Types of Decorative Columns

These are the decorative shafts. Each round family also has a structural twin with metal inside. Caps, bases, and neck rings are separate from the shaft. Read the model drawing on the product page for the exact opening and the internal clearance.

CLM100 smooth tapered column, 10 inch bottom and 8 inch top, 96 inch shaft. — CLM100 smooth tapered shaft.

Round, smooth tapered (CLM100)

The shaft narrows as it rises. Bottom and top diameters run 8/6, 10/8, 12/10, 14/12, and 16/14 inches. Shaft heights are 96, 120, and 144 inches. Use it when you want a classical column that looks lighter at the beam than at the floor.

Shop smooth tapered columns.

CLM200 fluted tapered column, 10 inch bottom and 8 inch top, 96 inch shaft. — CLM200 fluted tapered shaft.

Round, fluted tapered (CLM200)

Same diameters and shaft heights as CLM100, with vertical flutes. The flutes read more formal and take a little more care when you paint the grooves.

Shop fluted columns.

CLM300 smooth straight column, 10 inch diameter and 96 inch shaft. — CLM300 smooth straight shaft.

Round, smooth straight (CLM300)

Diameters are 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 inches, at 96, 120, and 144 inch shaft heights. There is no taper, so the cap and the base are the same nominal size.

CLM230 fluted straight column, 10 inch diameter and 96 inch shaft. — CLM230 fluted straight shaft.

Round, fluted straight (CLM230)

Diameters are 8 through 16 inches, at 96, 120, and 144 inch shaft heights. Choose this when the elevation is straight and you still want flutes.

CLM400 rope column, 10 inch diameter and 96 inch shaft. — CLM400 rope shaft.

Rope (CLM400)

Diameters are 8, 10, and 12 inches, at 96, 120, and 144 inch shaft heights. The twist needs the matching rope cap (CAP900) and rope base (BSE900). Those parts are not interchangeable with a Tuscan cap.

Shop rope columns.

SBC1096 smooth box decorative column, 10 and a half inches at the widest trim, 96 inch height. — SBC1096 smooth box column.

Square box columns

SBC is the decorative box. SBCS is the structural box. Shafts are 6 inch or 8 inch square. The 8 inch shaft measures 10½ inches at the widest part of the trim. Heights are 60, 96, 120, and 144 inches. The square profile suits Craftsman and modern farmhouse porches.

Shop box columns.

Tapered or straight

Choice	What changes	Cap and base
Tapered (CLM100, CLM200)	Top is smaller than the bottom.	Cap is the smaller number. Base is the larger number.
Straight (CLM300, CLM230, CLM400, box)	The shaft does not narrow.	Cap and base use the same nominal size.

Smooth, fluted, or rope

Finish	Look	Paint
Smooth	Plain shaft. Easiest to match to a simple elevation.	One continuous face.
Fluted	Vertical grooves. More formal.	The grooves need a brush or a careful spray pass.
Rope	Twisted shaft. Use only with the rope cap and base.	The twist holds paint in the recesses.

CLM100-10-8S smooth tapered structural column with an internal metal support. — Structural version of a smooth tapered shaft.

Decorative or structural

A decorative column is a non-load-bearing shell. It wraps a post or sits beside the real support. A structural column has an internal metal support and mounting flanges. Every round style above, CLM100, CLM200, CLM230, CLM300, and CLM400, has a structural version whose SKU ends in S. Box columns have the SBCS structural version.

Compare structural columns with decorative columns. Turned porch posts are a separate list: structural porch posts. Round shafts still need their own column caps.

Not sure what your porch needs to carry? Ask a builder or engineer.