Photo by spannar00ni
Sometimes we rely a bit too much on gravity when it comes to sound, or not so sound, building construction. I walked thru a friend’s garage the other day and noticed some beams not fastened to the columns. The vertical beams were resting on the columns with nothing keeping them together but the laws of gravity.
Isaac Newton might approve of this "short cut" in construction, but you should find it worrisome. The problem is that just a nudge can knock the beam away from the column. This can cause damage to the garage ceiling or walls. Even worse, if the beam and column aren’t fastened properly inside the house, a floor could cave in or sustain heavy damage.
Any homeowner can inspect his or her house to see if they notice unfastened beams and columns. Beams and columns are one of the most common structural connections. Fasteners include welding, bolts, wood lag screws, or other fastener types depending on the construction of your building.
The beams and columns are probably the most important elements of your building. They hold it up and maintain its structure. Like the bones in our own skeletons, a broken beam or column is big trouble.
One of the primary checks as I do field observation during construction is the proper fastening of beams and columns. You should also inspect your home, garage, or commercial building to see if you find any suspicious connections that look weak.
If you find them, call your contractor right away to fix the problem now before something comes crashing down later. Don’t rely on Isaac Newton’s laws of gravity to hold your building together.
Until next time,
Dan Berkhoudt, Architect
Daniel Berkhoudt, AIA, LEED-AP is an experienced architect working in Utica, Rome, and Central New York. He specializes in new building construction and renovation both commercial and residential. Call 315.737.4416 or contact him from here.
Leave a Comment