Hello all, thanks in advance for reading, and any advice provided. My question is whether or not I can set my lally column atop my concrete floor in the bsmt. I already have the footer pads there. I know some guys pour the floor around the poles and this eliminates lateral shift at the base of the pole, but essentially don’t concrete anchors through the floor do the same. As far as load transfer goes I also see any difference between putting pole directly on top of footer pad or on top of 4 inches of concrete on top of footer pad as negligible. Obviously my knowledge in this area is greatly limited and welcome your thoughts.
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Replies
Paul,
It probably doesn't matter.
Pole set on footer with floor poured around pole allows the footer to settle without necessarily cracking the floor. No garuntees the floor won't crack anyway. It's prettier than setting on top of the floor.
I prefer the footer to be level with the floor with isolation around it. When the column needs work, its' base is already exposed.
To me, it's more important to pack hi-strength drypak under the column flange.
Near the epicenter of a 7. earthquake, the floor may be better at preventing lateral movement than anchors.
It's 6 of one and 1/24 of a gross in the other.
SamT
I don't know what you have for pad. Let's assume it can bear more of a load than the typical 3" basement floor. Use a hammer drill. Drill out a couple of 5/8" holes. Cut 1/2" allthread to length. Use Simpson's two part epoxy (two caulking gun size tubes--one hardner and the other epoxy). It gets mixed in a special mixing nozzle. When it sets up it will be like you had buried "L" bolts in the concrete pad. Passes building codes too. Slap a couple of 3/4" bolts on top and that lally column isn't going anywhere. Concrete nails? Worthless. Tyr
FWIW, I had a building inspector tell me that the pad needed to be flush with the slab. That way he could visually verify that the pad had been poured (although he couldn't verify depth, obviously).
I prefer the footer flush with the slab. That way WHEN the footer settles it won't take that part of the slab with it.
I also prefer to use anchor bolts with a couple of inches thread showing so the column can be plumbed and elevated by adjusting nuts under the flange.
SamT
i had never considered putting the pier/pad flush with the concrete, but that is a cool idea. THANKS to all you guys who have helped out. Breaktime rocks. paul