Perma-Column: Myths & Facts

Myth #1 — “I have heard the concrete post attracts and retains more moisture than a treated wood post.”

Fact: Not true! The Perma-Column (PC) concrete mixture is designed to be so dense that water can’t penetrate it and subsequently freeze/thaw to break it up. The PC mixture is comparable to that used in bridge piers—meaning that it must stand up to cold temperatures around water. The technology behind the PC mix guarantees a lifetime of durability.

About the Concrete

• Uses the latest in self-compacting concrete precasting technology, which gives three times the strength of standard concrete.
• Microfibers add shock resistance and durability.
• Microsilicia increases flexural/compressive strength and erosion resistance.
• Corrosion inhibitor protects the rebar reinforcement from rusting.
• An admixture is added to give freeze/thaw protection.

Find out more about the concrete mixture and what makes it so strong by downloading a detailed engineering report on the Perma-Column.

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Myth #2 — “I hear the concrete post is weaker than a wood post because of the joint.”

Fact: False. Perma-Columns have been through a strict testing program at the University of Wisconsin to find their design loads. These raw numbers were then integrated into useful post frame engineering data by Timber Tech Engineering:

“The Perma-Column assemblies perform significantly better than typical mechanically laminated wood columns under the same boundary conditions mainly because they have no wet service reduction, and the maximum bending moment is resisted by the concrete component below grade. The steel bracket and the reinforced concrete base did not control under the design conditions presented in this Guide.”

What does this mean? A Perma-Column is stronger than a traditional laminated post and it’s engineered. They have been through a strict testing program at the University of Wisconsin to find their allowable loads. Results prove that the joint is not the controlling factor in overall strength.