Ground-floor structural columns — steel, formwork and pouring

Ground-floor columns are the first part of the house that people can see with the naked eye as they walk past. If they lean, are out of line or have honeycombed surfaces, you'll see it for the life of the house and it can't be fixed by plastering over. Columns are also the part that starts from the benchmarks set on setting-out day…

• This page contains
• Ground-floor column sequence — eight steps, and the step that starts before the steel
• Transferring lines to the floor — why offset lines are needed
• The first question to ask before inspecting anything at all
• Column ties — why the top and bottom zones must be closer together
• Ties — size, bend angle and the tails that must extend inside
• Cranked bars — the point where bending starts has a set position
• Concrete cover for columns, and checking before the formwork is closed
• Column formwork, and props that actually work
• Column pouring day — pour in layers, and the vibrator hose must reach the bottom
• At what level to stop pouring the column
• Checking column plumb — measure along two axes
• Lap position of column starter bars — what to ask before deciding it's wrong
• Curing columns — columns stand in sun and wind on all four sides