Can anyone make any suggestions on hiding the steel support columns when finishing a basement? I know that I have seen shows such as Hometime use manufactured trim kits to dress out these columns. Does anyone know where I can find one of these kits or does anyone have some interesting ideas on how to construct something that would cover these columns.
Edited 7/30/2002 2:20:53 PM ET by BUMPY_SD
Replies
Box it out with 1x....as fancy or as simple as ya like.
There's a steel lally and I-beam hidden in there. Jeff
She's exotic ,but not foreign, like an old Cadillac......she's a knockout!
A product called "pole wrap"TM. I never used it. it looks simple enough, basic carpentry.
Thank you for the information.
take a rope, and wrap it around it one layer.
or you could wrap it with a piece of tambour.
no turn left unstoned
If you walk through a retail store you will notice that they use mirror around columns to make them dissappear. You could box the column with plywood and get some mirrored plexiglas.Or glass. Skip
You could try invisible paint. I've got a partial gallon somewhere, but I can't remember where I put it.
Good Luck
gl
To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered. Voltaire
LOL
First of all, stop watching those dweebs.
I am assuming (I know what assume means) the column will be left in the open room. Or, if you are starting from scratch, can the column be incorporated into the framing? If in the open, you have already received good advice.
How fancy is the room? Can the column be used as a design element? Do you want it to disappear? Can it be moved? Yes, it has been done and depending on circumstances you might be able.
Edited 8/2/2002 10:40:50 PM ET by TKHOLLOWAY
Interesting you bring up moving a column... at the risk of getting off subject...
I had considered through bolting 2x on either side of an I-beam to beef-it-up and allow the reposition of a post. A structural engineer (retired) told me I would not be able to drill the holes sufficiently accurate to allow load sharing. He suggested welding steel plates on either side. Thoughts?
pay a non-retired engineer to sign off of drawings..then get to work. Jeff She's exotic ,but not foreign, like an old Cadillac......she's a knockout!
Jeff Buck is right. A structural engineer can calc the loads and come up with height, thickness and length of plate to weld to web. Of course, depending on where the column is located currently and present loads you may be able to add anew and remove and not have to do anything to the beam.
One small word of caution regarding structural engineers, some over calculate loads up to 200%. They, as a group, tend to be conservative. That is a good thing generally, for safety sake. Just ask your's to be reasonable.
Good luck
Edited 8/3/2002 9:21:57 AM ET by TKHOLLOWAY