Basement renovation - support running length of house and three support poles

1/9/2013 at 9:17:52 PM

Hi Heather:

You are referring to your main support beam for the house. This supports all of the floor and any walls in the upper portion of the house. When the house was built, there should have been a footing under the areas where the posts are now. This is so the load can be carried to a footing which would have to be code.

Its best to get a qualified contractor in to advise you. It can be done, but without knowing whether you have a full footing, or a partial one, it is difficult to advise you on what can be done.

Yes, it is possible, but get someone in who knows what your situation is and then they can advise you.

Chuck

1/9/2013 at 9:24:40 PM

This is a load bearing support beam as I understand it.

I would get an enginer to advise things can be done but you do not want the house falling down as without the proper support every thing above is at risk.

1/9/2013 at 10:11:52 PM

The support or beam could possibly be removed provided the location of the new walls are in the correct location to support the floor above. Also sometimes the support posts are sitting on a slab of cement that is poured to support the weight that the post's and beam are connected to.

Keeping this in mind it would be a good idea to have an engineer or at the very least a knowledgeable contractor have a look first and check it out before removing the support beam.

Another option is to recess the support beam into the floor joist's then hang the joists off the beam which is supported in all the proper locations.

You do have options and removal shouldn't be a problem.

Bruce Crawford

Interior Craftsman

Vernon, BC

1/10/2013 at 12:13:34 AM

Sounds like you need a designer/engineer.

1/10/2013 at 9:29:23 AM

Noooo!

1/10/2013 at 10:04:11 AM

Hi Heather, sounds like you are planning some excitement in your life! The other guys have given you all of the right answers - get an architect and an engineer involved so they can spec the requirements for getting rid of the beam.

In general, anything is doable, the question you have to answer is if the benefits outweigh the costs. If they do for you, go for it!

You should put your requirements in the "post your projects" section so you can get some local contractors to have a look and give you some ideas as well.

Good luck with your projects!

Jim Kuzma

Kettleby Handyman Services

1/10/2013 at 8:44:21 PM

NO, these three posts are support posts for the main beam holding up your house. If you want to remove them, you will have to contact a professional contractor to do engineering, drawings, permit. Minimum head height in a basement is 6'8".

Can you incorporate the beams into a wall of the rooms that you are contructing???

1/11/2013 at 1:14:10 PM

If you choose to remove the load bearing beam, you would have to build 2x6 walls below the location of the existing beam and posts. You would have to have four 2x6's together at each existing location of metal posts. But why do this and just trade one post for another? I am sure the three metal posts are sitting on a specific pour foundation for each one.

You could have architect and engineering firm come in and inspect, then put together plans for a slightly different position for supports etc.

By the time you go to this expence and trouble, may I suggest you encorporate the posts and suport beam in walls or simply build a finishes post around the existing ones.

If an area of a room you wish to build would require you boxing the suport beam above. I would suggest that.

As I mentioned, there are expensive routes to go to visually eliminate some of this boxing. Anything can be done if the budget is there for it.

1/13/2013 at 12:06:03 PM

Hello,

My 2 cents. Just do as advised by the contractors above. Do not attempt any removal of support post with out pro help.

Good Luck :)