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Grade Beams
Grade beams and modified foundations are used when it is determined
that soil conditions are not stable enough to support columns or
gates. There is always a small amount of movement in columns. This
is due to their large amount of concentrated weight on top of foundations
that have a relatively small footprint. A column can weigh four
to six thousand pounds (1814 – 2700 kg) and the foundation
can weigh another four thousand pounds. With eight to ten thousand
pounds of material sitting on top of three square feet (one square
meter) of area there is high probability for settlement.
Grade beams are highly recommended for double gates (bi-parting).
Keeping the alignment in double gates is much more critical than
single gates. When double gates are hung from columns there is good
probability that they will loose their alignment within a short
period of time.
Foundations can be modified to prevent settlement by altering their
size and depth to accommodate soil conditions. If you are in doubt
of your soil conditions you may want to consult with a soils engineer.
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