How to cover bottom part of column?

SD42

Hi.

Looking for help on how I can cover the bottom part of my outdoor columns.

They are rendered.

I have attached pic of what they looked like before I removed the original bottom cover 🤭

It's a new build and builder is giving me a hard time anout fixing it hence the attempt to DIY.

Jason

Great to see you make your first post on Bunnings Workshop. Welcome to the discussion and congratulations on your new home.

Can you please tell us whether you just want to replicate what you had before or do you want a new look? If it's the latter, perhaps share some wider shots of the front of your house so members can see what you are working with and suggest something that might be in keeping with your home.

You might also like to check out this popular project: Hamptons-style verandah posts by @emmajames.

Jason

EricL

Hello @nu2dis

Thanks for sharing your question about covering the bottom part of your column. One method you can do to cover it is to use 140 x 19mm SpecRite Merbau Pre-Oiled Decking. You'll need four sections to create a box cover to mimic the current cover. Once the Merbau has seasoned, you can then paint it in the same colour as your post. The advantage of this is that should you need to do repairs on the post the timber box cover can easily be removed.

If you are after a flawless finish with no gaps visible, I suggest using Parfix 500g Ready To Use Multipurpose Filler. It can be sanded, painted and is weather resistant.

The other option is doing it in concrete, you'll need to build form work around the post and then fil it up with builder's concrete. The drawback of course is that should you need to access the post fittings the concrete cover will need to be smashed.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

Aftyernoon @SD42

Welcome to the community Definently a good place to wander through and search out some ideas.

Thinking about what could be done to cover that area -

- Remove all that foam and clean back then render what is there. (Will leave the hole in the tiles tho so maybe not so great)

- I like @EricL 's suggestion as well, where what you had is replaced by a nicer styled timber.

- I also had a thought of taller edges up to say 600mm high to really stretch teh focas away from the base of the post.

- Boxing the whole thing out so you could almost sit on it. (requires building a box around it and having a wider seat towards the house side)

Id suggest that whatever you do, leave enough space underneath the edge of the timber (say 5mm at least) so it will dry and not rot the base cover faster.

Dave

Nailbag

Hi @SD42

After removing the expander foam, I think the option that @EricL has suggested is a great one to consider. the other would be to basically do the same thing but with fibre cement sheeting then use a render repair kit to create the render effect which you could match the paint colour afterwards. With either cladding, I would silicone the bottom of it to prevent water entering the cavity.

Nailbag