Concrete pillar beams - so go ahead


Post girders are needed to connect the wooden beams of different constructions to the ground. There are these anchor shoes in different designs. Here you can find out how to concretize the various post carriers. Of course, you will receive a detailed guide to setting in concrete for the most important post carriers.

Where post carriers are used

There are different building constructions, all of which have one thing in common: they rest on wooden posts or are connected to the ground via wooden posts. This applies, for example, to the following constructions:

  • carport
  • terrace roof
  • Fencing

Of course, this list is not exhaustive, but includes the most common constructions.

Fastening technology for post carriers

The post girders are distinguished according to those that you cast in concrete or screwed to the foundation. Here we treat post carriers that you set in concrete.

These pillar beams differ significantly in their designs. The main post carriers would be H-post carrier and U-post carrier.

Concrete pillar beams in H-shape

There are two flat iron profiles in different sizes and thicknesses, which are connected to each other via two cross struts made of the same flat steel. The distance corresponds to the post size. There are holes on the side to insert and screw the carriers into place.

The lower cross section is completely embedded in concrete. Thus, the post carrier acts at the same time as a reinforcement in the concrete and the stability of the post carrier increases significantly. Especially when heavy loads still wind loads occur, H-post carrier are characterized. Detailed instructions on setting in concrete on a H post carrier can be found by following the link.

Concrete pillar beams in U-shape

U-post girders are ultimately the "simpler" version of anchor shoes. A designed as a rectangular U flat steel has at the bottom of a central steel rod. This is usually profiled spirally to achieve better grip in the concrete.

The detailed instructions for setting in concrete of a post carrier in U-shape we offer here. Incidentally, these post carriers can also be glued with an appropriate heavy-duty adhesive or mortar in an existing foundation.

Concrete pillar beams - the preparatory work

Frost resistance of the foundation

Post girders are embedded in a foundation. Strip foundations or point foundations are sufficient for most applications. But note the typical requirements for outdoor foundations. This affects above all the frost resistance of the foundation.

Depending on the region, the foundation must be 80 to 120 cm deep. Of course, you do not have to completely fill with concrete. You can create a drainage layer of gravel or gravel. This is condensed. So water can never collect under the foundation and freeze. The lifting of the foundation by frost is thus excluded.

Reinforcement and used concrete for the foundation for the post girders

As already mentioned, dot or strip foundations are sufficient for most applications. Even in the case of a carport strip foundations are sufficient. The inner area can be poured, paved or otherwise worked in a much thinner concrete slab.

The decisive factor is always the weight of the vehicles that are to be placed here. Ultimately, however, the requirements are limited, which is why even with a strip foundation possibly a reinforcement can be dispensed with.

The leveling and alignment of the post girders during concreting

Here the requirements are significantly different. Keep in mind that some covered areas must be designed so that the area drains. So water must be able to drain. If a slope is set in concrete, this must be taken into account when setting the post girders. There are several ways to accomplish this.

Exact height of the cast-in post anchor to the ground

The professional method would be to create a Schnoorüst. Often the effort seems too big. Ultimately, the same height level for the pole support can be easily ensured otherwise even with a slight slope.

For this you need slats or metal profiles, which extend in length from one to the other (later) concreted post carrier. You also need a bar or a profile with a height of 5 cm. This profile must be so wide that it can be laid laterally from the excavation of the foundation.

If there is a laying of a covering here later, the lath must have the following height: 5 cm plus the amount of floor covering still to be laid, as this should be the later distance of the wooden support from the ground.

The profile must therefore be so high that it reaches the final construction height of the subsoil from the support surface outside the foundation. Because this profile is placed in the concreting of the post carrier under the U or the upper H-cross section so that it can not sink in the still fresh concrete.

The alignment of the other post carrier at the same height

The first foundation or concrete around the first post girder must be reasonably hardened before you cast in the second post girder. Then both post carriers are connected to each other with the long profile and a spirit level is applied. Then you can align the second post carrier exactly at the height of the first anchor shoe.

Tips & Tricks

Concerning the concrete also important requirements are to be considered. You can read about the suitable mixing ratio of the concrete here. In addition, after installation, the concrete must be compacted. Finally, the young concrete should be given enough time. For curing the concrete, it should take about 28 days before inserting the posts and assembling the further construction.

