How can I enlarge LVL pockets in a concrete foundation?
RickStahl
| Posted in General Discussion on
Hi fellows, I have a problem. I have an existing foundation that I am rebuilding my home on ( certified by an engineer) . My engineer has recreated the old house plans that were destroyed ,but here is the problem. During the first build it had 6 LVL pockets incorporated in the foundation (8.75″ Verticle, 6″ wide, 3 ” deep). The new plans call for LVL’s that are 4 plys at 1.75 ” x 14″ ) . So I need to enlarge the pockets to 14″ vertical x 7″ wide, The spans are also long with a 2 at 68 ‘ and one at 38 ‘with support columns +/- every 17 ‘. Any comments or ideas how to cut the old pockets to size or a workaround.I’m pretty good at workarounds, but at 70 getting a bit harder to do them.
Replies
Rick,
Block or poured foundation?
Have you contacted a concrete cutting company?
Would the engineer allow you to pour footings and place piers within the foundation allowing that to replace those existing pockets?
Poured. Not yet working within a REALLY tight budget looking at that but costly.
https://www.strongtie.com/facemountmasonryhangers_masonryhangers/hu_hanger/p/hu
What do you think about a face mount hanger?
It might be easier to fill the existing pockets than to make them bigger.
Have to verify capacity and loads.
Need to check with local inspectors on that. I agree, enlarging them will be a PAIN, time consuming and could possibly weaken the existing wall.
I've had a local welder make up beam hangers out of 3/8" steel. the engineer was fine with them and they were much easier than trying to use the pockets. We bolted them to the concrete with wedge bolts.
I think those hangers are typically spec’d for joists not beams. The size of these beams suggests it would need bearing on the foundation. I don’t know enough to say for sure, but that’s my guess based on the info provided.
Looks like the ratings are on the order of 3,000 lbs downforce for face mount hangers of light gauge steel. So they probably would not work.
A top-mount hanger might do the job.
Check with your engineer. Depending on the load, you may be able to simply size (cut) the LVL beam down to the size to fit into your smaller pocket. The stresses at the bearing point is basically all shear. No bending etc. Not uncommon that the beam sized to resist the bending load is much larger than that required to resist the vertical shear forces. Just a thought.
I’ve seen in a rental yard at a very expensive rate, a concrete cutting chainsaw. Instead of a pocket you could easily cut a notch all the way through.
It's only 3" deep. I'd pull out an old worm drive saw and a diamond blade and cut it out. Make a full depth cut every 1/2 inch inside the area you want to remove then break it out with a hammer. Clean up the corners with a chisel in a hammer drill. You should have enough room to get a grinder with a concrete bit in there for clean up as well.