Installing adjustable lally columns

[madstat]

My home has two "telescoping" posts in the basement holding up the center steel girder of my house. I don't like them as they look pretty temporary to me.

When we bought the place 3 years ago the inspector said they were fine but I still want to replace them with lally columns. Something like this

I recently cut into my basement floor to add plumbing and have confirmed a generous footer underneath one existing post so I think it's safe to assume there is a footer underneath the other.

I've read that standard practice is to place the screw on the bottom end, adjust to the desired height then encase the bottom (screw and all) in concrete. Is this correct? Or should I put the adjusting screw at the top?

Also does one need to weld the top plate to the girder? I don't think the current posts are not secured to the girder in any way.

madstat

 

[nehog]

When we bought the place 3 years ago the inspector said they were fine but ...

I recently cut into my basement floor to add plumbing and have confirmed a generous footer underneath one existing post so I think it's safe to assume there is a footer underneath the other.

...

Those are just fine... Unless I'm missing something, I'd just leave well enough alone.

Never, ever assume anything when doing a job like this. Instead consider what may go wrong if you are making the wrong assumption--make sure you have a backup/recovery plan!

 

[deancolumn01]

To meet todays buidling codes you can not use a 2 pc column like that. The column can not be less than 3" in diameter. The screw should be on the bottom and encased in concrete. And yes, you must attach the cap plate to the column and the steel beam to be code compliant. Code states you must have a positive connection between your column and beam to restrain from both lateral displacement and uplift. You can find more info at http://www.deancolumn.com Hope this helps.

David

 

[tcianci]

If all looks well, I wouldn't bother messing with them. Your situation may be similar to many I have seen when a house uses a steel beam...the beam is correctly engineered for the application but is way to springy for residential construction where a solid feel and lack of cracks in the plaster is desired. I agree that what you have is not to code but it ain't going enywhere.

 

[missboltab]

My husband and I decided to go with a custom cut column. I was told that the adjustable ones are a bit less safe then getting a full one. Luckily I didn't have to install either but we got full ones like this...http://www.lally-column.com

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Lots of houses have been standing for a lot of years with what you have now. They are some of the least temporary parts of your house.

 

[terry603]

they are fine, the reason they are not to "code" any more, is because some inexperienced DIY homeowner would turn the screw to adjust the floor for a sicking door and such,

they are plenty safe,just that people were adjusting them making things worse

 

[APEowner]

To replace those you need to hope up the beam while you pull the old ones out. That means that you have to engineer the temporary supports as well as the new ones. If you don't like the way the current ones look just box them in.

 

[Architorture]

I'm trying to figure out what is so different about what you have and what you plan to replace it with...

 

[bczygan]

i'm trying to figure out what is so different about what you have and what you plan to replace it with...

^^^^^this^^^^^

 

[blazentrout]

I'm trying to figure out what is so different about what you have and what you plan to replace it with...

The look of second one is cleaner than what he has right now when the adjuster is at the bottom and set in concrete.

 

[poughcujiayi]

I was told that the adjustable ones are a bit less safe then getting a full one.

 

[Mustang51js]

If your just worried about looks build something around it.

 

[Architorture]

The look of second one is cleaner than what he has right now when the adjuster is at the bottom and set in concrete.

If he's doing it for looks he should probably spend some time tidying up before messing with a significant load bearing element in the home...

Hell it would be easier to cut a tube in half hen weld the 2 halves around the column to clean it up than try to brace and replace.

 

[fitz11]

The op asked this question in 2012 and hasn't logged in here in almost a year. I bet he's got it figured out by now.