Home Building - Columns & Millwork

Whether you use columns as an aesthetic design element or give it a supporting role�your home will be greatly enhanced by fitting columns into your architectural plans. Since ancient times columns have graced private homes as both decorative and structural�supporting a wall or roof.

MoldingsCorbels* More impact resistant than wood.But before you despair, follow these tips offered by those with lots of experience marketing homes in bear markets:Wood columns should be made of only the finest woods like mahogany, poplar, cherry, pine, oak, maple, and redwood. Most wood column suppliers and manufacturers can carve both round and square columns in sizes consistent with classic proportions, as well as custom shaft diameters for special projects. Wood columns can also be smooth surfaced or fluted with ridges�whatever suits your artistic vision.If your home looks great from the curb, buyers will want to have a closer look. If it looks a bit shabby, they will just keep driving. Start with the entryway, which is what first attracts the eye, and make it look spectacular. Don�t invest a lot of money; just buy a new door or paint the one you already have and add some nice looking but inexpensive flowerbeds, potted plants, or border fencing to create a beautiful focal point leading into the home. Do-it-yourself landscaping involving some rich-looking mulch and colorful flowers can make a drab property pop like eye candy, and it doesn�t have to cost much to get dramatic results.Although the classical designs of ancient Greek and Roman columns are as popular today as ever, don't feel bound to build the expected, since manufacturers of pre-made interior and exterior columns offer homeowners many different shapes, styles and sizes to choose from. In addition to a plethora of off-the-shelf designs, you can have your columns custom made.CostThe preferred material by builders and architects for columns is fiberglass because it offers an attractive look that is more impact-resistant than wood. Like wood they are available in both a round and square shape with a choice of smooth or fluted surfaces. Today�s fiberglass columns are manufactured not only to aesthetically replicate the classic column forms but they are also strong enough to serve as structural, load-bearing columns.� Sweat the small stuff, but make sure you first take care of any �deal killers� that might be scaring away potential buyers:� Take an aggressive approach to showcasing your property:Broken doorbells and doorknobs, cracked window panes, and dingy carpet or countertops can make a property look worn out, so consider fixing these relatively small items to dress up your home and make it more appealing. But first evaluate your property with the help of a Realtor or building contractor, to find out if you have any �deal killers�. If the house needs a new roof and has stains on the ceiling from rain leaks, for instance, it could be driving away all potential buyers. The same goes for obvious problems like the presence of potentially hazardous mold or a defunct heating and air conditioning system. Unless you address these problems � either by taking care of them or by lowering your asking price to account for them � buyers will not want to get involved.The tradition of classic beauty in architecture is carried on today through pre-cast stone columns rather than natural stone columns. New technology allows builders to create pre-cast stone columns that have the look and strength of ancient Roman columns but without the drawbacks of using natural stone columns. The biggest difference between pre-cast stone columns and natural stone columns is cost. It is much cheaper to pour a stone column into a cast than it is to chisel it out of a giant stone slab.Architectural millwork is the easiest and most affordable way to give your home a unique look. Millwork is traditionally defined as woodwork, such as doors, window casings, and baseboards that are ready-made by a lumber mill. Today, millwork refers to many other prefabricated architectural products, particularly those made from polyurethane and fiberglass to create unique columns, balustrades, arbors, crown molding or any other design element you might want to create or recreate. Millwork allows you to duplicate a home from your favorite period - say Victorian, Greek Revival, Colonial or how about recreating a room from �Gone With the Wind.� Whatever you can imagine, you�ll be sure to find a millwork product on the market today that will turn your vision into a reality.* Insect and critter proof.* Usually come with a lifetime warranty�check with your manufacturer.Moldings are one of the details that can really add to the exterior and interior look of your home. The majority of moldings are made from either polyurethane synthetics or simple wood. Most home designers are choosing polyurethane over wood because it is almost impossible to differentiate between polyurethane millwork molding from painted wood molding. The long term benefits of using this material is that it won�t split, rot or peel like wood will. When it comes to base moldings, it is very durable and can handle daily wear and tear. Despite all the benefits of polyurethane, many people still hold their aesthetic allegiance to wood over synthetics and will take on the added burden of maintaining wood moldings. If you�re a wood purist, be sure that you use high quality wood and have it treated to help prevent rot and insect damage especially on your exterior. When it comes to size and shape there is no limit to the amount of choices available in molding. A good rule of thumb when choosing crown molding, base molding, or window casing is to stay with a pattern, no matter how tempting other selections may be, that matches the architectural style of your home. If you find yourself overwhelmed by all your options, call up your designer for guidance.You might find that implementation of a simple and cost effective idea or two from this list might give you the advantage necessary to turn a lifeless listing into a successful sale. And that could be cause to celebrate before the last �hoorah� of summer arrives and qualified buyers begin to hibernate for winter.