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Structural columns are integral to ensuring an edifice will stand sound and solid. Column casings, which are made from a variety of materials, provide aesthetic as well as protective coverage to columnar structures. The use of column casings is a present-day construction standard and is of significant importance when used to hide surface mounted utilities and pipework. You will have difficulty finding a modern multi-storey building which does not employ the advantages provided by column casings.
In architectural parlance, there are of course interior and exterior columns. Accordingly, there are column enclosures which are exclusively for interior or exterior use only whilst there are other casings designed to be versatile enough to be installed for both types.
In terms of shape, columns are traditionally circular in profile. However, modern structures have increasingly used quadrangular or even irregular profiles as a design element for building columns.
Column casings are also differentiated in terms of the materials used to fabricate them. The following are some of the different column casings according to its substance.
PRE-FORMED PLYWOOD
Pre-formed plywood is a very versatile construction material and is used in a wide range of applications including column casings. It provides an ideal base for bonding a wide range of durable high-pressure laminates to achieve just about any kind of desired finish. As such, pre-formed plywood enclosures can achieve looks in any colour varying from metallic to wood grained or even in custom decorative textures. Alternatively, a thin MDF (Medium Density Fibreboards) layer may be used in place of laminates to allow for on-site painting.
Pre-formed plywood column casings are strong yet very lightweight and are generally quite easy to install. However, they are mostly ideal for interior settings only.
GRG CASINGS
Casings can also be made from Glass Reinforced Gypsum (GRG). GRG is a durable composite material combining the best features of plaster and glass fibres. It can support moderately heavy loads and is relatively able to withstand tensile forces. GRG casing installations can be quite decorative as it is compatible with standard interior paints. Compared to pre-formed ply, however, it is more messy and difficult to install.
GRP CASINGS
Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) on the other hand is a composite of plastic resin and glass strands making it a very strong, impact resistant, fire retardant and versatile construction material. It is often referred to more popularly as fibreglass.
GRP comes already pre-finished in the prescribed colour and as such it always has to be within the realm of bespoke services. GRP column casings may be used for both interior and exterior structures, unlike GRG casings which are more suitable indoors.
METAL CASINGS
An advantage of metal column casings is that it can be easily shaped which allows for irregularly profiled columns. The metals involved are usually stainless steel or aluminium, which are both dependable construction options. Metal column casings may be appropriate for both interior and exterior installations and can have either a polished or brushed finish, or coated in coloured polymer powder.