×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Wood column base protection

Wood column base protection

Wood column base protection

(OP)
I have an exterior pavilion framed in pressure treated wood.  My columns are not standard timber sizes, but are "built up" of nominal 2x members (2x10s, 2x6s, etc.).  I plan to use steel base plates with 2" grout underneath and anchor rods into concrete footing.  Then plates or angles welded to the base plate and bolted through the column.  My question is moisture protection of the column bearing on the steel plate.  It seems that water could sit on this plate and be in contact with the wood.  How is this resolved?  Is bottom of column coated with something?  It appears that the IBC 2000 allows this condition with no additional protection beyond being preservative-treated wood.  Any suggestions?  

RE: Wood column base protection

I think it all depends on the ability of your column base to shed water or to retain water.  This would include raising the base plate off the concrete which you have already done, provide an adequate coating on the wood and maintain the coating - which the owners will need to do per your specifications as well as the degree of moisture that your columns will be exposed to - how much of an overhang do you have? what part of the country are you in (i.e. what is the amount of rain, humidity and wind that will drive rain to the bases)? and so on.  What is the purpose and value of the pavillion?  What is its projected life span? Surely there are existing structures in your area that you could review and evaluate and compare to your design.  See what their designers did if anything special to protect their structures against the elements.

RE: Wood column base protection

(OP)
pmkPE,

Thanks for your comments.  Another question though - you briefly discuss providing and maintaining an adequate coating.  What specific coating are you talking about?  Is there a specific type or brand you recommend?  I know the answer may depend on the other questions you have raised, but can you point me in the right direction?

RE: Wood column base protection

Contact your local industrial paint representative.  I have found my local Sherwin Williams rep to be very helpful.  I am not referring to the residential market sales rep but their industrial rep.  Do a "google" and you should be able to locate a number of reputable paint/coating manufacturers that serve your local.

RE: Wood column base protection

I hope you used "ground contact" treated wood.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources