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Durabrac® designed porch—made of 100% PVC.
WELCOME TO
All About The Porch
Your comprehensive resource for adorning your front or back porch with decorative components such as Corbels, Brackets, Gable Brackets, Sawn Balusters, Running Trim and Spandrel. Here you’ll find information on Styles, Technical Details, How-To’s, as well as answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions.
More detailed information can always be found at www.durabrac.com in the Customer Support section or by giving Durabrac® a call at 850-433-4981.
"The porch is the only place where you can feel like you are outside and inside at the same time; out with all of the neighbors and alone reading a book.”
– Claude Stephens, Founder
Professional Porch Sitters Union Local 1339
STYLE & HISTORY
One of the most traditional and frequently used architectural adornment on a porch is the corbel (or small bracket). The word corbel comes from the Latin word curvus, which means “raven” and in French, the word for corbel is corbeau, which means “crow.” A corbel is a bracket built into or projecting out from a wall, supporting the weight of a structure above it. Its shape resembles that of a crow’s beak, inspiring its present-day name.
Today’s corbels are often simpler in design, unlike their more ornate historical beginnings. Many were carved in great detail depicting animals, fantasy creatures, human faces, and foliage. These ornate corbels go back as far as the Medieval days and were traditionally carved out of wood, stone, and metal. Today’s carved corbels can also be made out of plaster or plastic. In addition to hand-carving, corbels can also be cast or molded.
Hand-carved, decorative corbels became popular elements of private residences in America during the Late Victorian Period (1850 – 1910), when railroads were used to transport these elements across the country. Those distinctive Victorian corbels were typically more ornate than those made today and were often included with full decorative porches made of ornamental wood lacework.
Durabrac® 100% PVC custom bracket on Craftsman Style front entry way.
Along with the Victorian-style porches, other styles that evolved over the centuries include influences from Spanish and Greek architecture, as well as, the Colonial era and Western America with the ranch style home.
One major influence that has made a huge come back in residential architectural design is the Craftsman home. The Craftsman design originated in the early 19th-century when there was a push to revive British and American handicrafts. These designs are simple in stature, but very distinctive. Craftsman style homes typically have porches with thick, large square or round columns with stone and/or brick and large post & beam style brackets.
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
You may find, to your surprise, that what appears to be decorative wood brackets are actually brackets, corbels and rafter tails made of 100% Cellular PVC. Why PVC and not wood? There are multiple reasons why PVC is the better choice. One of the main ones is its durability for exterior applications. PVC is weather proof and can handle just about any climate whether it be hot and humid or cold and snowy or all of the above. These PVC brackets remain looking fresh and new year after year, unlike their wood counterparts that begin to age over time, looking faded and weathered. (Read more here…)
PVC Corbels on the Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande, FL
How do the various materials compare?
There was a time, long ago, when craftsmen would spend their entire working days creating beautiful designs with amazing architectural details all by hand. Each piece would be an original work of art. With today’s technology, we can still have a taste of the old, but at a much more affordable price thanks to products like Fypon and Spectis that cast polyurethane foam in molds creating the look of an antique piece and Durabrac Architectural Components who cut simple and strong designs that look like wood brackets and corbels from 100% PVC.
Durabrac® 100% PVC custom bracket on Craftsman Style front entry way.
Polyurethane foam is best used for detailed ornamentation such as thick decorative appliques over doors and windows, or ornate corbels reflective of the Victorian Era. (See picture of a Spectis corbel below.) Because of a much lower surface density, polyurethane components are quite a bit softer than wood, stone, or vinyl and can be easily damaged from bumps and abrasions.
Unpainted polyurethane foam does not stand up to the sun and weather very well either. For that reason, all polyurethane components are shipped factory primed and have to be painted and should be installed in areas where they are protected from the weather and elements. Rain, hail, and birds can cause significant damage.
Wood was the popular choice for gingerbread brackets, spandrels, etc. for many years. A designer could easily carve beautiful designs with the pliable material. But, again, these brackets would have to be painted or stained to help protect them from the weather and elements.
Hands down, PVC/Vinyl is a better choice for thin components like gable and porch brackets, running trim and spandrel for it’s touch exterior and resistance to impact damage. For a large structure requiring an extra-large bracket, wood would be extremely heavy, making PVC large brackets much easier to handle and install.
PVC vs Wood and Polyurethane Foam
… has the look and feel of wood but is more durable and hardy
… can easily be milled with wood-working tools, routers, etc.
… can be left in its natural white and will not yellow
… can easily be painted with a latex paint
… great for any climate (cold, hot or coastal)–100% weather resistant
… does not retain moisture so paint won’t peel, crack, flake or blister
… virtually no maintenance required
… alterations easily made with standard wood-working tools
… is a very light-weight yet durable material
… cost is comparable to wood components
… density is similar to white pine so ornate, gingerbread designs are still an option
… more durable and sturdy than polyurethane foam so more resistant to damage, puncturing, etc.
Durabrac 0518 Post & Beam brackets installed on Pensacola Beach
Picture on Left: newly installed early 2004
Picture on Right: Same brackets. Same building – July 2018.
They have survived two major hurricanes.
HOW-TO...
