I am remodeling my basement and have an engineered W beam replacing a load bearing wall.
Engineering approves reusing the footing for supports for the new beam. The problem is the old wall was 2×4 on a 3.75” block and the new wall will be at least 2x6s.
what’s the best way to allow for a wider wall, should I demo the block and subfloor down to the footing to install new wider block? Just not sure how cleanly everything will come out.
Also thought of either leaving (or removing just the block) and pouring a small footing with high strength concrete possibly just leaving it flush with the subfloor.
At the end of the day I need to set a 2×6 bearing wall in this location. Ideas?
Replies
I think a few more pictures from the side might help, it's hard to get a sense of scale from that one.
does that raised ledge of concrete under the horizontal 2x4?
Either way, my vote would be to cut it out, and place an appropriate sized footing beneath it.
I would just lay the treated 2x6 on the existing block.
As long as the net path has enough square inches for the load.
Here are some more pictures. I have started some of the new walls and temporary bracing. The footing is going to use ~49” of the existing footing. The rest will get removed to be flush with the floor.
Footing in question is the middle wall.
I am working on loads and shot off the question to the engineer if I could just set it on the 2x4.
Originally it was spec for a 2x8 so the framing matched the width of the beam.
I wonder what the actual footing (continuous concrete element placed on undisturbed or compacted earth) is like. And in relation to it, what the basement slab is like.
If the narrow wall under the existing load-bearing wall is on a dedicated footing, and the slab is then placed on an isolation layer of gravel and plastic, it might not get you any improvement to just cut to the level of the slab top surface.
If the answer is it needs the full 7 plus inches of width in continuous support to the actual footing, you would need to cut the slab to get to it.