The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Thu Apr 01, 2010 3:45 pm**

Hello all!

I've a couple of questions regarding pier construction for my driveway entrance...

Presently I have an existing 5ft high double brick wall with an 8ft high two brick wide attached pier on one side of my driveway entrance - and a 3ft long 4ft high single wall with no pier forming the other side. There are two concrete posts inside of this on which are hung wrought iron gates.

I am planning to widen the present narrow opening to 10ft by removing the short wall / posts / gates etc - and building a new freestanding pier where the short wall was - further demolishing the existing pier and rebuilding a new pier tied into the existing wall but a half brick further back.

I would like the new piers to be a brick & a half and tie in with the wall height of 5ft - so probably a course or two higher. The gate will be a 5ft high sliding gate so it will not bear any weight on the piers - however the roller guide and end stay will be attached close to the top of the piers - so there will be some forces associated with wind.

I've had two chaps around to quote me for the work. Neither has suggested anything about pier reinforcement or anything substantial in terms of the foundations ??? The newly formed attached pier will likely sit on the existing foundation of the old one.

Could someone advise best practice for reinforcement and foundations for the new piers?

Thanks!

Posted: **Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:48 pm**

5 ft high i would say go at least 750mm deep and the foundation to be 100mm bigger all round than the pier
if you are having a 330 by 330 pier might be best to use 4 rods of 12 mm rebar sticking up from the concrete
then when the brickwork is done fill with concrete in the 100 by 100 void
only an engineer can give you a definitive answer but thats what i would do
LLL

Posted: **Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:06 pm**

Cheers LLL!

I've had a slight re-think... I dry built a brick and half pier for a few courses - and well - in relation to everything it looks a little skinny

Having carried out further measurements - it looks like I will have room for two brick piers - ie six bricks per course.

What would you recommend as a suitable foundation / reinforcement for these? Again one will be tied to a double brick 5ft wall and one will be freestanding - both taking no load other than toward the pier tops due to any wind force on the gate stays...

Thanks!

Posted: **Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:04 am**

as lll says: "it will need reinforcing." Maybe bob bars ( L shaped ) into wall foundation.

Posted: **Sun Apr 04, 2010 2:12 pm**

What would you recommend as a suitable foundation / reinforcement for these? Again one will be tied to a double brick 5ft wall and one will be freestanding - both taking no load other than toward the pier tops due to any wind force on the gate stays...

the gates in themselves will exert load if you have a gate 1800 long and a 6 stone child hangs on it and swings there will be a tremendous point load on the pier
brickwork is very strong regarding downward force but not so clever on lateral force
I would concrete a 152 by 102 usb into the foundations build the pier up to the height of the bottom hinge then get a welder to weld on your bottom pier lugs and also the top ones bearing in mind these need to be brick course (multiples of 75mm)
i know this sounds OTT but its what i do and i like to do things to last,nothing worse than gates screwed on to brick piers and the whole thing failing in 3 months
cheers LLL

Edited By lutonlagerlout on 1270386768

Posted: **Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:07 pm**

Hi LLL

Thanks again - just to remind you though it's a sliding gate. There are no hinges etc - the whole weight of the gate is transferred to a cemented in steel track via steel wheels welded to the underside of the gate frame.

The only force to the piers will be from wind forces via a roller guide toward the top of one pier - and a gate stay toward the top of the other.

I would though like to make the piers sturdy.

Thanks again!

The Brew Cabin

Brick pier construction q's