Concrete posts - an important element of construction

Reinforced concrete pillars or columns began to produce almost from the moment when reinforced concrete itself appeared. They can be found at every turn. Parking bollards enclose car parks, signal posts are installed along roadsides, and finally, when erecting fences or pile foundations, they are considered to be the best material.

Pros and cons of products

The first thing you want to pay attention to is the durability of reinforced concrete. For example, a tree wears out tens of times faster.

If we talk about metal, then it requires an additional anti-corrosion coating, plus the price of metal supports is much higher.

• Along with durability, such supports have good strength and resistance to mechanical damage.. Reinforced products can withstand enormous loads.
• If you don't like the look of concrete, you can easily finish it with almost any material.. Beginning with the usual painting and finishing with plaster, facing with decorative tiles or plastic panels.
• Installation of these products does not require high qualification and can be done by hand.. It is also an important advantage that we can assume that the instructions for the manufacture of columns is quite simple, easy to master, thereby saving up to 30 - 40% of the budget on the construction of the fence.
• In addition, by making your own fence posts, you can set the shape and parameters of the product yourself.that is very convenient when building specialized fences.
• Speaking of cons, first of all, remember a large mass of design. But this is a relative minus, so heavy products will stand more firmly and securely in the ground. At the same time, transportation is associated with significant labor costs, financial investments and the use of special equipment.
• Also, all reinforced concrete structures, when installed, require the establishment of a reliable foundation.

Making and using posts

As mentioned earlier, the cost of the supports includes at least 30 - 40% of transportation and overhead costs. Therefore, it makes sense to make the posts yourself.

Preparation of the solution

At independent production of products the quality of the used solution is of great importance. Since we are not talking about the use of vibropressing machines, the cement for the solution is taken not lower than M300.

The ratio of cement to sand is 1: 2 or 1: 3.

• Of great importance is what forms for concrete columns will be used. So with horizontal pouring into square open forms, cement M300 is enough, but in this case you will need high-quality splicing and tamping.
• For vertical casting with good reinforcement, experts advise the use of cement grades M400 or M500. Plus it is desirable to add additives that reduce the shrinkage ratio of the solution.
• As for the use of rubble, it is better to add fine, sifted gravel. Products have a relatively small cross section, so large crushed stone will lower the deformation characteristics.

Filling in horizontal formwork

Horizontal pouring is advantageous in that in such a position, excess air can be easily expelled from the solution, plus a well-made formwork can be used as many times as desired.

• For its production, as a rule, a well padded board or thick plywood is taken. It makes a three-sided box of the right size. For joining the walls is better to use screws.
• Inside the box can be lined with thick polyethylene or self-adhesive. If you plan to manufacture a large number of products, it makes sense to cover the inside with waterproof plastic. (See also the article Concrete compaction: features.)

• Before pouring the solution, the internal surface is lubricated with engine oil or sprayed with a solution of engine oil and kerosene. Thanks to the lubrication, the formwork plates will later be easier to remove.
• Manufacturing technology of any type of products determines the mandatory laying of reinforcing steel frame. A rod with a cross section of 10 - 16 mm is taken as a longitudinal reinforcement. Cross-bracing can be made with a rod of 6 - 10 mm. The design can be welded or assembled using knitting wire, it can be three or four-sided, the pitch of the transverse strapping ranges from 50 to 150 mm.

Tip: if you produce reinforced concrete signal bars, their dimensions are strictly regulated by regulatory documents, so it will be easier to purchase a special plastic mold for casting, so that later you will not have problems with regulatory authorities.

• Further, the instructions for making simple. Initially, a thin concrete ball is poured onto which the reinforcement cage is installed and after that, the form is completely filled with mortar. The solution must be well pierced and compacted, if possible, using a tubular vibromachine.

Making round bars

Often, when pouring a columnar foundation or building a fence, it is quicker and easier to make round formwork for bollards.

It can be done in several ways.

• The most simple, economical and common is the use of asphalt or roofing material. The cloth is twisted in the form of a pipe of the desired size and sealed with a stapler. Note that you need to mount from the inside, so that the antennae are sticking out.
• The reinforcement cage is installed in the prepared hole, on the gravel bed and the underground part of the support is filled with mortar. After the mortar sets, a glassine pipe is put on the reinforcement cage and concrete is added. If you plan to use pergama formwork several times, then from the inside it must be lubricated so that it can be easily removed.
• In addition to glassine, plastic plumbing pipe can be used as a formwork, but problems with its dismantling can arise. For reusable use it is better to make a formwork from a metal pipe, the internal cross section of which is equal to the cross section of the post. The pipe is cut lengthwise, the corners are welded to the half-rings in order to bolt the half-rings and the structure is assembled.

Important: metal round formwork is convenient because it can be loosened and moved higher after the concrete solution hardens. After which the mounts are clamped again and the solution is added. Thus, it is possible to increase the bar to the desired height.

Signal posts

This type of concrete goods occupies a separate niche, of course you can make them yourself, but it is advisable in the case when you need to arrange a small area near the house.

• Signal reinforced concrete posts ST 1 ST 2 are produced according to GOST R 50970-2011. They are distinguished by the fact that the signal reinforced concrete posts CC 1 or ST 1, after hitting the vehicle can no longer be reused. And the instruction on the use of columns ST 2 allows their repeated installation.

The video in this article shows the production of columns.

Conclusion

Of course, making your own hands of such supports will require labor. But you can save a significant amount of money. So from 1m? concrete can be made up to 25 meters of support, with an average section of 200x200 mm. Even taking into account the overhead costs for reinforcement and material, this will be more than profitable.