Load-bearing oak post?

[Fredensjö]

We have a supporting white post in the house where we are considering building a small screen wall in oak. Instead of the coarse white post, we would rather have an oak post to base our screen wall on. Does anyone know if there are load-bearing oak posts and if they are as stable? I guess our white load-bearing post is basically a spruce post that's been covered with drywall and painted on.

 

[Svanteman]

Sure, there are oak posts.
Here's one
https://www.lundbergs.com/produkt/limtrastolpe-ek-2400x80x80/
It's glued-laminated, and if you want one in a single piece, you may need to add a couple of thousand perhaps.
If it's load-bearing, there's a bit of hassle with supporting and replacing the post, but it's certainly doable if you feel confident.
The alternative is to remove what your existing post is clad with and instead clad it with oak. It's much quicker, involves virtually 0 risk, and is significantly cheaper.
So it's more of an aesthetic issue.

 

[Fredensjö]

Sure, there are posts in oak.
Here is one
[link]
It's laminated, if you're thinking of one that's a single piece, you may have to add a couple of thousand perhaps.
If it's load-bearing, there's a bit of a hassle with mortising and replacing the post, but surely doable if you feel confident.
The alternative is to tear away what your existing post is clad with and instead clad it with oak. Goes much faster, with virtually 0 risk involved, and significantly cheaper.
So it's more of an aesthetic question.

Thanks, I've seen different laminated beams in oak but are they equally load-bearing? 🙈 I've also thought of the idea of stripping the existing post and cladding it, but then it becomes a bit too bulky. But I'm open to more suggestions.

 

[MathiasS]

It should be possible to cover with something that is 5-6mm, wouldn't that work?

 

[Unikt namn]

Bauhaus has a wall panel with oak veneer.

240cm high, 60cm wide, 1cm thick.
Should provide a similar thickness to the post as the drywall does today.

https://www.bauhaus.se/vaggpanel-by-veno-ek-2400x600x10mm

 

[Fredensjö]

It should be possible to cover with something that is 5-6mm, wouldn't that work?

Thanks, that would probably work great. I'll probably look for something similar 🙏

 

[Fredensjö]

Bauhaus has a wall panel with oak veneer.

240cm high, 60cm wide, 1cm thick.
Should provide similar thickness for the post that the drywall gives today.

[link]

Thank you, I will have to find something similar but need to find something thinner. I want to reduce the thickness of the post too 🙏

 

[pacman42]

Thank you, I have seen different types of glulam in oak, but are they equally load-bearing? 🙈 I have also considered removing the existing post and cladding it, but it would become a bit too bulky. However, I am open to more suggestions.

Glulam is the most durable wood. It is used instead of steel in many large buildings. The roof beams in many sports halls, for example, are made of glulam.

Glulam is a building material composed of several wood lamellas bonded together with a strong adhesive. Compared to traditional solid wood, glulam offers high strength, stability, and form retention and is less prone to cracking, bending, and warping. Additionally, glulam has good fire resistance and is environmentally friendly as it can be made from smaller timber dimensions and recycled wood.

 

[cpalm]

They use glulam instead of steel in many large buildings. The roof beams in many sports halls, for example, are made of glulam.

Yes, but one must distinguish between glulam and glulam. Just because there are construction-classified glulam beams with excellent strength doesn't mean that a stave-laminated countertop has the same properties.

You have to be a bit careful with load-bearing parts when tinkering so as not to unintentionally weaken the structure.

Same with the sizing. It's not just about choosing a narrower post because you think it looks better.

 

[pacman42]

Sure, but one must distinguish between different types of glulam. Just because there are construction-classed glulam beams with excellent strength, it doesn't mean a stave-laminated countertop has the same properties.

When dealing with load-bearing elements, you need to be careful not to unintentionally weaken the structure.

The same goes for sizing. It's not just about choosing a narrower post because you think it looks nicer.

Of course, but I reacted to the idea that glulam would be weaker. If you choose the right product, it is much stronger.

 

[Johan Gunverth]

The strongest wooden structure is a massive spruce post. Ask any mechanical engineer. There is a reason why raw spruce poles are still used as props when casting against loose ground and why sailboats have spruce in the mast and large sailing ships like Götheborg have spruce in the rigging. Sheath the post in thin oak panels as @MathiasS suggested.

 

[cpalm]

If you choose the right product, it is much stronger.

Exactly, but where can you find construction timber (glulam or not) in oak?
A product has been linked, but I doubt that it is suitable for load-bearing structures.

My initial thought is also that TS would do best to "re-cover" the existing post.

 

[pacman42]

Exactly, but where can one find construction wood (glulam or not) in oak?
A product has been linked, but I doubt it's suitable for load-bearing structures.

Spontaneously, I am also inclined to think that TS would do best to "dress" the existing post.

I agree. My point was precisely regarding the adhesive technique itself.

 

[Fredensjö]

The strongest wooden construction is a solid spruce pole. Ask any mechanical engineer. There's a reason why raw spruce poles are still used as posts for casting on loose ground and why sailboats have spruce masts and large sailing ships like Götheborg have spruce in the rigging. Cover the pole with thin oak boards as @MathiasS suggested.

Thank you, that was a bit of my concern if there was an oak pole with the same bearing properties as spruce ☺️ But then I will simply cover the spruce pole with thinner oak boards.