[bhoward11890]

I would like to remove a lally column in my basement due to finishing a room on the side the lally column supports 2 2x12x13 lvl and the column is in the center of the beam the only thing this column looks like it supports is the bending in the floor joist my builder told me when I bought the house I would need to do is add another 2x12x13 lvl beam. Is this a good idea?
Thank you

 

[bhoward11890]

The room above is a 13'x11' family room with a 2x7 bay window on the front of the house

 

[Yodaman]

Generally not a good idea to go pulling out support columns from your house. You may be able to increase beam thickness and actually do it. But no one on this forum can safely tell you that its ok to do it. You need to contact a local architect or structural eng. to do a thorough inspection and make a recommendation.

 

[Mingledtrash]

You need a structural engineer. You can do anything as long as its engineered correctly. if you still have the plans take them to an engineer and have them looked at them. no one here can tell you what size of beam you need.

As to whether its a good idea... sure if that is what you want.

 

[bhoward11890]

I called and got quotes from three of them and just to have them come out was 600 to 800 dollars is that an average price for someone to tell me that I just need to add a beam?

 

[bhoward11890]

do local lumber yards have engineers on site?

 

[Daniel Holzman]

The structural engineer will come out, do the required measurements, review code requirements, design the beam and supports, prepare the required drawings and specs, and pull a permit. At least that is what I do on the rare occasions when I do residential work. Many structural engineers will not do residential work because homeowners often think the fee is too high, but the reality is that residential work requires time with the building inspector, the homeowner, and often the contractor.

You will need a careful design by a structural engineer or architect to remove the center support, and adding another equal sized beam to what you have will NOT be adequate.

 

[ZTMAN]

Is there enough room in the beam pocket to even accommodate another lvl

 

[bhoward11890]

yes there is about 6 inches left in there

 

[bhoward11890]

is there a way to tell if this beam is carrying any load from anywhere else or is it just for the floor joist?

 

[gregzoll]

is there a way to tell if this beam is carrying any load from anywhere else or is it just for the floor joist?

That beam and Lally columns are there, to keep your upstairs from crashing down into the Basement.

As for the cost for a Engineer to come out and look at what you have. Do you expect to go out to eat and because you did not like what you ordered, you should not pay for it.

Engineers have bills to pay and families to support.

Personally leave well enough alone and design the room around the support. Otherwise, you will find out that the outcome will cost more than you have in your pocket.

 

[jimn]

Price doesn't t seem unreasonable. You really don't have a lot of choice other than to build around it which is what I would do. Leave it. It's not the first or last fished basement or have a column r two in it.

 

[Bondo]

I would like to remove a lally column in my basement due to finishing a room on the side the lally column supports 2 2x12x13 lvl and the column is in the center of the beam the only thing this column looks like it supports is the bending in the floor joist my builder told me when I bought the house I would need to do is add another 2x12x13 lvl beam. Is this a good idea?
Thank you

Ayuh,.... I Ain't an Engineer, but I've built alota stuff, 'n none has fallen down yet,...

The load on that beam, starts at the roof, how that load is carried, I can't see from here,....

If the builder said that, I'd believe 'em at face value,....
Bein' Bondo, I'd probably add, say 3, 1/4"x 10"x 13' steel plates, one on each side, one on the center, 'n through bolted,....

Probably over-kill, but I'm Bondo, what can I say,......:wink2:

I'm removin' a pole in my current build much the same way,....
A doubled 2x8"x16', that just takes the bounce outa the floor above,....
2, 1/4"x 6" plates, one each side, through-bolted,....

 

[bhoward11890]

Where can you find steel plates like this would the local lumber yard or lowes able to order

 

[Yodaman]

local lumber might have a source to order for you, Lowes & HD not likely, worst case your local fab shops,

 

[gregzoll]

Where can you find steel plates like this would the local lumber yard or lowes able to order

You have to go to a local metal fabricating shop with the drawings for the plates, including the size of the holes and the size of the plates.

 

[Bondo]

Where can you find steel plates like this would the local lumber yard or lowes able to order

Naw,.... At yer local commercial Steel supply house,....

 

[ront02769]

Just google metal fabrication (your town name here) and you will find places. When I needed a steel beam and a filtch plate, I drove about 7 miles to shawmut metal in Swansea, ma and talked to them. Ron

 

[bhoward11890]

I called my builder and he told me to call 84 lumber that they would come out and measure everything,they did and told me i need 3 2x14x13 lvls and that was being on the super safe side and is only 200 dollars

 

[Bondo]

I called my builder and he told me to call 84 lumber that they would come out and measure everything,they did and told me i need 3 2x14x13 lvls and that was being on the super safe side and is only 200 dollars

Ayuh,.... Ya can't buy the steel fisch plates for that price,...

Glad ya found yer answer,.....