…Choose the Right Bracket Size and the Right Thickness:
Determining visual size versus actual size for your bracket is key. Visual size is exactly how it sounds. It is the amount of space that appears to be taken up by the bracket. It is how our eye views the object in its setting. Because of shape, surface area, volume and background contrast, a particular bracket may need to be 15 inches tall to visually look the same size as a 12 inch bracket.
What needs to be considered when determining visual size is how much space you want the bracket to fill and how big of a statement you want to make with the bracket. Then, you need to take into consideration the design of the bracket. Does the shape of the bracket curve inward? Does it curve outward? How heavy is the overall design? Is it thick or on the thinner side? How far does it project out? Are there many cutouts that make it appear lighter? Will the bracket have a strong contrasting color to its background? All of these factors play a role in determining the actual size needed to reflect the visual affect desired. (See image above.)
As you consider these factors, keep in mind that the location of the bracket will play a large role in the final decision. When considering bracket thickness and size, first consider location and how the product is perceived from street level. Brackets on porches are mostly viewed from the front; therefore, thickness is not as important. Brackets located in soffits and gables or upper story balconies are viewed from the front as well, but considering how high they are mounted, they are mainly viewed from below, making thickness a priority. Rafter tails and corbels are installed perpendicular to a structure; therefore, making thickness a priority as well.
So, when considering what size and thickness to order, keep in mind the importance of street level perception. The proper thickness provides visual balance and the illusion of strength and support. Here are a few rules of thumb to follow:
Large post & beam gable brackets are usually a minimum of 3” wide.
Brackets, corbels and rafter tails should be at least 4” unless the size is less than 24” vertical or horizontally. As size increases, so should the thickness.
Porch brackets are usually ¾ inch and 1 inch thick. Click here for more details.
…Perfectly Fit Your Spandrel:
The hard reality about porches is they are far from consistent and uniform. Sections that are supposed to be equal may differ by inches. This can create a dilemma when ordering decorative spandrel for your porch. Most spandrel comes in standard lengths and the installer has to trim the ends for a proper fit. The length of your finished opening determines the end space you will have. When you have one or more spandrel sections in a row, it becomes harder to maintain a balanced appearance from section to section. Scrunched or stretched sections stand out and detract from the finished look.
To get that balanced look, you either need to order all your spandrel custom cut and sized which can be very difficult and costly or order from someone who has perfected the process– like Durabrac®. Durabrac® has perfected the spacing issue and even includes a bracket that sits on either end of the spandrel rather than underneath, for a more uniform flow.
To get that perfect fit, first determine the height you want, not length. Consider how it will fit visually on the porch and with your home. Do you consider your home small, medium or large? How far back is the home from the street? Do you just want to accent or do you want to make a statement? Next measure the length of each span individually. Be sure to measure at or near the top. The bottom may be wider or narrower than the top. You might also have tapered columns that at first may not be noticeable. When measuring, always ignore any trim that may wrap the top of the posts. These are all the measurements you would enter on the Spandrel page on Durabrac®’s website. The spacing will automatically be calculated and each spandrel will be cut to size with even spacing. For more detailed information on measuring and sizing spandrel, click here.
The original Gothic Revival home c. 1868
The finished home with the redesigned PVC trim.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PVC BRACKETS, ETC
- What is the Fire Rating? Most PVC brackets have a Class A fire rating while wood is Class B and polyurethane foam is Class C.
- Can they be painted? Yes. But they don’t have to be. They can be left in their natural white state. The material used at Durabrac® is from Versatex, which is a high grade PVC that won’t yellow over time.
- Can they be painted a dark color? PVC is not tolerant of direct extreme heat. As surface temperatures approach 140 degrees, distortion caused by the softening of the material is a possibility. That’s not to say you can’t paint PVC/Vinyl darker colors. PVC manufacturers recommend using a LRV of 55 or higher when painting PVC/Vinyl (white has a value of 100; black is 0). This number can be skewed when taking into consideration the location of the PVC products and the level of sun exposure (ie. large overhangs and porches providing shade are better places for darker painted brackets than someplace with constant direct sun.)
- How do you install PVC brackets, spandrel, etc? Very easily. Use stainless steel screws or nails (depending on the size of the bracket). Porch brackets and spandrel can be nailed or screwed directly to a post or wall.
- How do PVC Brackets compare to polyurethane foam brackets like Fypon or traditional wood? There are many advantages to choosing PVC over foam or wood. Fire-rating, light-weight, ease of installation, durability, longevity, low maintenance and paintability are just a few. Not to mention, they will last forever and are difficult to puncture or be destroyed by pesky burrowing bees and woodpeckers. In the end, their long-term value is undeniable.
- Can I put PVC brackets on a historical home I’m renovating and get away with it? YES! You absolutely can and should! (Unless it’s listed on the historical records and you have rules to follow.) PVC brackets very often get mistaken for wood, especially when they are hung up high or painted. It’s much more cost-efficient and will last forever; looking the same year after year. Why spend the money to update and renovate a beautiful old home only to have your brackets fade, crack or peel in a few years? See below pictures of a Gothic Revival renovation done by Durabrac®.
Read more about it here.
What Our Customers Have to Say
“I ordered 20 Sol Nuevo porch brackets with frames for my South Carolina beach house. They arrived quickly and in perfect condition. They appear to be well made and look great on my house. I am very satisfied with the product and service I received from Durabrac.”
– Bob Cox | South Carolina