Cost of replacing load bearing walls with drop beams

1/18/2013 at 11:22:34 PM

Hello,

Your cost is 10 k to 12 k.

1/18/2013 at 11:24:39 PM

Hey Mo,

Man thats a tough one. It realy depends on a lot of different factors. The amount of drywall work to be completed afterward, the amount of support and bracing before hand. Access to the area in question, how big your engineer has speced these beams, whether there droped or flush, etc. One things for sure the labour costs will increase because of the liabilty involved. (its only fair).

This all said I will still guess your looking at a minimum of $10,000. And I do mean minimum.

Erroll

PS Make sure u get an engineer and get quotes!

1/18/2013 at 11:25:02 PM

$10.00/ln. ft + cost of the lifting of the home.

1/19/2013 at 8:33:43 AM

First you need drawings and permits.

The cost varies, we completed one this Summer, cost with new footings, $17K.

You need to have a Contractor in for pricing, cost vary too much to give you a price range.

Jim

Degruyter Home Improvements (since 1984)

1/19/2013 at 1:34:32 PM

Hello.

You certainly are embarking down a costly road. Firstly because this is a structural project, you will need to get in touch with a certified engineer ( to do all of the structural drawings and size your steel beams and set your post spacings as well as tell you where you need to install concrete pads below the floor to support your new steel beam). At this time he will also set the size for the lvl beams as well as your continuos post support to either the foundation or to the concrete floor in your basement where you will once again reinforce the floor with concrete pads to support this)and your local building department.

After you get this information you need to find a repudable contractor with the necesary wsib and proper insurance. Then contact your insurance because they have to know what is going so that the proper coverage needs to be put on.

Timelines are a guide and almost never get followed. Depending on what your contractor gets into it could take from 2 weeks to 4 weeks to complete the work that you need done.

1/20/2013 at 8:34:34 AM

First thing this is something you need a structure Engieneer for. Because buy removing the load bearing walls with lvl, will apply additional pressure on the flour joists. Where the posts will be holding up the lvl's

you may need to double up on the existing floor joists.

As far as installing the Ibeam the house will need to be jacked up, and supported, exiting beam to be removed. A hole will need to be punched out in the foundation and a lot of man power will be needed to slide the post in place.

Also, ou will need to determine where the telepost will need to be installed, and bust away some of the concrete floor, and install an 8 inch concrete pad, and embed the telepost.

The time line depends on the amount of work needed to be done in order to achieve. This scope of work could be a matter of 4 days to two weeks.

Cost could depend on amount of trades needed from start to finish. Starting from 7,000.00 to 24,000.00

The job is not as easy as it seems.

1/21/2013 at 11:20:20 AM

Hi Mo,

You can not hire any contractor for such project! First you have to get the drawings and permit on place to be done by a ceritified P.Eng.

Based on the design, you could invite the right contractors to get the right prices.

Rough prices for the steel beam would be about 15k

Rough prices for the LVL beams upstairs would be about 7K

Thanks,

Mike

1/21/2013 at 2:47:05 PM

Hi,

Since prices are different all over Canada, you should post your project on Handy Canadian, to speak with some local contractors. Most good Contractors will give you a free quote and advice on how to go about your project.

Good Luck!

1/21/2013 at 6:40:54 PM

Thank you everyone for their input.

I am working with an architect designer and he has suggested these beams to open up space. Will get Engineer stamp too.

I wanted to get an idea of the replacement cost before going ahead with the new drawings.

Will post the project on Handy Canadian once I have the drawings next week.

5/2/2018 at 2:12:40 PM

The actual cost of high grade WBeam that has a heavier weight per foot, say 28 lbs and not 15lbs will be less than $600 for sure if you reside anywhere in southwestern Ontario. Engineer drawings should only be 250 bucks as it takes an engineer an hour to do and then you have to get stamped at the city.