How to Build Pilasters
- 1). Dig a hole in the ground that goes beyond your local frost depth. This means the soil that is not affected by the ground freezing. Expect to dig at least 3 feet down. The width of the hole should be as large as the base of the pilaster.
- 2). Pour in about 8 inches of concrete into the hole you create. This concrete will stabilize the pilaster.
- 3). Connect three post members using a power nailer. The outer two are 2-by-6 post members, and the inner is a 2-by-4 post member. Make sure they're even at the bottom.
- 4). Insert the connected post members into the concrete base you poured. Temporary clamps can be used to hold them straight until the concrete cures. Fill in the hole with dirt and level the area around it.
- 5). Construct a bottom bracket to place around the hole. The frame is made from four 2-by-2 cleats that go on the inside of the pilaster columns. Attach two inner cleats to sit right up against the three post members. Connect all with a power nailer.
- 6). Attach a piece of ¾-inch plywood to the base of the bottom bracket. Use a jigsaw to cut a hole in the center for the three connected post members. Slide the bottom bracket in place over the post members and onto the ground.
- 7). Create the top bracket using cleats and plywood just as you did the bottom bracket. Remember to cut a hole large enough to go over the tallest post member in the middle of the structure. If your pillar curves inward as it moves up, the top bracket will be much smaller than the bottom bracket.
- 8). Connect 2-by-2 cleats to the top bracket with your power nailer on all four sides. These cleats need to be long enough to run from the top of the pilaster to the bottom and connect to the bottom bracket.
- 9). Nail ¾-inch plywood sides around the frame you created with the 2-by-2 cleats that are connected to the top and bottom brackets.
- 10
Add 2-by-6 pieces of trim to the bottom of the plywood sides and 1-by-3-inch trim to the top. - 11
Construct a cap for your pilaster using 2-by-10 plywood. Create a 45-degree miter with a miter saw to make it more decorative. Nail the cap in place on the top of your pilaster.
