I don't think I could answer that from your description or sketch. Do you have any pictures of the siding and the rock you are talking about? maybe a picture together. Do you have a picture of the front of the house?

The rock is being delivered today. I'll take some pictures of the house, the rocks and the siding.

Most houses I've seen use the same brick used on the foundation to do the porch columns. But that does't mean that *you* have to do it that way. If you like the black stones, then by all means use them for your columns. The black stones and gray siding should look really good together, much better than gray siding and gray stones..... too much gray.

You may want to mininmize the extent to which they clash with the foundation bricks by landscaping and planting along the foundation line.

I don't know about the rock, but noticed on your drawing that the rock takes up about half the height of your columns. It would look better if the rock took up less height and the upper part of the columns takes up more.

Does that make sense at all?

chapnc, the foundation is concrete block. We will stucco it at some point, but not yet. And there will be LOTS of plants to hide most of it anyway.

blsdgal, the columns are high enough to permit handrails(if I decide to add them later). They are 36" tall.

The rock is here and has been washed. It is more of a dark charcoal gray when dry, nearly black when wet. There is a lot of cool white streaks in it and some copper flecks. Pretty darn nice looking!! Here's some pics of the house and rock pile.

I think it will look cool!! Will you cover the porch base with them too?

I think that rock is gorgeous! Can't wait to see the pics of your finished columns. :)

Oops should say I think covering the porch base will make the scale look better too and frame out the porch nicely agains the house with the scale of the column looking more proportional.

Then the foundation base could be stucco.

OK I type faster than I think.

Is that dentil molding around the porch? If so what material is it and where did you get it.

I like the house.

Thanks. I thought about doing the porch foundation too. We will see how this goes and then maybe do that too. Only about 1.5 block will show when I get done though....I am building stone walls to create a large raised planting bed in front of the house. That will come later though.

The dental mold is a synthetic material. It looks pretty good...but I wish I hadn't used it. It doesn't look as good in real life.

The house design is very simple. I wanted something that would be easy to build since I am doing it myself. I am not a builder by trade, although this is the 3rd house my DH and I have done. It's our last. We will grow old(er) in this one.

ccoombs1 do you know what the material was? If you don't like it in person at least I'd know what to stay away from.

ccombs, That looks exaxtly like the stone we have on our porch. The columns would look great with it.

lyfia, I don't remember the brand name....we got it from a local supply place. It is hollow plastic though. The joints show terribly. I may try caulking the joints and then painting the stuff white, which sort of defeats the purpose of it in the first place if I have to paint it!! I really wanted a maintenance-free exterior (other than pressure washing).

1sst...I remember seeing your porch pictures now....you're right!! I think it is the same stone!!

Well, I know I don't want to be a stone mason for a living!!! Man, this is hard work. It's sort of like doing a giant jigsaw puzzle....only there is no picture to follow and there are pieces missing. lol!!

I got two columns totally done and the other two are about 75% done. I still need to go back and mortar the joints to make them nice and neat. I also need to acid wash to clean up the mortar that didn't stay where I put it. The color of the columns is perfect though. I am pleased with them so far.