A quick look at column materials

Columns have been essential structural elements for thousands of years. They are just as vital today, whether they are in place to support the load of a building or purely decorative. Whatever the purpose, you will want to ensure they will remain in a good condition. You may want to look at protective products that can help with this. Barrier Mart could be your perfect partner here, offering a selection of column & corner protection solutions.

One thing you need to look at is the different types of column materials you can encounter. The material can have a big impact on the level of durability and what you need to do to maintain them.

Timber

The oldest column material in the world is timber. There are lots of options here, including redwood, white pine, and cypress. They can still be popular today in some parts of the world, but have largely been replaced by stronger, more durable substances.

Solid stone

The original material that replaced wood is solid stone. There are lots of options here, including marble, limestone, and granite. These columns can vary greatly in size, shape, and load bearing capacity. Generally the only limitation is on the size of the stone quarries can provide and the presence of flaws.

Cast stone

While solid stone is strong, durable, and beautiful, it has a downside in terms of the weight and issue with moving them. Cast columns are a great alternative. They can have a similar look but are hollow to reduce how much they weigh. Again you have lots of options. The mix can include various types of crushed stone, cement, and natural sand.

Cast concrete

Some columns are simple casts of concrete. Here you simply pour your chosen mix into a mould and allow it to cure. You must then seal it to prevent moisture absorption.

GFRC

A number of developers took a look at how they could improve the characteristics of concrete columns. One solution was to incorporate glass fibres. The inclusion of long or short fibres could increase the tensile strength and load bearing capacity. It is also possible to include different colours in the mix.

FRP

There is another type of column that uses the idea to utilise glass fibre for improving the characteristics. However, instead of concrete they are made of polyester or epoxy resin. The big advantage here is the columns are waterproof.

Some FRP columns can even include limestone or marble dust in the mix. This can reduce the amount of resin that is needed. Plus, it can further improve the mechanical properties, such as the impact resistance.

Metal

Finally you can also choose different types of metal column. Steel is a common choice because of its exceptional strength. Often you can see steel I beams acting as columns.

In some cases the steelwork can be left as is. However, in some situations it can have an outer shell or wrap to improve the aesthetics and corrosion resistance. Options here can be many of the materials above, with the exception of solid stone.

Ask us about column & corner protection

Barrier Mart understands how vital columns are. However, there is a risk of damage that could have an impact on safety, performance, and the aesthetics. We help to stop this with protective products. These can prevent anything from striking a column directly.

So, if you need the most reliable column & corner protection, speak to us or browse our website. We have options for a wide variety of settings.