And I’m calling this project finished. Time to celebrate! To recap why we chose to box in those columns:

• The carport already has four chunky, square columns, so the three curvy columns on the porch gave the house a split personality.
• Boxed square columns are more authentic to a mid-century ranch aesthetic, and many nearby ranch houses already feature them.

Finishing up seemed straightforward. After making solid progress in one afternoon—we’d already reached this stage—we assumed the remaining work would be quick. How long could finishing one column, caulking seams, and painting really take?

We were sidetracked before we even unholstered the caulk gun. When all three columns were boxed in, the de-scalloped header that we’d added looked a bit thin compared to the beefed-up columns. To balance the look, we bought three more 1 x 6″ boards and attached them over the original 1 x 3″ header with wood glue, nails, and a few screws. It was a small detour that improved the overall proportions.

What took the longest was caulking. There were so many seams, and we wanted to be meticulous—getting moisture behind the wood would be a bad outcome. We used the same technique we relied on when we rebuilt the header on our first house five years ago: primed wood, paint, and generous, careful caulking to keep everything sealed. That approach held up well in our previous project without any warping or rot, so we repeated it here.

Many readers ask what caulk we prefer. We like DAP window and door caulk in the white, paintable formula—paintability is essential.

Once the caulk cured, painting was next. The boards came pre-primed, so we only needed to match the porch’s existing trim color. Fortunately, the previous owners had left a couple of gallons of house paint, so we didn’t need to buy paint. The can was labeled “Creamy Color,” which is about as vague a name as you can imagine, but it matched well enough for this project.

We considered using this update as an excuse to repaint all of the trim from creamy to bright white, but that would be a much larger undertaking—there’s trim all around the house and parts of the back are two stories tall—so we postponed that idea for now.

As usual, Sherry handled the cutting-in with a steady hand (bravely painting the bottom of a column without taping), and I took over the rolling. After one coat and a few touch-ups, the columns were done. And yes: rejoicing ensued.

Now, when we pull up to the house, the exterior feels more cohesive and more like us. Concealing the ornate, traditional columns in favor of clean, square posts gives the front a crisper, updated look and better reflects the mid-century ranch style we wanted to honor. The three curvy porch columns no longer clash with the four square posts in the carport—hurrah.

Here’s a close-up showing the subtle detail where the 1 x 8″ boards on the front and back of each post meet the 1 x 6″ boards on the sides. In our original porch post there’s a helpful sketch explaining why square columns use two 8″ boards and two 6″ boards—see it here.

Budget-wise, our expenses were limited to primed boards; we already had paint and caulk on hand. The materials breakdown:

• Four 1 x 3″ boards for the original (thin) header: $20.50
• Four 1 x 6″ boards for the thicker header: $41.33
• Six 1 x 6″ boards for the sides of the posts: $62.08
• Six 1 x 8″ boards for the front and back of the posts: $74.12
• TOTAL: $198.03

If we’d known the 1 x 3s would be too small, we wouldn’t have bought them, so you could probably shave about $20 off the total. We could also have opted for less expensive whitewood boards, but we prefer pine for its smoother, straighter finish and the convenience of buying pre-primed lumber. It’s the same material we used on the first house, and knowing it held up for five years gave us confidence to use it again.

With this project wrapped up, we’re in the mood for more outdoor improvements—thankfully, spring has finally arrived in Richmond. In the three springs since we moved in, the curb appeal of the house has evolved quite a bit, and this small update made a noticeable difference.

What’s on your spring to-do list? Are you planning a big project to kick off the season, or are you content to enjoy a quiet porch day with a glass of lemonade?

PS: I almost titled this post “Porch-a de Rossi”—the only porch pun that sprang to mind. Blame my excitement for the new season of Arrested Development.