Photo Album: Replacing a Failing Lally Column in Woburn, MA

In Woburn, MA, a homeowner faced a structural challenge with a rusted lally column in their garage, jeopardizing the stability of the floors above. As you can see in the before photo, the compromised column posed a significant risk. Our team expertly installed the SmartJack® System to rectify this issue. Notice in the after photo how the galvanized steel columns provide enhanced support. With the SmartJack’s solid base and sturdy design, the home is now safe and stabilized.

Rusty Lally Column

The severely corroded lally column experienced a significant loss of load-bearing capacity, resulting in inadequate structural support and contributing to noticeable settlement and sagging of the floor system above.

Concrete and Soil Removal

Soil and concrete were removed at the designated SmartJack installation site to accommodate the construction of a properly sized footing capable of adequately distributing structural loads.

Footing with Rebar

Reinforcing steel (rebar) was installed in a grid pattern within the footing excavation to enhance the concrete's tensile strength, improve load distribution, and increase the overall structural capacity and durability of the footing.

Footing Leveled

Upon completion of the footing installation, the surface was precisely leveled to provide a uniform bearing plane for the SmartJack, ensuring optimal load transfer, structural stability, and long-term performance.

SmartJack Base

Once the concrete footing has achieved the required curing strength, the SmartJack base assembly is positioned and anchored to the footing, after which the adjustable steel support column is securely connected to the base to establish a stable and load-bearing support system.

SmartJack Top Bracket Secured to Main Beam

The SmartJack system features a fully adjustable upper support bracket, allowing for precise elevation adjustments to restore and stabilize the floor system. The bracket is securely fastened to the primary structural beam and mechanically bolted into place, ensuring reliable load transfer and providing long-term structural support.

SmartJack Cemented into Foundation Floor

Following installation of the SmartJack assembly, a new layer of concrete was placed and carefully finished to restore the basement slab to a flush, uniform surface, ensuring a clean appearance and maintaining the integrity of the floor system.

Completed SmartJack Installation

The completed SmartJack installation incorporates a galvanized steel support column engineered for superior corrosion resistance, providing durable, long-term structural support. By permanently stabilizing the floor system and effectively transferring loads to an engineered footing, the system offers homeowners confidence in the continued integrity and performance of their home's structure.