Porch Refresh: Replacing a Scalloped Header and Boxing the Columns

Ever since we moved in back in 2010 we’ve wanted to simplify our porch—swap the curved scalloped header and the traditional colonial columns for a cleaner, chunkier look that fits our neighborhood. Now that spring has finally arrived (we were still getting snow a few weeks ago), we had the weather and the energy to start the project.

Most of the ranch houses on our street have chunky, square porch columns or more traditional colonial posts. We like the square style, but our house came with the colonial look and a curved scalloped header that feels dated next to the cleaner lines we prefer.

We’ve replaced scalloped headers before—Sherry tackled a similar project on our first house in 2008 and wrote about the challenges she ran into, like stubborn metal flashing and working solo. That earlier experience showed us the payoff of a straighter, simpler header, so we were ready to do it again here, but with some new considerations. This porch has more wood trim and taller columns, so our approach needed to be adjusted.

Before demoing anything, I ran a utility knife along the paint seams to score the joint and help the paint break cleanly where we wanted it to. That step prevents peeling or cracking paint in places you want to keep intact and is especially helpful when surfaces have multiple layers of exterior paint.

We prepared for a tough demo but were pleasantly surprised—after a few knocks with a rubber mallet the scalloped header loosened, and a crowbar popped it free. Not as dramatic as we feared, thanks in part to not having to deal with metal flashing this time and having two people on the job.

Once the scallops were removed, things looked rough but manageable. The demo went quickly and we were able to move on to installing a straight header and boxing out the columns for that squared-off, modern look.

We started by nailing and gluing a pre-primed 1×3 pine board where the scalloped piece had been—out with the curve, in with a crisp, straight header. That was the simple part; the more involved work was boxing the existing round/colonial columns to create 8×8-style square posts.

Rather than removing the original columns, we boxed them in from all sides using pre-primed pine boards. This is faster, easier, and more cost-effective than replacing structural posts. Each column needed its boards trimmed to length—our posts came up a few inches short of 8 feet, so a circular saw helped get the cuts right.

Two 1×6 boards made up two sides of the box. Fortunately our columns happened to match the width of a 1×6 board, which simplified the work—you only need to trim the length. We secured the boards with heavy-duty wood glue, a few 2″ nails at the top and bottom where the new boards met the flat portions of the old posts, and some screws for long-term stability.

Because the first two sides increased the column width, we used 1×8 boards for the remaining two sides. When the boards overlapped, the finished posts measured roughly 7.5″ square (nominal 8″ lumber is typically closer to 7.5″ in actual width), creating a clean, chunky profile that feels more current.

Two things made the boxing process fast and practical: our nail gun and teamwork. This kind of project really benefits from having two people—one to hold and align pieces while the other nails and verifies spacing. Once we had a few spots secured, Sherry stepped back to photograph progress while I finished up the fastenings.

We paused for the day before finishing the final column and noticed the header looked a bit narrow compared to the newly squared columns. We plan to add a chunkier header piece under the roofline to balance the proportions and tie the look together.

Remaining tasks on our porch update checklist:

• Finish boxing in the last column
• Add a wider header piece to balance the boxed columns
• Caulk all seams carefully to prevent moisture intrusion
• Prime and paint everything for a seamless, finished look

We’ll share before-and-after photos once the final touches are complete. In the meantime, Sherry also made a fun little craft recently for Clara that plays into our creative side—proof that DIY spurts can include both big exterior projects and small indoor crafts.

Are you finally turning your attention outside this spring? Whether you’re updating a porch, building flower beds, refreshing mulch, or tackling a patio upgrade, outdoor DIY brings the best seasonal payoff. What’s on your list?