Hey all,
I have to replace about 10 feet of a bearing center wall with a flush beam. The area above the space is the attic with the joists lapping over this wall. The area below is a finished basement. My questions center more around supporting the beam at either end. I plan on having one end terminate on top of the end of the remaining section of the bearing wall with the other end on top of a non bearing partition wall. The plan is to tripple the studs at the end of the remaining bearing wall and to tripple the studs of the non bearing wall below the beam. This will transfer the load to the first floor (basement ceiling). The basement is finished with a drywall ceiling. Is it better to cut the rock and place a lally column directly from a footing to the underside of the floor sheathing under the load or block between the joists and run the lally column to the bottom of the blocking. I’m not sure if an existing basement partition wall (non bearing) is going to fall directly below the new point load. If so, can I just fill in with blocking between the joists under the load and tripple the studs in the wall below the load? I figured this wouldn’t work since there is no footing under the wall which would mean demoing part of the wall to dig and pour a footing making it easier just tlo use a lally column which would be concealed in the wall after it is patched. Finally, if the point load created over the end of the existing bearing wall doesn’t line up with studding in the center bearing wall in the basement, should studs be added to the basement wall in addition to blocking between the joists or can the double top plate distrubute the load? Sorry, I am having trouble visualizing all this with the closed walls. Any advise or pointers is appreciated.
Richie
Replies
My first concern would be with the point load on the basement floor. Once you get past that, then if the roof load falls over an existing wall, filling the cavbity with studs directly under the new column should do the trick.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
The craftsman formerly known as elCid
Ed,
orry it took sooo loooong. Thanks for the response. No roof load is carried by the center wall. Just the attic so I think I'll be ok like you said.
Richie
Richie,
Get your project engineered by either your lumber supplier or another engineer. Then, make sure your point loads are posted continuously all the way to the basement floor/foundation walls. Add blocking between joists where necessary, add studs/posts to walls where necessary. If one side does not land on a foundation wall, be sure that you excavate/install a code compliant footing where necessary.