Timber Columns and Piles - Gun Barrel Piling | American Pole and Timber

Gun Barrel Pilings® from American Pole & Timber offer superior uniformity and refinement so are best suited for structures wanting an aesthetic appeal. Made from natural wood, the Gun Barrel Pilings® can be used in a range of applications including exterior beach home pilings and solid interior columns.

Gun Barrel Pilings® are uniform structural wood pilings, available in sizes up to 52 feet long and 20 inches in diameter. The selected log length is passed through a machine to the desired uniform diameter. They offer an inexpensive column solution in comparison to traditional architectural columns as well as square timber piling.

Ease of Installation

The regular diameter of Gun Barrel Pilings® the installation a lot easier than regular tapered poles, avoiding the issues found with alignment and needing to match poles during installation. They also are more simple to install than square piling, not needing to be squared to a frame or other structure while installing, saving both time and frustration.

Excellent In & Near Water

The round nature of Gun Barrel Pilings® means there is no exposed heartwood. This makes the pilings less susceptible to attacks by termites and marine borers. Additionally, the round shape improves the dynamics within storm surges, allowing the quick-moving water to flow easily around pilings with minimal impact.

Square timbers often develop a low-pressure area on the back side of the flow. This pressure adds additional forces to the pile making it more likely to loosen in the ground, this can weaken the foundation of the structure or even cause structural failure. With the improved dynamics of Gun Barrel Pilings®, this is less likely to form, and if it does, the surface area of the pile carrying this pressure is significantly less, reducing the size of the force and its effects on the foundation.

Variety of Applications

Similar to regular pilings and poles, Gun Barrel Pilings and Poles can be treated to suit a variety of applications. This includes highly treated poles for exterior and marine projects, or untreated for interior projects. American Pole & Timber also offers the option to kiln dry the timber, arriving ready for stain at the construction site. For water applications, you can opt to use the special polymer coating which will double their life.

Sizes and Specifications

Gun Barrel Pilings® are available in diameters ranging from 5 to 20 inches, and lengths up to 52 feet.

Timber types

• Southern yellow pine
• White pine
• Western red cedar
• White cedar
• Oak

Finishes

• Hand Hewn — the antique planed-by-hand look
• Distressed
• Sanded
• Stained and/or Painted — your choice of brand and color
• Unfinished

Additionally, you can cut, drill, paint, carve, or otherwise customize and build onto your solid uniform diameter poles.