Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names wrote:
We are building a new house including garage and a 16X20 shed-
workshop. I had planned to build the shed myself but when the framing
crew said they could build it for $300 plus materials, what could I
say? I now have a 16X20 shed-workshop with Shaker roof, HardiPlank
Siding, 35-yr architectural shingles that looks like a small version
of the house.

The front roof extends out four feet -- the concrete slab is 20X26 and
the shed sits on one corner of the slab giving me a 6 ft concrete
porch on one end and 4 ft across the front. The trusses support all
the weight of the overhang.

Sweet Thing says she wants white columns on the front of the shed --
I'm happy with the shed as it is but we all know how this discussion
will end -- so -- I need columns -- 4X4, 8 feet tall, white.

-- Don't want to use treated 4X4 because my experience is that they
tend to twist, warp, and split.

-- Sweet Thing has looked at the PVC sleeves that slide over a 4X4 and
she thinks they are "too thin."

-- I thought I could find a 4X4 column made of 3/4-inch Azec but
appears that no one makes such a thing.

-- Have found several places that sell substantial fiberglass columns
but the smallest I can find is 6X6.

-- If it were left up to me, I'd get the 4X4 vinly sleeves that slide
over a 4X4 and put them up without the 4X4 -- after all, it's only
decorative -- but Sweet Thing has thrown the flag on that play.

-- Now I'm looking into a Douglas fir 4X4 that may avoid the warping
and splitting that sometimes happens with PT SYP (We are living in a
rented house with a shed that has four 4X4 cloumns on the front -- two
of the four are warped and one of those has a split down the front.).

Any suggestions???

Well seeing as you are not the one wanting that ornamentation (what will
ya say to your mates when they come around ?) why not hand it over to
the ST ?
Sometimes these things have to be re-ciprocal ya know.
Rheilly P