making round concrete piers square

[cbc58]

if you have a cabin on piers and want to dress-up those piers to be square by putting rocks around them so that they look more substantial - what would you need to do?  would you have to go down to the frost line or could you float on top of the ground somehow... or what is the process?

if you haven't started yet and wanted this to be your finished result - would you place a square footing below each pier... or would you need to?

[glenn kangiser]

If you go below the frost line you would give the frozen soil a better grip on the piers thereby possibly causing problems.  I would keep it decorative - possibly stucco mesh frames to attach the rock to and make it as a floating unit..

Just my ideas - others may think different.

[MountainDon]

All piers would require a footing, unless the pier was the same size as the footing. Here 16 x 16 inch is what is commonly passed by the building departments. Eight inch thick.

Square piers could be made by using concrete blocks. Depending on the depth, them in a hole might be difficult. A stacking could be easier.


If the rock was kept cosmetic as Glenn suggests that might be better than having hardock resting on the ground and mortared to the pier. Some crushed stone on the ground surface under the cosmetic rock should be safe.

[Shawn B]

Pour a small square pad of concrete around the base of the round pier, like you would for a sidewalk. Then frame the desired square form around the round pier with treated plywood and 2x material as needed. Then you can either stack ledge stone, veneer, etc. When I lived in Montana this was the way the mason's always done it, even on multi-million dollar homes.

[Don_P]

If its a projection above frost line the frost will have that shelf to get under and lift. That makes me a little nervous. A smooth surface of full dimension from frost depth up to grade would be my choice. I'd make a square pier to begin with, step in a ledge to hold the stone and run on up. My next job will include rubblestone piers under the porches from rock off the site, we've been kicking around our options.

All that said, we've had bolted on brick ledges and sloping brick ledges cast into foundation walls that stone set on top of, no problems that I'm aware of. We stop doing lick and stick at about 2" thickness and go to ledges if the stone is thicker.

[Redoverfarm]

cbc either method you choose will work for cultured stone.  Personally I like block as a pier but that may just be a personal preference.  If you can afford to use block you could use flue block filled with concrete and rebar from the footer up.  They measure approximately 15-5/8" square.  If you choose a round pier you could build a square form at the top portion and use a block off approach similar to what Mt. Don described.  Meaning that you place a block at the top of your round pier and the beginning of your square form to allow room for any heaving. If you use cultured stone it can be laided at the beginning of your square peir foundation.  Either the square transformation or even square piers the rock as others have stated should allow some heave variance unless you start it all the way at the footer.  If you will look at picture # 3 of my post recently you can get some idea of the appearance.  You could also go the route as Shawn stated but I would use a water membrane ( Ice guard or # 30 felt) over the ply then lathe screen.  

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