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Post and Beam on Pier Foundation: Where are they?

JohnnytheIntern | Posted in Construction Techniques on February 1, 2021 02:23pm

Hello Brain Trust,

There must be something obvious I’m missing but I’m having a hard time finding literature on a post and beam frame on a pier foundation.

I’ve designed a one story 32’x48′ salt box, I had finished the design and wall assembly system but now in full analysis paralysis fashion I’m now trying to redesign the wall system. Is there a reason I can’t find examples of post and beam construction on a pier foundation? I see a lot of poured concrete foundations with P&B. I’d love to have a modest crawl space I just don’t now know to support the floor. Would you notch the rim joists around the posts and bolt to them? That seems pretty sketchy.

Oh, and why P&B instead of the current stick frame. I like the idea of possibly seeing posts in the interior.

Zone 5 in Upstate NY.

A reference to build, book or article would be great.

Thanks everyone.

Reply

Replies

  1. User avater
    unclemike42 | Feb 02, 2021 09:21am | #1

    You could consider the first floor just like you would design a second floor, but the economics and lack of esthetic benefit inside the crawl space may lead you to reconsider a poured concrete, ICF, or CMU wall for the crawl space with floor joists chosen for performance instead of the way they look.

    If you want to use posts on columns, you will need to hang or sit beams on the posts, and then attach the floor joists to the beams.

    all these need to be properly sized for the loads.

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