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Expert: - 8/3/2007


Question
August 3rd, 2007

In the basement of my childhood house were steel posts supporting a steel I beam.  I want to know what those posts are called because I would like to use them to support a loft in the garage of the 1951 built home I have just purchased. Can you tell me what those steel posts are called and reference a retail source for them?
Sincerely,

Robert E. Scott

Answer
Mr. Scott - thanks for your question!

Those posts are still used, and are in almost every home we design today.

Decades ago they were called "lally columns", but now they're just called steel pipe columns.  They're available in several thicknesses and diameters, and can be purchased at any steel yard or through most commercial building supply houses.  The basic column is a 3" diameter standard steel pipe column, and can be purchased as a fixed unit or with an adjustable base.

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com

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Richard Taylor, AIA

Expertise

Ask me about all aspects of house, remodeling. , and room addition design and construction. Ask me about historic homes, renovation, and restoration. Ask me about materials and techniques, and about how you can get the best value for your design and construction dollar. Ask me how you can make your home a very special place. I can't, however, answer specific structural engineering questions in this forum - that's something you'll need on-site observation for.

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I own a full-service residential architectural firm, and have been designing custom homes, remodelings, and room additions across the country since 1983. Check us out at Richard Taylor Architects and RTA Plans. I have written and been published extensively on the subject of residential architecture.

Organizations
American Institute of Architects, City of Dublin Architectural Review Board, Vice Chair of City of Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission, American Planning Association, Board Member Historic Dublin Business Association, Past Editor of SPLASH (a software forum), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America

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Business First of Columbus, Suburban New Publications, About.com, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch Residential Architect Custom Home Architect Remodeling Architect

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
For more about home design, check out my blog at Sense Of Place and join the conversation on our Facebook Page.

Awards and Honors
2010 Dublin Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year

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