Historic Charleston Foundation - Charleston, SC

n The Buildings of Charleston, a piazza is defined as "a covered open porch or veranda supported by columns or pillars and attached to the outside of a building. In Charleston such porches usually append to the side elevation of single houses and were intended as outdoor living space and a device to shade south- or west-facing windows from the heat of the sun." Piazzas are one of the most distinctive features of Charleston architecture. They can also be one of the most frequently repaired portions of your house.

The piazza of the Casper Christian Shutt House,
51 East Bay, c. 1800-02

The bases of the piazza columns are prone to rot before any other part. Water should never be allowed to pool around the base. As in most wooden architectural elements, joints are also susceptible to water penetration and rot. Be sure to routinely inspect the wood where the handrail meets the column and where the balustrades meet the handrail and lower rail for signs of deterioration.

General Guidelines To Keep In Mind With Piazzas

Piazza enclosures are generally discouraged. Any enclosure that is approved and built should be reversible.
When repairing piazzas, original historic material should be retained wherever possible. If elements such as balusters or columns need to be replaced, they should be replaced with wood that matches the original as closely as possible. Fiberglass and other synthetic materials are not acceptable.
When replacing missing elements, they must match existing elements in design and material or be appropriate to the period of construction.
When screening in a piazza, the screen and its framework must be easily removed, and fit inside the columns and railings. The columns, railings and balusters must be retained and visible on the outside of the screening.