Artikelbild: Radovan1 / Shutterstock

Concrete pillar beams - so go ahead

FAQ - 💬

❓ How do you reinforce concrete pillars?

👉 There are three major techniques for strengthening reinforced concrete columns which are discussed below:

  1. Reinforced Concrete Jacketing. It is one of the techniques used to improve or restore capacity of reinforced concrete column. ...
  2. Steel Jacketing. ...
  3. FRP Confining or Jacketing.

❓ How far can you span a concrete beam?

👉 Reinforced concrete allows a wide range of structural options and provides cost-effective solutions for a multitude of situations—from residential buildings with moderate live loads and spans of about 25 ft, to commercial buildings with heavier live loads and spans ranging from 40 ft to 50 ft and beyond.

❓ How far can concrete column span?

👉 7.5 mWhat is the maximum and minimum distance between reinforced concrete columns? The maximum span between columns for normal structures is 7.5 m and minimum spacing is 2.5 m.

❓ How are concrete beams connected to columns?

👉 Vertical hole and horizontal joint construction at the base of the precast beam is grouting together. A precast concrete column then positioned above the precast element by using vertical grouting to connect the vertical bars of the column.

❓ How do you strengthen a concrete column?

👉 Adding new concrete jacket with additional reinforcement, using external steel angles and horizontal strips, and wrapping the original column section with Fiber-reinforced polymers, FRP, are the most popular methods of strengthening and retrofitting concrete columns.

❓ How do you strengthen a concrete beam?

👉 Then those plates are attached to the beam as follows:

  1. Roughing and cleaning the concrete surfaces where the plates will be attached.
  2. Coating the concrete surfaces with a bonding epoxy material.
  3. Making holes in the concrete surfaces and plates.
  4. Putting a layer of epoxy mortar on top of the plates with a 5mm thickness.

❓ How long can a beam span without support?

👉 Some manufacturers limit their beams to 60' due to transportation issues, while others have the capability to manufacture beams up to 80' long. So, the longest unsupported span possible using LVL would be 80-feet. What is this? Typically, though, it is common for a continuous LVL span to be between 20' and 30'.

❓ What size beam do I need to span 15 feet?

👉 Thus, for a 15 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×12 or 6×12 size of wood beam. For a 15-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 12 inches in depth and 6″ in width (3-2×12) used for residential building, wood frame structure or projects.

❓ What is the difference between a column and pillar?

👉 A pillar can be both decorative and functional like a front canopy at the entry of your home with pillars as decorative piece of elements. Column, on the other hand, is purely functional and a particular type of pillar, especially one with an identifiable shaft or base like a roof or a horizontal beam.

❓ How far apart should pillars be?

👉 While 8 to 10 feet apart is a sufficient distance for foundation piers to support most structures that would sit atop a post and pier foundation, if the building is particularly tall or made of heavier materials such as brick or metal, it's not uncommon to place the foundation piers even closer together.

❓ What are the different types of beam column connections?

👉 Various types of beam connections are provided below:

  • Bolted framed connections.
  • Bolted seated connections.
  • Welded framed connections.
  • Welded seat connections.
  • End plate connections.
  • Special connections.
  • Simple, rigid and semi-rigid connections.

❓ How do you support a beam on a concrete slab?

👉 A good idea is to slightly cone the top of the concrete around the saddle aiding in runoff, keeping the beam dry. Additionally, rebar should be added to the footing vertically. A concrete footing buried in the ground is supported on all sides from lateral pressure.

❓ How far from the pillar will the beam be?

👉 The beam will be about 60cm from the top of the pillar (so that it fits under the eaves of the roof). I just had another idea.

❓ How do you secure a beam to a concrete pier?

👉 Cut a few asphalt shingles and set them underneath the beam on top of the concrete pier. The shingle will not hold the beam in place, but it will provide a small level of separation between the wood beam and water on the concrete.

❓ How do you anchor a deck beam to a concrete footer?

👉 Deck beams resting directly on concrete footings need to be anchor with “U” shaped post saddles to the footing to prevent uplift. The footing height needs to be set exactly at the correct height as there is no post to compensate with. I have built many ground-level decks.


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