How can we clad such pillars?

[Draper_ep]

Hello,

I need tips on how we can cover 4 pillars on our entrance staircase. The paint has started to peel quite a bit. We would prefer to avoid too much sanding or brushing on the pillars as we've been advised that there might be asbestos in the outer layer. To make it as simple as possible, we would like to explore if it's possible to cover them in a way that avoids a lot of sawing, sanding, or drilling into the pillars.

So the question is: do you have any tips on the material and how they can be covered? Looking for a long-term solution but we are gratefully open to any suggestions on how they can be enclosed.

 

[Intet]

Aren't they regular concrete pillars?
What was the reason for there being asbestos on the outer part of the pillars? I've never heard of anything like this?

 

[Draper_ep]

Aren't they regular concrete pillars?
What was the reason for thinking there would be asbestos on the outside of the pillars? I've never heard of anything like that?

The seller thought it was. The house was built by the seller's family in the 50s and had an asbestos-cement facade. It would have been nice if it were just concrete...

 

[Intet]

The facade has nothing to do with the pillars. The whole story sounds very unlikely.

 

[tommib]

Test it to be sure.

Speaking of columns and eternit, I have at least one example on the way to the children's school where someone has clearly used eternit pipes as casting molds for their gate posts. You can clearly see the typical structure and the small flare that forms a coupling. However, I don't know if they ever made round pipes in eternit. Why? No idea, haven't asked.

 

[O]

The paint has started to peel quite a bit. We would like to avoid sanding or brushing too much on the pillars as we have been advised that there might be asbestos cement on the outer layer.

If peeling paint is the issue, the obvious solution is to wash and repaint

tips on what material and how they can be clad? Looking for a long-term solution, but we gratefully accept all sorts of suggestions on how they can be covered.

Cladding them with stainless steel sheet is very long-term.
Ceramic tiles/mosaic likewise.

 

[Draper_ep]

The facade has nothing to do with the pillars. The whole story sounds very unlikely.

Facade and year were mentioned to provide context. I dare say it would have been even more unlikely if it was a house from 1995 with a wooden facade 😉

 

[Draper_ep]

Test it to be sure.

Regarding pillars and eternit, I have at least one example on the way to the children's school where someone has obviously used eternit pipes as molds for their gate posts. You can clearly see the typical structure and the small projection that forms the socket. However, I don't know if round pipes were ever made in eternit. Why? No idea, haven’t asked.

Thanks, good input! I can understand that the method of casting like that had its advantages. I have seen that round pipes were manufactured in Sweden but don't know if they were made in just this diameter or were this smooth.

 

[Draper_ep]

If peeling paint is the problem, the obvious solution is to wash and repaint.

Covering them with stainless steel sheet is very long-term.
Ceramic tiles/mosaic as well.

Thanks for the tips! It would have been really convenient if one could add a sheet. It doesn't add much to the diameter.

 

[mattoys]

The facade has nothing to do with the columns. The whole story sounds very unlikely.

I think I see joints from the casting mold. Which would support the unlikeliness.

 

[g.kraft]

Eternit sounds unlikely but it's best to investigate it. Sanding/painting with the right paint is probably the best. If you clad the pillars, you need to consider not directing/sealing in moisture that can damage the concrete.

 

[Draper_ep]

I think I see seams from the mold. Which would support that it's unlikely.

I interpreted it as seams between Eternit pipes, but it could be as you say.

 

[Draper_ep]

Eternit sounds unlikely but it's best to investigate it. Sanding/painting with the right paint is probably the best. If you enclose the pillars, you need to make sure you don't trap in moisture that can damage the concrete.

Might need to arrange a test. Thanks for the tip about the moisture!

 

[13th Marine]

If you are going to send for testing, I used Evema almost 10 years ago, they were nice and also the cheapest. Last time I checked, their prices were still competitive.

 

[HSP]

There are round eternit pipes (asbestos cement pipes) that were used for, among other things, sewage and pressure water pipes, outer casings in culverts, etc., they were manufactured in many dimensions and lengths.