Support Columns

MinConst

I am on a job that in part is to inspect and replace if need be the steel support columns in the 4' crawl space. They are rusty on the bottom. My question is how much rust is acceptable. I realize this is a judgment call and surface rust is OK and can be primed and painted. If this is more than surface rust, how much is too much?
I have also read that these steel posts are considered temporary by todays codes. Is it prudent to replace these with new support columns? It would seem to be going against code in doing so.
I am in Upstate NY if this is a local thing.
Thanks guys and gals for your input.

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Paul
Minichillo's Construction
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I will never leave you hanging!

jmic

Min,
Referring to the steel posts being temporary leads me to believe that they might be what we used to call Tel-a-posts, are these like screw jacks? I think they are not allowed in the code now but I could be mistaken although no one uses them anymore around here. What is normally used are the 4" concrete filled lolly columns. IMO if there not rusted through I'de wire brush then , hit em with some primer and paint.

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Joe

MinConst

Joe,
These are adjustable with pins and a screw on top. From what I remember these are the same size from the joint where the two pieces join with a pin down to the base. The ones I'm looking at seem to be set in a sleeve on top of concrete. The sleeve is what seems to be rusted pretty bad. It is about 1/8" thick and rusted to nothing. It seems the post itself has not been rotted. This customer is a friend of mine and want to be sure it is safe. I will wire brush them off and get a better look.

__________________
Paul
Minichillo's Construction
Website
I will never leave you hanging!

jmic

Sounds like maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to change them and install the concrete filled lolly columns.

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___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe

keithguts

I agree with Joe, If anything, you know that the job will be done right. Being it is a friend, you can sleep at night knowing it was done right, and you don't have to worry about later.

ATS

How are these lolly columns installed? When would the concrete be installed? Just curious cause I have a few support screw columns in my house. Thanks.

jmic

ATS,
You buy these lolly columns at your local lumber yard. Steel 4" tube prefilled with concrete That you cut to the length you want minus the thickness of the upper and lower plates.

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Joe

ATS

Thanks. I'll check into them, my posts are rusting away as well.

MinConst

This is sounding more like something that I am not comfortable doing. I have leveled porches before but the whole house on three jacks makes me wonder if I should tackle this one or pass it onto a house jacker. I was pretty comfortable doing a swap of jack posts, screw one next to the old and replace the old then move on to the next in the same manor. But this concrete filled column sounds a bit different.

__________________
Paul
Minichillo's Construction
Website
I will never leave you hanging!

JustaFramer

Being a post and beam underfloor builder. Why can't pressure treated 4x4 or sufficient be used instead? Typically here they are gusseted with 2x material and connected to the concrete pier pad with a35 or a23

JustaFramer

Being a post and beam underfloor builder. Why can't pressure treated 4x4 or sufficient be used instead? Typically here they are gusseted with 2x material and connected to the concrete pier pad with a35 or a23

jmic

Really not difficult, get a 10-15 ton hydraulic bottle jack, take the pressure off of the screw jacks that are there, cut the new lolly columns or bring the measurements to the supply yard and have them cut them. Slide them under, let the pressure off the jack and onto the new column. Presto! 2 more, then go get a couple of brews.

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___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe

erik edlund

Hey Paul,

I know this is a late post to your thread, but I had a thought while reading it; for our general future reference, while we're mucking about under the house replacing supports, run a string along joists to establish a base line reference for the joist spans, to compensate for joist sag or foundation settling. (Note, I do not say to "level" the floor, just straighten it. You couldn't reasonably expect "level" in older homes).

However... from an engineering perspective, give due consideration to the effects this will have on first and second story structural elements- how far, or IF, to jack up, how fast (reference related post on re-aligning roof on HO remodelled attic- HO cut collar ties, roof sagged). Bring in a structural engineer for opinion if you can. Can't hurt.

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Kind regards,

Erik D. Edlund