beam support

cibula11 · 02-15-2007, 02:55 PM

I guess I am looking for the best option that will require the least amount of work and cost. I know that sounds like everybody, but this house has been around for over 75 years and I doubt it's going anywhere, I just want to make sure of that.

harleysilo · 02-15-2007, 03:09 PM

I'm saying I think it would work. But I'm not an expert, not a contractor, not a builder, not nuthin. I'm a homeowner with a little common sense and some tools.....

cibula11 · 02-15-2007, 03:20 PM

That's me too. I think even if I were all those things I would still doubt myself and want advice.

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 02-15-2007, 07:23 PM

I would not suggest doing it that way. The picture of the wall in the illustration .... labels the wall on the right side as: a 'load bearing wall'. It is not a load bearing wall, but just 'a wall'.

Let me try to explain it:

A load bearing wall carries the load above it 'dispersed' along it's length.

The load that 'it' is carrying is also a 'dispersed' load. That load bearing wall carries the joists above it - (those joists are placed 16 OC and sitting in a 'line' .... on the load bearing wall's top plate)

The weight is sitting all along the wall on top of each stud:

Each stud in a load bearing wall, is placed underneath each joist -16 OC.

Underneath that load bearing wall, is the main carrying beam supporting all of that weight above it....dispersed along it's entire length. Underneath the main carrying beam are the lalley columns attached to 12" thick concrete footings, underneath that is solid earth (hopefully solid)...

So, then, there is solid material underneath each joist and congruently under each stud.....from top to bottom....all the way down to the concrete footing foundation....

What the original poster wants to support is NOT a 'dispersed' load.

They want to support a single post (one of two), which is carrying the weight of much more on it (the new beam and what they have shored up - on top of it)

Sitting one end of all that weight (that single post) in one small area ..... and then transferring that weight to a beam is fine.
However, to then propose to sit one end of that load bearing beam on just a normal wall (shown on the right side in the illustration)............ is not a structural design. That would not be placing 'solid' material from 'top to bottom'. As stated above, that 'wall', is in fact, not a 'load bearing' wall .....and it would be the 'weak link' in constructing a load bearing frame.

harleysilo · 02-16-2007, 07:46 AM

I guess it's time for you to break out the jackhammer, bust up the concrete, relocate your drain, pour a footer with a level top, and then call it done!

cibula11 · 02-16-2007, 09:02 AM

I checked the slope in the concrete last night. Its actually not that bad. I think I will get a preformed 6" concrete footing and just use composite shims underneath it. Then use a 6x6 pt post to support underneath the post from above. I will need to sister the current joist with a couple of 2x8's, but it should be a relatively painless and quick process.

Honestly, I don't anticipate this would be an incredibly huge deal if I did not do one thing. This house has several things regarding the foundation that would not fly today, but the house has been up for a long time. To be safe however, I will add the support where it's needed.