� Paint is the best makeup in the world for cosmetic enhancement of a home:Especially if you live in a cold climate, consider the financial impact of keeping your house warm through the coming winter months. Fuel oil prices are likely to rise, and the expense of heating a home across a severe winter can add thousands of dollars to your overhead. If that is the case, you might want rebate a portion of that projected cost to your buyer, as an incentive to take the property off your hands while the weather is still warm. Don�t tell them that�s what you�re doing; just discount the price or add extra money to their side of the transaction by offering to pay some of their closing costs.The benefits of fiberglass columns are:� Calculate your heating costs going forward:Precast Stone ColumnsPaint is the most cost-effective tool for adding value to your home. Avoid expensive paints and designer hues in favor of contractor grade paint in neutral colors. Avoid dead white, because creamy shades are warmer and more inviting, and use complimentary semi-gloss colors to highlight window and door frames. A primer coat will help to cover stains and blemishes, and caulk is cheap so use it liberally to get your money�s worth from the project. For a really top-notch look, three coats of paint works miracles, and in small spaces like bathrooms this can be done without going overboard on your budget.* They are weatherproof.Ceiling MedallionsTo list your home with a broker committed to serving the GLBT community, visit www.GayRealEstate.com. To help your buyer get the loan they need, you can also check out www.GayMortgageLoans.com. Or just call toll free 1-888-420-MOVE (6683).* Impervious to moisture, which is great if you live in an area that experiences high humidity.Interior Architectural Columns* Lightweight and require very little maintenance.If you use hollow wooden columns, they must be vented to prevent built-up moisture from condensing on the inside and rotting the wood. Proper ventilation requires an opening at both top and bottom. To determine the amount of ventilation you will need, divide the column's diameter (or width) in half and convert to square inches. For example, a 10-inch-diameter column needs five square inches of vent opening at the base and another five square inches at the capital. To keep insects and small critters from making a home, your vents should be blocked with copper screens.Although it can be difficult and inconvenient, strategically redecorating your home could lure buyers and close a sale, making it well worth the effort. Don�t do a huge makeover; just concentrate on tactical �staging� of each room. Study the way that builders decorate their model homes for professional insight into how the process works to help market property. Remove all excess furniture and clutter � storing it off premises if possible � to make the rooms look larger and more spacious. You can hire professional real estate staging companies to do this, or consult an experienced Realtor for tips on how to make each room like its very best. Empty closets to show off their storage capacity, keep the property immaculately clean and neat for each and every showing to buyers, and use flattering lighting to highlight each room.Ceiling medallions are a popular way to add class and sophistication to any formal room. Unlike ceiling domes, which are larger and recessed, a medallion is smaller and usually edged with intricate patters that resemble moldings and capitals. Medallions are available in fiberglass, plaster or wood, however fiberglass is fast becoming the preferred material because it easily mimics the look of wood or plaster, but without the worry about it cracking or splitting. Because it is lightweight it doesn�t require extra reinforcement in your ceiling structure like wood and plaster may. While you may love the grand look of a medallion, be sure your home can handle such an extravagant piece.

Moldings are one of the details that can really add to the exterior and interior look of your home. The majority of moldings are made from either polyurethane synthetics or simple wood. Most home designers are choosing polyurethane over wood because it is almost impossible to differentiate between polyurethane millwork molding from painted wood molding. The long term benefits of using this material is that it won�t split, rot or peel like wood will. When it comes to base moldings, it is very durable and can handle daily wear and tear. Despite all the benefits of polyurethane, many people still hold their aesthetic allegiance to wood over synthetics and will take on the added burden of maintaining wood moldings. If you�re a wood purist, be sure that you use high quality wood and have it treated to help prevent rot and insect damage especially on your exterior. When it comes to size and shape there is no limit to the amount of choices available in molding. A good rule of thumb when choosing crown molding, base molding, or window casing is to stay with a pattern, no matter how tempting other selections may be, that matches the architectural style of your home. If you find yourself overwhelmed by all your options, call up your designer for guidance.

Author: Tammy Crosby