Lally Column Footing Requirements in Ontario: Size, Thickness and Slab Rules
Do lally columns need footings in Ontario? The 2024 OBC footing rules for basement columns: pad area, thickness, soil, slab and when a pad must be engineered.
Lally Column Sizes: Diameters, Heights and Wall Thickness
Common lally column sizes explained: 3 in to 4 in diameters, gauge vs Schedule 40 walls, heights, the Ontario 73 mm minimum, and how the size is chosen.
Lally Column vs Wood Post: Which Is Better for a Basement?
Steel lally column vs wood post for basements in Ontario: code minimum sizes, why a 4x4 falls short, moisture and rot, space, and when each one makes sense.
Lally Columns in Garages, Decks and Crawl Spaces
Can lally columns be used outside? How steel columns fare in garages, on decks and in crawl spaces, what the Ontario code requires, and when HSS is better.
Load-Bearing Wall Removal Cost in Ontario and the GTA: What You're Paying For
What makes up the cost of removing a load-bearing wall in Ontario and the GTA: engineering, permit, shoring, services, the beam, posts and finishing.
Opening the Wall Between Kitchen and Living Room
What it takes to remove a load-bearing wall between kitchen and living room: services in the wall, flush vs dropped steel beams, posts and permits.
Permits for Load-Bearing Wall Removal in the GTA
Do you need a permit to remove a load-bearing wall in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham or Vaughan? What the law and each city say, and what to submit.
Rebar for Concrete Pads: Hot Tubs, AC Units and More
Does a small concrete pad need rebar? Bar size, spacing and placement for hot tub, AC and generator pads, base prep and a worked quantity example.
Rebar for Footings: Size, Quantity and Ontario Code
How rebar size and quantity for house footings are set in Ontario, the OBC minimum footing sizes, and a worked example for calculating bars and weight.
Rebar in Sonotubes and Concrete Piers
Do sonotube piers need rebar? What the Ontario code says, how pier rebar is usually laid out, fitting bars in round forms, and a note on rebar in concrete stairs.
Removing a Load-Bearing Wall in a Two-Storey or Split-Level
How removing a load-bearing wall changes by floor: main floor of a two-storey, second floor, bungalow and split-level, and where the posts and footings end up.
Replacing a Rusted Steel Lintel: Process and What Drives the Cost
How to tell when a rusted steel lintel needs replacing, how replacement works, who does the work, and what drives the cost of steel lintel replacement in Ontario.
Replacing a Wood Basement Beam With Steel
When to replace a sagging or undersized wood basement beam with a steel I-beam, how the swap is shored and sequenced, and how posts, bearing and height are handled.
Risks of DIY Load-Bearing Wall Removal
What happens if you remove a load-bearing wall without support, the damage a botched DIY job causes, what removal kits miss, and the permit fallout in Ontario.
Setting a Steel Beam on Wood Posts
Can a steel beam sit on wood posts? What the Ontario Building Code says about wood columns, how the connection is detailed, and when steel posts fit better.
Shed Slab Rebar: What a Small Building Needs
Do you need rebar for a shed slab in Ontario? Permit-exempt sheds, rebar vs mesh, typical spacing, thickened edges, and how much rebar a shed slab takes.
Steel Beam Bearing Length on Concrete and Masonry: Ontario Code Rules
Minimum end bearing for a steel beam on concrete, block and brick under the 2024 Ontario Building Code, plus beam pockets, pilasters and bearing plates.
Steel Beam Size for 3 m to 6 m Spans (Metric Guide)
Which metric W-beam the Ontario Building Code table allows for spans of 3 m to 6 m, by joist length and storeys, plus what changes the answer on a real job.