The cost to replace or remove a lally column depends much more on what surrounds the post than on the post itself. A straight swap of a rusted or damaged column on a sound footing is a small job. A replacement that needs a new footing, an engineer and a permit is a bigger one. Removing a column costs the most, because the beam it supported now has to span twice as far, which usually means a new or reinforced beam and heavier posts and footings at each end.
We don't publish prices, because a number that ignores your footing, beam and access would be wrong for most basements. Here's how these jobs are put together, what makes each part bigger or smaller, and how to get a quote you can rely on.
Three different jobs
People search for "lally column replacement cost" when they mean one of three jobs, and they're priced very differently:
| Job | What's involved | Typical scope |
|---|---|---|
| Replace like for like | Shore the beam, remove the old post, install a new one at the same spot | Small, if the footing is adequate |
| Upgrade a telepost to a fixed steel post | Same as above, with a post fabricated to the measured height | Small to moderate; may involve the designer if loads are high |
| Remove a column | Engineer designs a longer-spanning beam, new or upgraded posts and footings at each end, shoring, permit | Larger structural job |
"Lally column" is a US term for a steel pipe column. In Ontario, most basements have adjustable steel columns (teleposts) or fixed steel posts. For when a telepost is acceptable as a permanent support, see can adjustable steel columns be permanent.
What goes into replacing a column
Assessment and design. A replacement at the same spot carrying the same load may only need a contractor's assessment. If the load is high, the existing footing is questionable, or the post is changing type, a designer or engineer should confirm the post and footing. Under the 2024 Ontario Building Code, an adjustable column conforming to CAN/CGSB-7.2 is limited to 36 kN of load (Article 9.17.3.4); above that, the column is designed under Part 4.
Permit. Replacing a structural member is often treated as a structural alteration. Whether your municipality requires a permit for a like-for-like swap varies, so ask the building department. Anything that changes the structure, such as a new footing, a moved post or a removed post, normally needs one. Our GTA permits guide for load-bearing work covers the process.
Temporary shoring. The beam has to be supported on temporary posts on both sides of the column before the old one is removed. Shoring is set to hold the beam where it is, not to jack it up. Lifting a sagging structure is a separate, engineered decision.
The footing. This is the biggest variable in a replacement. The 2024 OBC requires columns to be centred on a footing conforming to Section 9.15 (Article 9.17.2.1). If the old post sits on a proper footing in good condition, the new one can go on the same footing. If it sits on a thin slab, or the footing is cracked or undersized, the job grows: cut the slab, excavate, form and pour a new pad, possibly with an inspection, then patch the floor. See lally column footing requirements.
The new post. Options include a labelled adjustable column or a fixed steel post, usually HSS or pipe with base and cap plates welded on, cut to a field-measured height. OBC Part 9 requires end plates of at least 100 x 100 x 6.35 mm, with the top plate across the full width of a wood beam (Article 9.17.3.2), and the column must be fastened to the beam it supports.
Labour and access. Finished basements cost more: ceilings and walls around the post may need to be opened and restored. Tight access, low headroom and furniture or storage in the way all add time.
Finishing. Boxing in the post, patching drywall, flooring around the base and painting.
Why removing a column costs more
Taking out a column changes the structure. Consider a beam on three posts, each 2.4 m apart. Remove the middle post and the beam has to span 4.8 m. The beam over that span carries roughly twice the floor area in one span, and the required stiffness rises much faster than the span. The original beam, wood or steel, is rarely adequate.
A column removal typically includes:
- Engineering to size the new beam, its bearing and the posts at each end
- A permit for the structural alteration
- A new or reinforced beam, often steel because it carries more load with less depth and keeps headroom. See cost to install a steel beam in a basement.
- Heavier posts and footings at the remaining supports, because each now carries more load
- More shoring, because the whole beam line may be supported while the beam is changed
- Finishing across a wider area
Some owners remove several posts at once to open up a basement. That's often more efficient than doing them one at a time, because the engineering, shoring and new beam cover the whole line together.
Garage lally column removal
In some houses, a steel column stands in the garage, supporting a beam or header under a room above, or in front of a garage door. Removing it raises the same issue: the beam has to span the full opening. Garages add their own constraints:
- Garage door clearance. A deeper beam can conflict with the door, track and opener, so the new beam is often steel to keep the depth down, sometimes set flush with the ceiling joists.
- Loads from above. A room over the garage, or walls and roof bearing on the beam, means the beam is engineered.
- Bearing at the ends. The posts or walls at each end need adequate footings, which in a garage may mean cutting the slab at the corners.
Garage columns follow the same OBC column rules as basement columns, with 89 mm x 89 mm wood columns also permitted in garages and carports (Article 9.35.4.2).
What makes a quote bigger or smaller
| Smaller | Bigger |
|---|---|
| Unfinished basement | Finished ceilings, walls and floors |
| Existing footing confirmed adequate | New footing needed |
| Same post location and load | Post moved, removed or load increased |
| Easy access through a walkout or wide stair | Tight stairs, low headroom |
| One post | Several posts or a full beam line |
| Fixed post sized from the existing design | Engineering and permit drawings needed |
Supply only vs supply and install. If your contractor has the crew to shore and install, you can buy the fabricated post and beam separately. Supply and install puts fabrication, delivery and installation with one company. Compare complete scopes rather than single line items. For the cost of the posts themselves, see lally column and steel post cost in Canada.
Getting an accurate quote
Send these with your request, and the quote will reflect your actual job:
- Photos of the column, its base and top, and the beam it supports
- The floor-to-beam height and the spacing between posts
- The beam size and material, if known
- Whether the basement is finished around the post
- What you want to do: replace, upgrade or remove
- Any engineer's drawings or permit drawings you already have
If you see rust eating into the base, a bent or out-of-plumb post, a missing pin on a telescoping column, or a post resting on the slab with no footing, have it looked at soon. Don't try to jack a sagging beam yourself.
Replace or remove your column with us
We supply and install structural steel for homes, including basement beams and posts, and fabricate fixed steel posts with base and cap plates welded on. Engineering services are available for projects that need them. Send us your photos and measurements for a free quote, or see our services for how we handle a job from drawings to installation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a lally column?
It depends far more on the job than on the post. A like-for-like swap on a sound footing is a small job; one that needs a new footing, engineering and a permit is a bigger one. Send photos, measurements and the beam size for a quote on your basement.
Why does removing a lally column cost more than replacing one?
Because the post isn't the problem, the beam is. Taking out a post roughly doubles the span of the beam it supported, so the beam usually has to be replaced or reinforced, and the posts and footings at each end take more load. That's an engineered job with a permit.
Can I replace a lally column myself?
It's not a good DIY job. The beam has to be shored before the old post comes out, the new post must sit on an adequate footing and be fastened to the beam, and the work is usually a structural alteration that needs a permit. Have a contractor do it, with a designer or engineer if anything changes.
Is a permanent steel post more expensive than a telepost?
A fixed steel post is fabricated to a measured length with plates welded on, so it usually costs more than an off-the-shelf adjustable column. A labelled CAN/CGSB-7.2 telepost within its 36 kN limit is permitted as a permanent support, so the choice depends on the load and the design.
