Prepping for Steel Beam/Trolley

[AlaskanInTexas]

Hi Folks!

Brand new to your forum, though I have been reading it a lot.

I'm putting in a W12x30 beam in my garage, supported on both ends by 4x4x3/16" columns. The beam is necessary to support an existing wooden beam in the ceiling that is no longer sufficient due to some remodeling above the garage. I had the engineer spec it to handle a hefty live load in the middle for a trolley system.

I am having a welder install the beast, but have a few prep questions. What should I do, if anything to coat the top of the beam where the existing LVL wood beam will sit on it? What should I do about the column plates that will be anchored into the floor? Would galvanized plates be okay, or do I need to do anything else to keep them from rusting?

Thanks!

 

[strutaeng]

Welcome to the forum. It would be of help if you post your location.

I would ask your engineer about the base plates and the finish on the steel.

I would hope that the design of this frame you refer to would have provisions for all of this. How is your weldor doing the connections anyway?

 

[nolimits76]

Depends what you want. Weathering steel is what we typically install on bridge jobs, and does NOT REQUIRE any paint. If you desire to have something painted, that is a different story and can utilize a designated paint system.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering_steel

 

[bob15]

I added a steel beam across for a trolley and as the main carrying beam for another floor in my barn. I painted the I-beam with epoxy paint and the last of some Rustoleum Hammerfinish paint I had floating around before I installed the beam. I bolted down a full dimension 1x9 on top which allowed me to nail 2x10 floor joists down on it. On the floor, I have the 8x8 vertical beams sitting on an asphalt shingles with 4x4 angle iron on two sides of each column, with it bolted to the floor and lagged into the beams. I used caulk-in lead anchors in the floor.

The center of the picture will show the beam

 

[matt_i]

On the metal (mild steel, 1018 cold rolled) which touches concrete in my shop as part of a column system, I painted it with a 2 part epoxy paint sourced from mcmaster carr.

I would think the same paint would be good for direct contact with wood.

I think hot dipped galvanized is excellent as well, but will be quite costly to source (have your weldment or parts shipped there and coated, then shipped back)

 

[AlaskanInTexas]

Welcome to the forum. It would be of help if you post your location.

I would ask your engineer about the base plates and the finish on the steel.

I would hope that the design of this frame you refer to would have provisions for all of this. How is your weldor doing the connections anyway?

Dallas/Ft.Worth
I'll ask the engineer if he cares; his plans didn't specify coating or finish
Not sure; I am trusting a welder to know what he is doing.

 

[AlaskanInTexas]

I added a steel beam across for a trolley and as the main carrying beam for another floor in my barn. I painted the I-beam with epoxy paint and the last of some Rustoleum Hammerfinish paint I had floating around before I installed the beam. I bolted down a full dimension 1x9 on top which allowed me to nail 2x10 floor joists down on it. On the floor, I have the 8x8 vertical beams sitting on an asphalt shingles with 4x4 angle iron on two sides of each column, with it bolted to the floor and lagged into the beams. I used caulk-in lead anchors in the floor.

The center of the picture will show the beam

Looks nice. Hope mine turns out as well!

 

[sberry]

It would last forever inside bare. Simple primer, any kind of paint rolled on would suffice. Painted one before I put it up. Rolled on common enamel .
Whoops, probably sprayed it on.

 

[My Old Tools]

All of the beams in my shop are red iron, the standard finish for structural steel in our area. That includes the i-beam that carries my trolley and 1 ton hoist.

 

[kbs2244]

My beam came off the truck with red primer on it.
That was how we put it up.

It is going to be in the warmest, driest, part of the room.

 

[coljar]

sberry is correct. The ones at the plant just have yellow paint, no primer and some are in very steamy, damp conditions that your beam will never be subjected to.

 

[LXCam]

If it's got the red oxide coating on it that's fine. If it's raw steel I'd go for a roll on cold galvanize primer unless you're looking for a show piece.