• Plantation-style post covers typically have the look of turned wood.Porch Hammock image by Andrew Kazmierski from Fotolia.com
  
  Post covers will transform the look of your porch. Typically made of vinyl, post covers are basically a sleeve that can be placed over handrail posts as well as load bearing posts. Post covers are cut to fit the post height and many are adjustable to also fit the diameter. They can be placed on older posts to change the appearance; however, they are also used on newly constructed porches to protect the wood from water, insects and UV rays. Porch covers are available in a variety of styles to suit your tastes and the style of your porch.
  
  

Traditional

• To retain the simple, rectilinear appearance of wood posts, choose traditional covers. Traditional covers conform to the original four-sided form of the post, with no augmented design elements. Some traditional post covers may have a slightly enlarged base. Ribbed, traditional covers are also available and are well suited for areas near a driveway, as the ribs help to absorb any bumper impact. Traditional post covers may also be referred to as standard post covers.
  
  

Classical

• Give your porch the look of ancient or early European architecture with a classical post cover. With classical post covers, the details are often in the post caps and bases, which have extravagant details that capture the features of a range of classic architectural styles including Greek, Roman and Gothic.
  
  

Southern

• Feel like Scarlet O'Hara drinking mint juleps on your porch with plantation-style post covers. Southern-style post covers typically have profiles that evoke the contours of turned wood. The bases and caps are typically in the style of colonial spindles.
  
  

New England

• Choose New England-style porch covers for a simple, modern look. New England porch covers have a basic, square shape with rectangular, tiered bases and caps. New England porch covers have minimal embellishment, which make them versatile and well suited for almost any home's architectural style.
  
  

Commercial

• If bright colors are important in your home's exterior landscape, consider commercial post covers. Commercial post covers are typically used in public areas where post visibility is important. Because visibility is important, they are available in bright colors such as red, yellow and blue. Striped commercial posts are also available.