I have a raised ranch with a finshed basement that has a garage in one half and a large den on the other half. The den has a 17′ beam in the center of the room with a supporting lolly column in the center of the beam. The beam is made of triple 2×12’s that run the entire 17′ length and there are 2×4 nailers that support 2×8 joists. The basement is 23′ from front to back of the house. The main floor is 26′ front to back with 18″ cantelievers along both the front and back walls. The area over the beam is a single large room with cathedral ceiling so no load bearig walls rest directly over this beam.
I want to remove the supporting column. I spoke to an architect who recommended adding a 1″ steel flitch plate and another 2×12 to the existing triple 2×12 beam all through bolted together. I would need to put up a temporary supporting wall, remove the 2×4 nailer, trim about 2 1/2″ form each of the joist, add the flitch plate and 2×12, bolt it together and then reattach the joists to this beefed up beam.
I had a contactor in to quote this and after a few days, he came back to me and said he checked with his engineer and both agreed that there was no reason for the flitch plate and extra 2×12. He said all I needed to do was to put 2 through bolts (top and bottom) every 12″ along the length of the beam and replace the 2×4 nailers with metal joist hangers.
The contractors suggestion is certainly less work and less $$ and I can do it myself but…. Will it support the house?
Replies
He spoke with his engineer, who has never actually seen your house? Unless the engineer is willing to wet stamp the plan, I would go with your own engineer's recommendation. There was a reason for that lally column - just because it isn't bearing a wall doesn't mean it isn't bearing.