Wall pillar for entrance gate

Hello everyone,

I would like to build masonry pillars for a driveway gate ([Alutor double-winged with electric drive], 200 cm width per element, 180 cm height). For this, I would provide a foundation of 100x100x80 cm for each pillar. The pillars should have the dimensions 70x50x180 cm. One of the pillars should include an integrated parcel box with the dimensions 91x40x50 cm. For the connection between the foundation and the masonry, I have planned 4 pieces of 8 mm steel reinforcement per pillar. My question now is whether this fits with the planned dimensions and, above all, how I should best build the pillars. Do I need to use concrete formwork blocks for the construction and fill them with concrete, or would calcium silicate bricks ([plan bricks]) theoretically suffice? Or is there another sensible option? Since there must necessarily be a cavity for the parcel box in one of the pillars, I cannot fill the pillars completely with concrete accordingly. The pillars are to be plastered in the end, so the choice of bricks is therefore of secondary importance.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Hello benchfreak, I’m afraid there’s hardly anyone here who will calculate the structural engineering for your project. Just so you know: We recently got advice for a 6m wide gate, which is only 120cm high. It was suggested that it’s better to put a strip foundation between the pillars. Maybe that’s also an issue for you.

There must necessarily be a hollow space for the package box in one of the pillars, so I cannot completely fill the pillars with concrete.

I am currently traveling in Burgundy. There are lots of really large gates at various wineries here, and they build more delicate pillars. A small roller under the gate significantly relieves the statics by preventing the full leverage effect from affecting the pillars. This is not necessary; some find it "inelegant" and many gate builders turn up their noses at it. But probably only because this small, clever device drastically reduces costs and effort.
But we prefer to build in Tim-Taylor style.

I would make the foundations bigger. Build your 2 pillars as you need them and leave space behind them as well as enough foundation in the ground. This way, any gate builder can attach their gate with metal posts, and it is not dependent on the stability of your masonry pillars. You would of course have to provide one of your pillars with a cavity for your mailbox, but with a little imagination and a wooden case as a recess, you can manage that too. If your pillars don’t have to carry any load, you can also build them with Ytong or sand-lime bricks. You could also use very narrow Ytong blocks and build the columns hollow, so you might only have about 8 cm outer wall thickness. You can finish the columns with facing bricks or plaster. Just keep in mind that your mailbox inside also needs a container or something similar. Masonry or concrete is always damp and moist if you are unlucky. I would recommend having a case made of stainless steel that is more or less closed so that the contents are not always directly exposed to all weather conditions.