[TowerTalk] UST base grouting

[Dr. Howard S. White]

I originally grouted the base of my UST  as per the drawings...

But when everything was up we found that the tower stuck a bit when it was
rotated  which is a symptom of slightly off skew tower...

So we jackhammered out the grout and relabeled the tower using the leveling
bolts... and the tower turns smoothly again...

Needless to say the grout did not go back...
__________________________________________________________
Howard S. White Ph.D. P. Eng., VE3GFW/K6  ex-AE6SM  KY6LA
Website: www.ky6la.com
"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"
"Ham Antennas Save Lives - Katrina, 2003 San Diego Fires, 911"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <K7LXC at aol.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>; <jperalta at tampabay.rr.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 5:23 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] UST base grouting



In a message dated 8/13/2006 11:35:11 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  A friend and I were discussing his installation of a UST  TX-455. I
mentioned that it's a good idea to use a non-shrinking grout  under the
base. To which he replied that UST said that grouting isn't  needed if
the leveling bolts are used. I checked their website and the  TX-455
foundations diagram does state this.

>  I was  thinking that if the leveling bolts are used that is when grouting
was  needed. If for nothing else to keep water from standing around the
bolts.  Doesn't the grout provide some load support for the base? And if
you don't  use leveling bolts and the base is setting directly on the
slab how could  you use the grout.

    Yes, the grout takes some of the vertical load -  that's why you're
supposed to use non-shrink grout. The problem is that it's  not easily
available. I
get mine thru a masonry supply store but they don't  sell at retail. Your
big
box hardware stores are hard pressed to have it so  using it becomes a
little
problematic.

Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for hams
Cell: 206-890-4188




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