The International Builders Show in will be held in Orlando from February 8th through the 11th this year. This will mark 12 of the past 13 years that HB&G has exhibited at IBS, the largest annual light construction show in the world.

Since the late 1800’s HB&G Building Products has provided millwork products to the building industry, including PermaCast®, the top seller in porch columns.  HB&G manufactures a full line of high quality, low maintenance, load bearing fiberglass columns, porch posts, porch railing, ceiling panels, balustrade systems and ceiling medallions.

Each year contractors, builders and architects from around the world make their way to this event to attend educational events and check out the miles of exhibits. This is their chance to find the most advanced building products and services” according to Tim Bobo, marketing manager for HB&G Building Products. “We always look forward to attending the show to visit with our old friends and make some new ones.”

Each year HB&G brings some new ideas to the porch and deck category, and this year will be no exception. Visit HB&Gs website for free tickets to attend the show. Use the link at the top of their home page. You can visit HB&G at booth W870. Use this IBS booth locator to see where the HB&Gs booth will be.

Interior columns provide both decorative and functional benefits unlike any other architectural element. Their timeless beauty can adorn a grand entrance way or staircase or be used to frame bathtubs, mantels, bookcases, windows, foyers, kitchen counters,  and doors. They can also highlight focal points or divide space and create borders while maintaining the airiness of a room.

The popular trend has been to paint these columns in high-gloss white. Today the four popular types of columns for new construction or remodeling are:

1.  Wood Columns

2.  PVC Columns

3.  Fiberglass Columns

4.  Aluminum Columns

Unlike columns made of other materials, wooden columns can be stained to bring out the natural beauty and grain of the wood. It’s easier than you might think. Most wood columns already come stain-sanded but you may want to do some light sanding to assure a glass-like smoothness. Follow the manufacturers recommendations carefully.

We’ve found it’s good first step to apply a clear liquid conditioner to fill in the pores and enhance the grain. Allow the conditioner to thoroughly dry before applying a stain of your choice. If you apply a clear topcoat, you’ll be amazed at the depth and beauty this will add to your wood columns (Tip: Always keep a wet edge when staining, and never stop halfway on the column – Go from top to bottom in long, straight strokes).

PermaCast Columns

Permacast® porch columns are the most technologically advanced architectural columns and highest quality synthetic porch products in the world, HB&G pioneered polymer composite columns with PermaCast®, a proprietary fiber-reinforced column with exceptional strength-to-weight characteristics. These are weatherproof, insect proof, highly durable columns require a minimum of maintenance.

For easy remodeling and renovation projects, HB&G launched PermaWrap® wrap-around and split PVC columns. Because they’re made from cellular PVC, PermaWrap® columns are maintenance free, as well as weather and insect resistant. HB&G also manufactures PermaLite® synthetic square columns.

Although HB&G is known worldwide as the leading manufacturer of fiberglass columns, their product lineup goes far beyond that. To compliment their columns products, HB&G also offers PermaPost® porch posts, high quality solid rafter vinyl pergolas, balustrade systems, PermaPorch® ceilings, and a full line of maintenance free column caps and bases, as well as other accessories.

In 2010 HB&G introduced Builder Select railings, the most natural looking, and most sturdy synthetic railing system available today. More recently they acquired the exclusive rights to produce and sell the beautiful, sturdy and easy to install aluminum column line from Columns Inc.

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HB&G is the parent company of some of the biggest names in the millwork industry, including Dixie Pacific, Turnkey Millwork, and Hartmann-Sanders.

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For nearly half a century Dixie-Pacific has crafted top quality fiberglass porch columns, capitals, porch posts, pergolas, porch railing systems and balustrades that have provided elegance, tradition and unique viewpoints towards classic architecture. In keeping with that tradition, Dixie-Pacific introduces several new square fiberglass columns to further assist architects, builders and homeowners in creating architectural masterpieces.

“We’re very proud to introduce our new DuraCast exterior square columns,” said Tim Bobo, Marketing Manager for Dixie Pacific. “We’ve made square tapered columns for years, but this is the first time we’ve been able to offer a full line of square fiberglass columns.”

As with all of Dixie-Pacific’s DuraCast products, these new square columns are designed for all types of indoor and outdoor decorative and load-bearing installations, performing equally well as a commercial building entrance way or a simple front porch column. They are available in a wide variety of styles, including square tapered columns, square fluted columns, applied or recessed panel columns, and craftsman columns. Because they are manufactured from highly advanced fiberglass reinforced polymers (FRP), they are extremely durable, insect resistant, weather and decay resistant, and come with a limited lifetime warranty.

In addition to the new DuraCast square columns, Dixie-Pacific produces a wide variety of columns designed to compliment any project: round tapered (plain or fluted), round-tapered knee-wall (plain or fluted), round non-tapered (plain or fluted), round non-tapered knee-wall (plain or fluted), and square tapered. Each must pass quality control inspections before it is shipped — ensuring that every single column represents the unmistakable Dixie-Pacific craftsmanship.

According to Bobo, not all square fiberglass columns are equal. Dixie-Pacific, is one of a few manufactures that produce a true “spun” fiberglass square column, which is made the same way as the round columns. “This process ensures a more consistent wall thickness and more architecturally square corners on our square fiberglass columns than other manufacturing processes.”

