home built in 1949, has what looks like could be original screw type lolly columns. Does anyone have any take on calling out these columns? I know they arn’t intended to be a perminate support today, but did that code exist in 1949?
You can make a recommendation regardless of what code may or may not have existed at the time the home was built.
Describe it what it is…temporary support. Regarding 1949 code, I’m willing to bet that post was not installed then, added much later to support a sagging floor or replace a rotted or termite damaged wood post.
http://www.octoberhome.com/articles/adjustcolumn/adjustcolumn.html
Temporary support.
I write all these screw jacks up as…
Recommend replacing all temporary screw jacks with cement filled Lally Columns on footings.
Lally columns have been around (1st generation) for over 100 years however for the most part they were designed to have concrete in same… there are special lally columns which are designed to be permanent however the screw version is not one of them although many code officials accepted same.
You can find more info on what product is code compliant at deancolumn.com
Why do you think they are “temporary” ??
Read Adjustable Steel Columns for inspectors.
When i inspected in Illinois they are used in new construction all the time. What is the problem.
The manufacturer has printed on them that they are temporary supports not intended for use permanently.
Inspecting Adjustable Steel Columns](http://www.octoberhome.com/articles/adjustcolumn/adjustcolumn.html) by Arlene Puentes
Glad you dug that up Larry.
Seems we have a contradiction here.
Larry, that article has so many errors in it, I don’t know where to begin. Pure nonsense.
All telescopic columns are less than 3 inches in diameter? C’mon.
And furthermore, the fact that the IRC says they can’t be less than 3 inches in diameter means that they recognize ones larger than 3 inches as acceptable, not unacceptable.
I just passed the ICC Contractors Exam a couple weeks ago and one of the questions was whether adjustable steel columns had to be permanently attached at the bottom or top. If they have to be permanently attached, how could they be temporary components?
Uh, no. The reason they are adjustable has nothing to do with “jacking up” anything. They are adjustable so that you don’t need a cutting torch to size them. They are sold by height range and then you adjust the screw to get the exact size needed, not to use as a jack.
Think about how a home is built. No one can pre-determine the exact height between the top of the post footer and the bottom of the beam flange… the jacks HAVE to be adjustable.
Having actually handled/used both of these columns, it is easy for me to see what they are talking about but for those that need further help understanding the difference between “telescoping” adjustable columns and “one piece” adjustable columns please read and see pictures here:
http://www.octoberhome.com/articles/adjustcolumn/adjustcolumn.html
Difference:
For full article go here: http://www.octoberhome.com/articles/adjustcolumn/adjustcolumn.html
Larry, the last time I copied that article with her name on it, she threaten Inachi for copyright infringement.
Although a good article, I will never use it again. And this was quite awhile ago. 
What’s so hard about simply noting the type of support posts in a home and simply allow the homeowners decide what they want to do with them?
When I find temporary support posts in a home, my inspection report states…
Temporary Support Posts installed. You may want to consider replacing all temporary screw jacks (support posts) with permanent cement filled Lally Columns.
Please provide us with the bearing load on each of these jacks so that we can determine that they are inadequate for the application.
If I put 50 screw jacks under my house, because I’m stupid and don’t know why I’m putting them there, should I be required to put 50 permanent jacks in their place?
Please go back to your standards of practice and read that home inspectors are not here to provide structural analysis or analysis of any component within the house. Then decide if you want to take on the engineering community as to whether the post should be replaced or not.
I would not need a load bearing analysis to determine if a post (jack) is a temporary support. A temporary support in my opinion is a defect. According to the SOP I follow I am required to report defects.
Are you the one asking this thread question?
Your opinion over an engineer. Go for it…
It’s not a defect if you can’t prove it is one…
You can have a support that is not a structural component, no?!
Stop a squeak in the floor that is not structural related?
“Oh my, you have a screw jack! Must do something about that”! Why? I want to know WHY?!
You have not given us any reason other than it is a srew jack that you consider temporary.
They may have been there since 1949!? What issues are detrimental to the structure are you seeing now to make us all sit up and want to change this!?