Base Shoe: Wednesday’s Word(s) Of The Week

Base shoes are welded steel assemblies which connect glulam to concrete at the bottom of columns and arches. They typically consist of a base plate (with holes for anchor bolts), two side plates (with holes for bolts though glulam), and sometimes a heel plate on the third side. Heel plates are present at arch base shoes for the arch thrust to bear against.


In addition to providing the physical connection from arch or column to concrete foundation, the steel base shoe also prevents direct contact between wood and concrete. When in direct contact, wood will wick moisture from the concrete, so this should always be avoided.


*Wednesday’s Word Of The Week is a feature on Unalam’s Wood Times Blog. Each Wednesday our structural engineer, Rik Vandermeulen, will discuss a new term associated with glulam manufacturing. He will do this until we run out of words. If there is a timber or glulam term that you have heard of and want to know more about, let us know in the comments.