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Laminated post separation??

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Dstyduhar

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Good evening,

I finally had concrete poured in my 40x48 barn a month or so back and have been spending a lot more time out there checking things out. Barn was put up about 1.5 year ago. I noticed there are 2 or 3 posts where one of the posts layers has either bowed or pulled away from the other two in certain areas. Maybe 1/8" or so max. These are glued, screwed and finger-jointed posts provided in a kit from a pole barn supplier. I can easily pull the single layer back with a wood clamp so I dont think it's a loading issue. Just really not sure what to do here if anything. Im tempted to just clamp them together, run 3 or 4 deck screws in to keep together and move on. Thoughts? I messaged the supplier and waiting to hear back.

thanks,

Drew

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mike93lx

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I would hang tight to see what the supplier says first, out of curiosity. They may say to leave it alone, or just run screws with no glue. It's going to be really hard to get any meaningful amount of glue in there anyway
 
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danho

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+1 for the glue and screw/lag option and agree on waiting on the supplier to respond first.
 
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Zeke

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mike93lx said:
I would hang tight to see what the supplier says first, out of curiosity. They may say to leave it alone, or just run screws with no glue. It's going to be really hard to get any meaningful amount of glue in there anyway
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Not really. push some glue in with the nozzle and spread with a spatula. Then there's the old string or dental floss trick. If you don't know, search. But you need access to both sides for those tricks.
 
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mike93lx

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Zeke said:
Not really. push some glue in with the nozzle and spread with a spatula. Then there's the old string or dental floss trick. If you don't know, search. But you need access to both sides for those tricks.
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I stand by my statement. That gap is very narrow. Trying to floss glue into there will be a waste of effort, IMO.

A spatula? Really?
 
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duneslider

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I am curious what the manufacturer of those has to say about it. I feel like this is a failure of their process, if it comes apart at the glue joint they didn't do it right.

If they give you no help then I would personally probably try to squeeze some glue in best I could knowing that it probably wouldn't go all the way but I like glue. Then I would screw it using a quality structural screw (spax, grk, simpson). I have all but given up on traditional lag screws due to the "difficulty" of using them correctly. Its just so much easier to use the engineered screws.

Just as a note, in stick framing typically built up beams/posts are not glued, just nailed together. You can add glue but its almost impossible for an engineer to call for it on a jobsite because there are too many variables and it would never be done right. I like trying to glue anything I don't want to ever come apart though.
 
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PoorUB

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Glue with a nozzle an spread it with a stiff wire, like a throttle control from a lawn mower.
 
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strutaeng

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I wouldn't do anything about it except just keep an eye on it. Did you say the built-up columns 2xs are finger jointed?

I don't know anything about those kits, but I thought they were designed much like flagpoles rigidly connected at the base by embedding them 3 or 4' deep.
 
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OP
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Dstyduhar

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Good afternoon,

The supplier is sending me some screws and said that if I wanted to get some glue in there it certainly wouldnt hurt.

I think Ill start with the screws on the outer third of the face and see where that gets me. If I feel the need to add more then will use a lag/carriage bolt in the center.

thanks,

Drew
 
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duneslider

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I have been using a ton of Simpson screws the last year or two, probably more than GRK, and really like everything I have used from simpson. I have had very few issues with Simpson screws.
 
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c39er

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I would want the kit company out to do the faulty glue lam repair.
Now days leave it to the customer to fix their production problems.
 
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KEH

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Re the bolt option, if that is used I would use machine bolts with washers and lock washers instead of carriage bolts. My experience with carriage bolts and wood is that the square shoulder on the carriage bolts will cut into the wood but turn in the wood if enough pressure is used tightening the nut, especially after some time and especially if the bolt and wood is exposed to weathering.

KEH
 
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mike93lx

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c39er said:
I would want the kit company out to do the faulty glue lam repair.
Now days leave it to the customer to fix their production problems.
Click to expand...
I'd much rather put some screws in than even try to schedule a visit that will inevitably be some sales guy with an impact driver
 
OP
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Dstyduhar

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Thanks for the feedback. The pole barn supplier is also going to send me an official repair procedure on their letterhead as I felt a little uneasy about liability.

Drew
 
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jkuro

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Another option:
Drill all three posts and use 1/4 - 20 all thread with nuts and washers.
 
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PoorUB

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Guys, realize the center portion of that post is green treated so any hardware needs to be approved for treated wood. I have seen green treated corrode bolts and screw to nothing in a few years.
 
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mike93lx

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PoorUB said:
Guys, realize the center portion of that post is green treated so any hardware needs to be approved for treated wood. I have seen green treated corrode bolts and screw to nothing in a few years.
Click to expand...
Any deck screw or grk structural/R4 will be rated for PT
 
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KEH

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PoorUB makes a good point. Any nuts and bolts should be zinc plated or stainless, if availible.

KEH
 
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rayra

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mike93lx said:
I stand by my statement. That gap is very narrow. Trying to floss glue into there will be a waste of effort, IMO.

A spatula? Really?
Click to expand...
Yes really. A thin flat tool to spread the glue deep into the separation. It's a big post / separation, a large tool - especially a slotted spatula, would work great in this application.


my surmise was the wood was too green r the glue insufficient for that laminated beam to have come apart like that. Very odd.
 
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mike93lx

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rayra said:
Yes really. A thin flat tool to spread the glue deep into the separation. It's a big post / separation, a large tool - especially a slotted spatula, would work great in this application.


my surmise was the wood was too green r the glue insufficient for that laminated beam to have come apart like that. Very odd.
Click to expand...
I understand it is possible. I argue it is unnecessary and that with how thin the gap is, no meaningful amount of glue will be spread.

To each their own. I'd screw it together and move on to another project. If someone wants to fool around with a spatula or fishing line, more power to them
 
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Dig Doug

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That looks like 3- 4x4 posts glued together!

The way they will dry out will separate from each other.

I would do the what ever process they want and do it to EVERYONE that you have! Weather they are separated or not….. glue isn’t going to hold those together for 25 years!
 
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LB-1911

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Dstyduhar said:
The supplier is sending me some screws and said that if I wanted to get some glue in there it certainly wouldn't hurt.

I think Ill start with the screws on the outer third of the face and see where that gets me. If I feel the need to add more then will use a lag/carriage bolt in the center.
Click to expand...
Dstyduhar said:
The pole barn supplier is also going to send me an official repair procedure on their letterhead as I felt a little uneasy about liability.

Drew
Click to expand...
Good Luck w/ your repair.
:beer:
 
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