Anchoring decorative columns to concrete porches

Many homeowners prefer concrete porches since they are tough and do not take long to be constructed. However, a concrete porch can look very bland if not decorated well. A recent development in the world of home design is to include decorative columns on concrete porches.

Not only do the columns look elegant, they draw the viewer’s gaze away from the concrete porch. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when anchoring decorative columns to your concrete porch:

- Be very careful when measuring the decorative columns to decide what size post-sleeve you will be requiring. The post-sleeve should fit the column comfortably, but should not end up covering any of the decorations.

- Once you have made the required measurements, line up the post sleeves at the appropriate location and mark the spots with a hammer drill. The marked locations indicate where the anchor holes have to be drilled.

- Always remember to insert screw shield into every hole before inserting the concrete steps. Though a very important step, inserting screw shields is often forgotten. Once the screw shields are in place, secure the post sleeve using concrete screws.

- The column needs to be lifted and the base has to slide into the post sleeve. The number of people required for this step depends upon the size and weight of the columns. Usually, two people are enough for a fibreglass decorative column. In case of marble columns, you may have to rent specialized equipment to do the heavy lifting.