Brick Pier - Does it need steel?

[vice]

Seems mad - ! Hoping some experience can help.
Got a wooden pedestrian gate about 115cm wide and 180 high.
I can pick it up by myself.

I'm replacing the 100mm x 100mm wooden post it was hung on with a 2-brick pier. Actually it will be solid, with 8 bricks per course.

I've read in a few places that I need steel reinforcement. A steel in the foundations, hinges welded to it etc etc... this isn't a big steel driveway gate. Too much?

Will this pier put up with a gate slamming and strong winds for the next 20 years?

 

[^woody^]

No steel required.

Suitable foundation required.

 

[vice]

Thanks. Doing a 45mm pour just below ground level then engineering bricks. Another builder friend that was going to do an 8 brick now says it should have a steel to prevent it falling. Maybe .akes the job quicker too?

If I do go for a steel does it need coating, do you know?

 

[^woody^]

45mm pour just below ground level then engineering bricks

A 45mm thick foundation?

And "just below" ground level is what, 70mm deep from the surface?

 

[noseall]

A 45mm thick foundation?

And "just below" ground level is what, 70mm deep from the surface?

 

[vice]

Sorry
45cm
2 foot deep pour to about 3 inches below ground level for 2 courses of engineering bricks.

Solid pour for and between the two pillars.

 

[^woody^]

If the ground at 600mm is suitable then OK.

The pad should ideally be wider than the pier too - 100-200mm wider

 

[Dereekoo]

Out of interest what is the laying pattern of the 8 brick course? or what is the pier dims?

 

[vice]

Out of interest what is the laying pattern of the 8 brick course? or what is the pier dims?

A 6 brick around and 2 in the middle

 

[vice]

If the ground at 600mm is suitable then OK.

The pad should ideally be wider than the pier too - 100-200mm wider

Thanks. Does steel need treating in some way? Thinking I beam or just some square section.

 

[stuart45]

Out of interest what is the laying pattern of the 8 brick course? or what is the pier dims?

Depends which bond you use. English would be header, closer, header, closer, header.
This ties all the brickwork.

 

[CACKATALLTRADES]

If the pier is freestanding it doesn't sound unexpected that you'd need some reinforcement in it. You can have a considerable wind loading at the top of a closed panel gate but you'll have hardly any weight holding the bricks in place and a standard mortar mix is weak, so what's going to resist the turning moment?