We’ve been talking about simplifying the porch trim and giving the columns a more substantial, updated look ever since we moved in back in 2010. With the weather finally warming up after a long winter (we were still getting snow a few weeks ago), we decided it was time to tackle an outdoor project.
Most of the ranch houses in our neighborhood have chunky square columns or a more traditional colonial style. We prefer the chunkier look, but our house came with the colonial-style columns and a curved scalloped header that didn’t suit our taste.
Our first home had a scalloped header too, which Sherry removed back in 2008 — a project she wrote about later. That job had some tricky moments with stubborn metal flashing and the challenges of doing it solo. We loved the cleaner, more modern result, so this time we were determined to update the porch here as well.
This porch was a different challenge: more wood trim, no metal flashing, and columns that we planned to alter rather than remove. Before demoing, I sliced the paint seams with a utility knife to encourage the paint to separate cleanly. That step helps prevent unwanted cracks or peeling where surfaces have been painted together, especially when there are many thick layers of exterior paint.
I expected the demolition to be brutal based on past stories, so I was relieved when a few taps with a rubber mallet loosened the scalloped header. With Sherry watching, a little convincing made the curved piece pop free.
Once it was loosened, we could pry the scalloped trim off with a crowbar without too much fuss.
It wasn’t pretty yet, but the demo went smoother than expected:
Not having to fight metal flashing and having an extra pair of hands made the process much easier. Soon all the scallops were gone and we felt a lot better about the porch. Next up: installing a straight header and boxing out the columns.
We started by nailing and gluing a pre-primed 1×3 pine board where the scalloped trim used to be. Out with the curvy header, in with a crisp, straight one.
That was the straightforward part. The real transformation began when we boxed out the columns.
Instead of removing the existing columns, we boxed them in with pre-primed pine boards to achieve a modern, chunky square shape. This approach is faster, easier, and less expensive than full replacement. Because our columns were slightly under 8 feet tall, we trimmed each board to length with a circular saw.
Here you can see one column with two sides of the box attached. It turned out our columns matched the width of a 1×6 board, which saved extra cutting time — a lucky find.
We secured the boards with heavy-duty wood glue and a few 2″ nails at the top and bottom where the new boards sat flat against the original column. We also added screws for long-term durability.
Because the two 1×6 boards made the columns wider, we used 1×8 boards for the remaining two sides. The overlapping edges result in roughly 8″ x 8″ square columns — in practice about 7.5″ square since nominal board widths are slightly smaller.
Boxing the columns went quickly thanks to our nail gun and teamwork. This kind of project really benefits from two people: one to hold and finish the fit while the other secures the boards.
We made good progress but didn’t finish before Clara came home from her afternoon with Grammy and Tom Tom, so work paused for the day. You can already see the direction we’re headed, though — the boxed columns give the porch a stronger, more balanced look. The header does look a bit thin compared to the new columns, so we’ll add a wider header under the roofline to match the proportions.
Remaining to-do list:
- Finish boxing the last column
- Add a chunkier header piece to balance the columns visually
- Caulk all seams to prevent moisture intrusion
- Paint everything for a seamless finished look
We’ll share before-and-after photos once those items are complete. In the meantime, Sherry made a small craft project for Clara and Will Bower that you might enjoy seeing. Anyone else starting outdoor projects this spring? New flower beds, patio upgrades, or just a lot of mulch? Or are you making play money like we sometimes do — just be careful not to make it too realistic.
