We had a freak windo storm here last week. You could see this wall of wind coming and, (3) 8' x 17 foot high billboards snapped at their bases. It was quite a dramatic site and, would send pics but hvae never successfully got pics on Letterhead before.
These were fabricated from another sign company about 8 years ago and the posts were constructed from 4" x 6" x (I'm guessing 20') posts. We got the call and was out 15 minutes later to clean the rubble. We are now in the process of re-installing (getting locates, new lumber etc..). Knowing that these structures (all in a row) have to be 17' high and, we can only get (I'm shooting for 6" x 6") 20' posts, what "confident suggestions" can be offered?
It was recommended locally that we purchase 2" x 6" x approx 5's and another chunk of 6" x 6" (2')and butt them together using the 2" x 6" therefore lengthening the structure but, will the strength still be there?
We would plan on 5' deep holes and plenty of cement.
If anyone wants to help by uploading some pics for me to get a better idea of what we are replacing, feel free to e-mail me and I can send a few.
Your advise is always appreciated.
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on October 14, 2008 10:11 AM:
Structural Engineer, consult!
I'd talk to an engineer... If I was going to do this project I would definitely get my plans approved by an engineer.
/Sorry..... did I repeat myself? // ENGINEER!
Posted by Bill Lynch (Member # 3815) on October 14, 2008 10:24 AM:
One word...Steel
Posted by Corey Wine (Member # 1640) on October 14, 2008 11:49 AM:
Well the consensus is (from the owners) that we model the install in the same way that it was done in the past (just with some thicker lumber - 6x6). The structures lasted 8 years on 4x6's however, the back of the 3 structures had a large 12' x 30' bill board attached across all 3 8x12 bill boards (sticking 5 feet out of the ground to the bottom of the signs). I believe the back structure is what was the "brick wall" that helped this thing snap. I will intend on talking them out of reattaching the back facing bill board. We plan to extract at least 1 of the post stumps from the ground to see in fact how long the posts were in total.
Wood will work for this and is the direction we are going. Funny, we went out a month ago to put yet another 8' x 12' bill board advertisement on each frame. They requested just attaching over the existing advertisements. We made a judgement call to remove the past messages and soon realized there were 4 "LAYERS" of advertisiments overlaying each other through the last 6 years or so. We removed 12 sheets per billboard of 1/2" crezon. This considerable lightened the load but, this wind last week wreaked havoc. Any 6" x 6" wood post suggestions?
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on October 14, 2008 12:05 PM:
Oh the sign snapped! I thought you had sneaked across the border and done one - "snapper", LOL.
Posted by Don Hulsey (Member # 128) on October 14, 2008 12:38 PM:
How often do you get that kind of wind???
Even steel will give if the wind is strong enough.
I'd go with the 6x6s and in 30-40 years from now there might be another wall of wind come through, but someone else would have to decide how to redesign the framework.
Posted by Corey Wine (Member # 1640) on October 14, 2008 12:56 PM:
The last time I saw the "Wall of wind" here was 10 years ago. In the last 10 minutes, I have found a supplier for 24' posts. No "jerry rigging" extra pieces to each other thank goodness...that was my biggest concern.
I believe we will drill down about 6' with a 12" hole and fill with cement. There were alot of dilemmas attaching our signs to the existing frame work for years (out of square and kind of a weird frame concept opriginally from some other sign co). Will we plan to re-design the framework better.
Thanks for the suggestions. I have direction but, more brainstorms are always appreciated.
Posted by Tony Vickio (Member # 2265) on October 14, 2008 02:02 PM:
I am 100% with Jon! You are fooling with disaster (law suites) if one of these billboards falls on someone or something. When you get into erecting something that large you are only guessing (brainstorming)on the right installation! Wind load is the killer, not the weight, and (3) 8'x12' billboards will catch a ton of wind.
Posted by thom miller (Member # 1845) on October 14, 2008 06:18 PM:
I don't know the laws in Canada, but here in Lancaster, PA there is no way we could take on a project like that without engineer drawings and permits. What the owner wants is irrelavant, the standards set by the state and local municipality prevail. You need to put up a structure that is safe and one that is going to last. 12" diam. holes are not big enough for that structure.
