How to Do Footings for Steel Posts
Footings for steel posts are often found supporting parking lot lights, traffic signal poles and buildings. Homeowners may use steel posts when building fences. When using small steel posts, the post can be embedded inside the footing. Larger footings have L-shaped bolts embedded in them, and the steel posts are bolted to the footing. The average do-it-yourselfer will encounter the small post footing more often than the large post footing.
Dig a 24-inch-deep hole 12 inches in diameter. If your post is larger than 6 inches in diameter, make the hole larger -- at least twice the diameter of the post.
Place gravel 6 inches deep in the bottom of the hole and pack it down. The gravel allows water to drain away from the post.
Place the steel post in the hole on top of the gravel and center it. Keep it in position by placing a wood beam on each side. Clamp the two beams together so they squeeze the post between them. Check the post to make sure it's level.
- Dig a 24-inch-deep hole 12 inches in diameter.
- Clamp the two beams together so they squeeze the post between them.
Mix the concrete according to the manufacturer's directions. Fill the hole with concrete, then fill beyond the top of the hole. Angle the concrete into a mountain shape with a trowel, so the post is sticking through the top. This will help water drain away from the post.
Allow the concrete to dry. Remove the wood supports. Recheck the post to verify it is still level and centered. Very small differences in level are acceptable.
- Mix the concrete according to the manufacturer's directions.
- Angle the concrete into a mountain shape with a trowel, so the post is sticking through the top.
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References
Warnings
- If the post is far off center after the concrete cures, you must expose the footing enough to move the post into a level position.
Writer Bio
William Kinsey lives in Concord, N.C. He started writing articles in March 2009, which have appeared on Autos.com and CarsDirect.com. He currently holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He also has several years experience as an outside plant engineer and planner with AT&T. He also currently owns and operates Sophisticated Curves, an online fashion mall that caters to the needs of plus size women.
