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Concrete Basement Beam

3K views 1 reply 2 participants last post by  jomama45 
#1 ·
Given the following situation: 15' clear span between 12" x 18" concrete filled support columns 9' tall. The basement beam will be supporting 15' open web floor joist 16" on center on each side of the beam. Single story convential home above the basement which is 30' x 60'. Can a solid concrete beam with rebar be constructed to span this distance? If so what would the deminsions of the beam be? Would LVL or Steel be a better option for this basement beam? The reason I am considering concrete is that I have a pallet of extra concrete blocks left over from the basement construction and I could use these as the shell for the beam.
 
#2 ·
Given the following situation: 15' clear span between 12" x 18" concrete filled support columns 9' tall. The basement beam will be supporting 15' open web floor joist 16" on center on each side of the beam. Single story convential home above the basement which is 30' x 60'. Can a solid concrete beam with rebar be constructed to span this distance?

Yes, but you'd be crazy to attempt it without engineering.

If so what would the deminsions of the beam be?

Much bigger than you would assume for that span.

Would LVL or Steel be a better option for this basement beam?

Most likely.

The reason I am considering concrete is that I have a pallet of extra concrete blocks left over from the basement construction and I could use these as the shell for the beam.
I had a few concrete beams spec'ed by an engineer for our shop a few years ago (all block walls) and opted for steel beams as they were cheaper & much easier to install. Note that I do concrete work for a living, & the only way I could justify the concrete beams was to be able to say that "I did it".
 
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