Concrete floor/columns

[BobBuck]

Question for you construction guys. I'm building a garage, pole building style. I'm required to use concrete column forms with posts mounted to the concrete column with brackets and anchors etc. My question, if I were to use those cardboard cylinder style forms that sell at lowes at 10-12inch dia. How am I to pour the concrete floor? I'm not allowed to cover the wooden post around the base with concrete, so I would have to to have the concrete column sit above the ground a bit high and then pour the floor up level to the top of the concrete column.? That doesn't sound right. Easy solution would be to pour it all at once then put up the posts, but I would prefer to pour my floor at a later date.... If I were to use an expansion gasket around the bottom of the post/inside wall/form and then pour the floor around the post base would this pass inspection? Township stressed the fact the posts cannot touch or be in concrete at all. I can't find a single picture on the Internet of a floor being poured where concrete columns were used and they didn't just pour the floor around the post right on top of the concrete column. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[SteveR62]

The reason for the wood and the concrete not touching is the wood rotting over time issue I believe. Your `columns`are the footings for your posts so you pour your floor with your footings then install your posts on the floor over your footings or set the top of your columns or footings to the height of your finished concrete floor and pour them. Then build your structure and pour your floor up to the footings or columns. First choice looks a lot nicer imho. Hope that helps

 

[BobBuck]

The reason for the wood and the concrete not touching is the wood rotting over time issue I believe. Your `columns`are the footings for your posts so you pour your floor with your footings then install your posts on the floor over your footings or set the top of your columns or footings to the height of your finished concrete floor and pour them. Then build your structure and pour your floor up to the footings or columns. First choice looks a lot nicer imho. Hope that helps

I get why they want you too, I also agree that your first suggestion is best.... But I'm building this pay check to pay check and would rather do the floor at a later time, plus my permit does not call for a concrete floor as of now. Pouring the floor up to the top of the column footing sounds simple, but considering these are round columns that will extend past the exterior of the building how do I build the forms? I can't seem to find pictures of anyone doing this, those that do use those square pre made concrete forms that are square and only as big as the post (which you would think wouldn't pass bc foundation forms are supposed to be twice the size of posts and extend several inches above ground but that's another topic)

 

[BobBuck]

I mean would I build the floor form around the outside of the building/columns so I pour completely around the columns or just secure a board against the column near the center and only pour halfway around the column.