Securing a post between floor & ceiling?

[HoseB]

OK, ok, ok...I know I'm gonna get sheet for posting this question on a garage forum but...the little lady wants a "cat condo" and she doesn't like anything that's commercially available.

My idea is to start with a 4x4 post between the floor and ceiling (kinda like a kitty stripper pole) and add a few perches at varying heights.

I have the pole/perches laid out, but I'm having trouble figuring how to secure the post between floor and ceiling. Floor is tile, so I can't drill it. Ceiling is concrete, but I don't want to drill holes in it either (in case she decides to move the unit).

My initial thoughts are a thick rubber pad attached to the top of the post, which would give it enough friction to stay in place and some sort of adjustable foot at the bottom (kinda like a refrigerator or stove foot) that can be un-screwed to provide upward pressure.

I don't think a small adjustable foot is going to be strong enough, however. So...that's where I'm stumped. Any/all alternate ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

[PassnThru]

If you back off the 4X4 idea (unless you have really fat cats) and go with a smaller pole then it will weigh less and be easier to secure by friction. A simple 2X2 would probably be sufficient. To increase the area at the top and bottom to increase the friction consider square pieces of plywood. You could add some rubber feet/bumpers to those to grip. And don't try to go floor to ceiling with one piece. Leave the bottom pole short at the top and cut a longer pole for the top - put in place and secure the poles together with screws.

 

[pattenp]

Use a turn buckle with all thread rod to make an adjustable end on the post.

 

[GreyOwl]

Put a 12" square panel on the bottom with a rubber pad underneath and put your adjuster on the top where it won't have to worry about the weight of the pole. Make the adjuster out of a T-nut with a bolt screwed into it. A rubber bumper on top of the bolt head will protect the ceiling. Maybe even more than one adjuster at the top if necessary.

Charles

Alternative 1. Put the adjusters on the side at the top screwing a piece of angle iron bracket and a bolt and jam nuts for the adjuster

 

[HoseB]

(unless you have really fat cats)

Check. These cats will use a 2x2 for toothpicks.

 

[HoseB]

Put a 12" square panel on the bottom with a rubber pad underneath and put your adjuster on the top where it won't have to worry about the weight of the pole. Make the adjuster out of a T-nut with a bolt screwed into it. A rubber bumper on top of the bolt head will protect the ceiling. Maybe even more than one adjuster at the top if necessary.

Charles

Great idea. Adjustment at the top pushing downard.

When you say "t-nut", I'm picturing something like you'd see on the leg of wooden furniture?

 

[HoseB]

Use a turn buckle with all thread rod to make an adjustable end on the post.

I know what all-thread is, but when you say "turnbuckle", I'm picturing this:

How would I conceal those within a 4x4?

 

[kwb]

Rubber padded foot on a threaded stud will provide an amazing amount of pressure. (mcmaster, msc, local hardware store)

Easy way to do is drill clearance hole in end of post, run a nut down the stud put a fender washer on the stud, put into hole in end of post, erect pole, "loosen" the nut so it backs out into the end of pole and holds it in place.

For a point of reference a 1/4" fastener at 10 ft-lbs is making about 3000lbs of force.

 

[nit2wn]

Dumb question, but why not take some 1x4's or the 5/4 decking to create a 4x4 or close too it with some short strips of 2x2 inside for reinforcement. Screw and glue them together. I need one of these myself, just too lazy to build it. So take some pics when finished if it's not too time consuming. I'm still trying to figure out the perches in my head. 22lbs of kitty will test your mounts and construction skills.

 

[nehog]

First, don't use a 4x4, use a pole (round, with bark if possible), which will be better for the cat to claw and climb. It is more natural.

What you need, I have, but I'm sure you can find something locally. I have some big adjusters that are used with computer raised flooring. About a 1 inch threaded 'rod' with a foot pad, and a top pad. I'd put this at the top, not the bottom however. Basically you'd screw the center section to adjust the length, and they have lock nuts to keep it in place (probably overkill for your needs.) Pay shipping and I'll mail you one (medium FRB from the post office.)

 

[Milton Shaw]

Make sure the top is on a rafter/beam as you will poke right through the sheetrock if you put much pressure on it. I would put a pin(3/8 - 5/16) in rafter and end of pole and then slide bottom on floor to get level and then apply pressure. IF you don't pin the top. The cats will get on one side and down it comes in the middle of the night or when your wife is alone in the house, and you will never hear the end of it.

 

[RPH]

Wedges on the top. Rubber foot works great but cut the pole tight and drive some wedges in. Easy to move and the concrete should not break away. If it does, you have bigger problems than the kitty pole.

 

[HoseB]

Dumb question, but why not take some 1x4's or the 5/4 decking to create a 4x4 or close too it with some short strips of 2x2 inside for reinforcement. Screw and glue them together.

Too lazy. 4x4 = done.

 

[HoseB]

First, don't use a 4x4, use a pole (round, with bark if possible), which will be better for the cat to claw and climb. It is more natural.