Tim Bobo adds, “Every product bearing our name is backed by an uncompromising dedication to customer relationships with friendly, easy-to-work-with support teams, in-depth industry knowledge that allows us to provide solutions through new ideas, and the absolute best lead times in the market — no matter how big or small the project order.”

These new square columns can be topped off with Dixie-Pacific’s wide range of decorative hand crafted caps and bases, further complimenting any look or style – whether bold, graceful, traditional, or simple. Like all of their columns, Dixie-Pacific’s capitals maintain exact architectural authenticity and historical accuracy.

Square Columns

Architectural columns have adorned homes and institutions for centuries. Now that the cost of building materials has fallen, more do-it-yourselfers are renovating their homes, adding features like architectural columns to dramatically improve the appearance.

Columns enhance the interior and exterior of your home, but square columns are also easy of install and they can set your home apart from the rest, and increase the value of your property by creating an elegant, customized look.

Many columns are based on the five basic orders of architecture dating back to the early Egyptians, Roman and Greeks: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Roman. Each column has three parts to consider – the shaft, the cap and the base.

Square columns are designed for all types of decorative and load-bearing installations and are a long-standing element of American architecture, both structurally and decoratively. Complimenting the lines of residences ranging from traditional colonials to modest bungalows, they support and enhance the existing architecture. Whether you choose non-fluted or fluted square columns or non-tapered or tapered square columns these architectural elements create an air of prominence and grandeur to any home.

Square porch columns can be can be used on the exterior to dramatically frame a porch or entryway or accent balustrades. They can also create elegant outdoor living areas such as an arbor and pergola. Used in spaced groupings they can also serve to define a fountain or garden. Interior square columns enhance any interior space.

Just one well-placed pair of columns inside your home creates a sense of drama and atmosphere. Columns can be used to encase doorways and windows, frame fireplace mantels and bookcases, surround a bathtub or shower area, or to accent countertops and center islands in your kitchen.

For ease of installation and longevity Tim Bobo, Marketing Manager of Dixie-Pacific™, recommends homeowners consider square fiber-reinforced polymer columns. “Because these columns are can be trimmed to any height, they offer maximum flexibility and are easily adapted for pedestal applications or room dividers. They offer traditional elegance while being cost effective, plus they are easy to install because of their lightweight shaft and synthetic cap and base,” said Bobo. “Fiber-reinforced polymer columns require very little maintenance, and they’re both decay and insect resistant – an important feature for both indoor and outdoor applications.”

Once your columns are in place, they can easily be painted in colors that work well with your existing décor. To maximize their impact you might even try a sophisticated faux marbling finish or crackle painting that creates and aged appearance. However you choose to finish them, square columns are sure to enhance your home, indoors and out, for many years to come.

For nearly half a century Dixie-Pacific has crafted top quality fiberglass porch columns, capitals, porch posts, pergolas, porch railing systems and balustrades that have provided elegance, tradition and unique viewpoints towards classic architecture. In keeping with that tradition, Dixie-Pacific introduces several new square fiberglass columns to further assist architects, builders and homeowners in creating architectural masterpieces.

“We’re very proud to introduce our new DuraCast exterior square columns,” said Tim Bobo, Marketing Manager for Dixie Pacific. “We’ve made square tapered columns for years, but this is the first time we’ve been able to offer a full line of square fiberglass columns.”

As with all of Dixie-Pacific’s DuraCast products, these new square columns are designed for all types of indoor and outdoor decorative and load-bearing installations, performing equally well as a commercial building entrance way or a simple front porch column. They are available in a wide variety of styles, including square tapered columns, square fluted columns, applied or recessed panel columns, and craftsman columns. Because they are manufactured from highly advanced fiberglass reinforced polymers (FRP), they are extremely durable, insect resistant, weather and decay resistant, and come with a limited lifetime warranty.

In addition to the new DuraCast square columns, Dixie-Pacific produces a wide variety of columns designed to compliment any project: round tapered (plain or fluted), round-tapered knee-wall (plain or fluted), round non-tapered (plain or fluted), round non-tapered knee-wall (plain or fluted), and square tapered. Each must pass quality control inspections before it is shipped — ensuring that every single column represents the unmistakable Dixie-Pacific craftsmanship.

According to Bobo, not all square fiberglass columns are equal. Dixie-Pacific, is one of a few manufactures that produce a true “spun” fiberglass square column, which is made the same way as the round columns. “This process ensures a more consistent wall thickness and more architecturally square corners on our square fiberglass columns than other manufacturing processes.”

Tim Bobo adds, “Every product bearing our name is backed by an uncompromising dedication to customer relationships with friendly, easy-to-work-with support teams, in-depth industry knowledge that allows us to provide solutions through new ideas, and the absolute best lead times in the market — no matter how big or small the project order.”

These new square columns can be topped off with Dixie-Pacific’s wide range of decorative hand crafted caps and bases, further complimenting any look or style – whether bold, graceful, traditional, or simple. Like all of their columns, Dixie-Pacific’s capitals maintain exact architectural authenticity and historical accuracy.