Ekena Millwork 10"Dia. x 8'H Endura-Stone Fluted Column, Round Shaft (FRP) w/True Entasis Taper, Tuscan Base & Tuscan Capital, Plan Type A - Unsplit/Whole

I ordered these online because they were cheaper than at the home improvement store, I could get them faster, and they were delivered right to my home for free with Amazon Prime. I wish I could write a great review for these as they had a lot going for them. However, I was disappointed with how they looked compared to the picture. I ordered two of the 10" diameter 8' plan A columns. I thought the "fiber reinforced polymer" meant it would be more of a smooth fiberglass or metal look (like in the picture). I was also expecting them to be very white as in the picture. I guess I misunderstood the finish as "smooth paint-grade" to mean that they would arrive painted white, so while that may have been my misunderstanding, it would have beeen great to have the picture match the unfinished columns I would be getting. The columns themselves are chalky grey and have the feel of a ceramic pot. They give off a chalky residue as well. The material chips easily and it will definitely need paint. I was hoping I would never have to paint these, but it is clear they'll need to be sanded and painted. The bases are very white and are like a very cheap plastic. They certainly don't match the stone look of the columns. We did have to cut about 6 inches off the bottom of the column and that went well. They are very heavy and appear to bear the weight of my porch roof just fine. The description on the website says they can be used for decorative or load-bearing applications, but the directions in the box specifically say that these cannot be used only for decoration and that they must be for load-bearing applications. The directions also nonchalantly mention "the L brackets", but those are not included in the package. The delivery of these columns within the three-hour window was great and the delivery driver was courteous and helpful. I think I'll be happier once I sand and paint these but the main reason I ordered these specific ones was not to have to go through that process.