What you need, I have, but I'm sure you can find something locally. I have some big adjusters that are used with computer raised flooring. About a 1 inch threaded 'rod' with a foot pad, and a top pad. I'd put this at the top, not the bottom however. Basically you'd screw the center section to adjust the length, and they have lock nuts to keep it in place (probably overkill for your needs.) Pay shipping and I'll mail you one (medium FRB from the post office.)

I looked for a carpet roll tube and even at SoniTube, but couldn't find anything with enough circumference (diameter?). The post will be covered with carpet.

I can picture the feet you're describing, just can't seem to find them locally. I may take you up on your offer if all else fails.

 

[HoseB]

Floor is tile, so I can't drill it. Ceiling is concrete, but I don't want to drill holes in it either (in case she decides to move the unit).

Make sure the top is on a rafter/beam as you will poke right through the sheetrock if you put much pressure on it.

See my original post.

 

[HoseB]

Wedges on the top. Rubber foot works great but cut the pole tight and drive some wedges in. Easy to move and the concrete should not break away. If it does, you have bigger problems than the kitty pole.

I originally though about wedging it with shims of some sort, but the cats are very active and always chasing each other. I can imagine after they hit the pole with all their weight after a while might rattle it loose.

 

[pattenp]

I know what all-thread is, but when you say "turnbuckle", I'm picturing this:

How would I conceal those within a 4x4?

Yep that's the turnbuckle I was thinking of. I was thinking at the top of the post substituting two long pieces of all-thread for the eye bolts and putting a plate on top where you would screw the turnbuckle to press the plate tight to the ceiling. The turnbuckle would be exposed. The only thing is I think one of the screws in the turnbuckle is left hand thread and I don't know if you can find left hand thread all-thread rod.

 

[nit2wn]

You try Lowe's for the cardboard tubing people use to form concrete post or the footings for post?

 

[DYNA BILL]

Cat condo my ***! Yer puttin' in a stripper pole for the wife, aintcha?

 

[HoseB]

You try Lowe's for the cardboard tubing people use to form concrete post or the footings for post?

See above...

I looked for a carpet roll tube and even at SoniTube, but couldn't find anything with enough circumference (diameter?).

 

[HoseB]

Cat condo my ***! Yer puttin' in a stripper pole for the wife, aintcha?

Hell no. If I were installing a stripper pole, I'd be doing it for REAL strippers.

 

[bradweingartner]

Some sort of non-skid pad at the bottom.

At the top, drill a hole, install a T-nut and just use a big rubberized furniture foot like this:

 

[wssix99]

Put a 12" square panel on the bottom with a rubber pad underneath and put your adjuster on the top where it won't have to worry about the weight of the pole. Make the adjuster out of a T-nut with a bolt screwed into it. A rubber bumper on top of the bolt head will protect the ceiling. Maybe even more than one adjuster at the top if necessary.

Charles

Alternative 1. Put the adjusters on the side at the top screwing a piece of angle iron bracket and a bolt and jam nuts for the adjuster

My father used this scheme years ago to build a massive shelf system. It didn't even make a dimple in the drywall. He used four of these:

seated in top of the 4X4 and had them sit in a square board with four holes bored in to the face to socket the feet and spread the load on the drywall. (Note: When you do this, you will need to center the 4X4 on a roof rafter/joist!)

I've built cat posts that I could climb on before and have found that building a square hollow post out of 4 2X4's is cheaper, straighter, and stronger than using a solid post. You can also interrupt various legs of the 2X4's and interlock them. Here's a finished product using this system. All of the platforms except for the small one in the middle have 2 2X4's penetrating through them (2 2X4's are interrupted) except for the top and the small panel in the middle which only interrupts 1 2X4.
View media item 10141

 

[rockchucker]

Cat condo my ***! Yer puttin' in a stripper pole for the wife, aintcha?

EXACTLY my first thought...lmao


Cut the 4x4 1-2 inches shy of the height from the Floor to the Ceiling. Drill a 1/2" or 5/8" hole in the top of the 4x4 6" deep in the center of the 4x4. Get 6" of 1/2" Allthread Rod, a 1/2" Nut and 1/2" Washer. Stick the Washer on the Allthread, thread the Nut on then pound the allthread in the Hole in the 4x4. Set the post in place and Adjust with an Open End Wrench for stability. The Nut will push the Allthread up and squeeze between the Ceiling and the Post.


Kind of like this...


http://www.westernloghomesupply.com/screw-jacks.html


Or you could use a House Jack. I use these for supporting Houses for Beam replacement all of the time. Of course you could stick a 20 Ton bottle Jack on top of the post and it wouldn't go anywhere... =)


http://ellisok.com/ellisok/products_36screw.html#SS-36





Looky here...They even have one for a 4x4...


http://www.ellisok.com/ellisok/products_screwjacks.html#SJ4


Tons of options.

 

[dwaynerz]

what about getting a basement floor jack, like what they use in older houses to support the weight of the floor above, and then just box around it. no holes in either garage floor or ceiling, and since its made of wood, you can add all the little cat perches you want. simple and uncomplicated.