[TowerTalk] Tower Legs in Concrete

[chas]

On 6/29/11 8:35 AM, Eddy Swynar wrote:
> Hi Mike,
> 
> The DELHI-brand self-supporting tower instructions here do not
> specifically reference the necessity of coating the in-cement leg
> extensions with ANYTHING...
> 
> They DO, however, explicitly state that you must install long bolts
> through holes in the extensions at the bottom, to ensure that the things
> won't somehow extricate themselves from the concrete.
> 
> ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ

Eddy...

ok, can you say that again?  my understanding is that he is taking a 10'
section of 45 and putting 5' of that into a hole and then filling it with
concrete.
Same thing I did with a 25G.  Btw,  I do suggest that room be left for
drainage of water - 1. put a 6" layer of large aggregate in the bottom of the
hole and that allows condensate, etc to drain out of the vertical tubes and
into the aggregate 2. also drill a couple of 1/4" holes in each leg about 2"
above the MOUNDED concrete top (to encourage rain runoff) to allow water to
drain out of each tube.  also, DO get a gallon of roofing cement (tar
asphalt) and paint the tower section from one foot below the top, MOUNDED
surface to one foot ABOVE the top surface of this mounded concrete.  DO pour
enough to get the top of the concrete above the level of the ground - use a
form tube set about 6" down into the ground and extending between 6" and 8"
above the ground level.  iow, get a 1 foot long piece of 3' diam concrete
form tube used for sign or highway columns.  In fact, I have formed a
relationship with a couple of sign companies and have them do odd jobs like
drilling the 3' diam hole and I have them do plate welding, winch/crane work,
buy the cardboard concrete form tube.   Remember, mound the top of the pour
about 3 - 4" above the top edge of that form tube.  Do NOT allow any chance
of dirt to cover the top of that concrete foundation.

some of the above is from about 4 yrs of being a sign inspector, more is
plain old common sense. btw, about the asphalt, our swamp coolers at home
never rusted out... most did within 2 yrs.  tried pricing one of those
lately? <G>

good luck
chas, k5dam


Chas
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