanders Trading Co. on Kona Street, are made of Fiberglas-reinforced polymer, or FRP, which is stronger than comparable steel, aluminum or concrete columns. They are available with snap-in capitals and bases.
"And they're hollow, so they can fit around existing 4-by-4, and also be used to disguise wiring or drain downspouts," said Matt Thorn, Sander's division manager.
FRP columns come in stock sizes and lengths. Prices vary enormously, depending on materials and use, but you can expect to pay about $500 for a pair of serious load-bearing columns for the front porch.
Architectural Stone and Design Group in Mapunapuna does custom work, using glass-fiber-reinforced concrete. While they have done home projects, they are primarily geared for business clients.
Burl Burlingame, Star-Bulletin.
