Want to remove a support beam

[fliptuner]

It's in a basement suite, a 6x6" post on 10" round footing, supporting a triple 12" that originally bore(?) the load along a 15.5' span. A closet was built 4' in and the load was picked up with a double 2x6 on a 2x4 bottom plate on slab. Now the post is bearing the load of an 11.5' span.

I realize the support from the closet might not really be sufficient since it's on slab.

I guess I need a structural engineer to come in and tell me if I can remove the post or not? Or is it a definate NO? Suggestions? Need more info?

[aznrsx1979]

I'm not quite sure what you're trying to do...are you trying to remove the closet to open up the space more? I'm a little confused at the 2-2x6's...are they being used to frame the closet opening? What is the beam supporting above? From the information, it sounds like the closet framing was not bearing the load but the 6x6 columns are. There's more info that's needed. I'm no structural engineer, just an architectural tech.

[fliptuner]

I'd like to remove the 6x6 support post.

I made a quick floorplan.

A - total length of beam (15.5')
B - location of post (@ 7.75')
C - location doubled up 2x6's at corner of closet (4')

There's another one in the garage (post is 6' from kitchen wall and 15' from outside wall.

[johny]

why didn't you build the closet longer, hiding the post?

[fliptuner]

It was already built this way. I don't want to choke off the entrance that much and the living room wall is already really long.

If I can't remove the post I'm going to enclose it and connect it to the living room wall with a 42" high knee wall so it looks like a pass-through. Then use a credenza/sideboard on the entrance side for keys and whatnot when you enter.

[johny]

if you can't remove the post, could you move the whole closet 3' to the right, giving yourself 2 entraces? and have the closet hide the post? this would shorten your living room wall.

heck you could probbaly just move it to the other side of the hallway and build a nice long one. and leave all of A open, except for the post.

[fliptuner]

Originally Posted by johny

if you can't remove the post, could you move the whole closet 3' to the right, giving yourself 2 entraces? and have the closet hide the post? this would shorten your living room wall.

heck you could probbaly just move it to the other side of the hallway and build a nice long one. and leave all of A open, except for the post.

Your first option would put a closet in the middle of an open space. Also the living room is long enough to bare, I just don't want it any longer.

The second way would box out the kitchen and I'd have to walk around the closet to get to the bathroom, either bedroom and the garage - too much of a maze.

Thanks for the suggestions though.

[aznrsx1979]

What's on the floor above where the column is located? If you remove the column, you'll probably need to add in a new column next to the closet. How is it framed at the kitchen/garage wall?

[fliptuner]

I added a pic to roughly show what's upstairs (left out some non-pertinent details).

There's a bathroom above the post (floor in front of sink). The tub is roughly where the beam starts.

The kitchen/garage wall is sitting on a curb, 2" above the slab. Looks like it's a perimeter/foundation curb so I'm sure it goes down at least 6". Where that end of the beam is picked up is covered by drywall but my guess is that it's picked up by a triple 2x4 post.

[aznrsx1979]

It doesn't appear to me that there's any transfer of live loads directly over the beam (ie no columns transfering loads from the roof etc...). It appears to be ok and I don't think that any additional support would be needed. You'd still need to check with a structural engineer or ask any contractor based on their experience if the beam can go the distance you want unsupported.

[kalekain]

Yeah, i agree with AZNRSX, doesn't look like it's supporting any loads, but you never know. Need a structural engineer to take a look. My buddy is one, so i had him take a look when i was knocking down walls.

[fliptuner]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I decided to be better safe than sorry and box in the post and connect it to the closet, creating a longer entrance.

Original



After floor and paint



Planned



A bit more involved than just building a connecting wall since the box surrounding the post is built crooked and way the big to line up to the back of the closet. I have to demo the post wall, flooring and part of the ceiling, realign the post so it sits square in the saddle, reframe, drywall, paint and repair the floor. I f'ing hate textured ceilings....

The credenza in the first pic will go against the new wall, creating a proper entrance.

[kalekain]

A Vancouver special. Yeah, that is a load bearing post, can't just remove it.

[Glove]

fuck, I have this same problem in my house,

there is a god damned post right in the middle of my living room,

who designs this shit?

[fliptuner]

I don't have a problem with the post being there when the house was built - unfinished. It's the idiots that couldn't spend some time to figure out a decent layout and work around them. A few small comprimises here and there or maybe resupporting with a paralam or I beam can really make a place flow better. I'm sure they started with bare bones down here and pretty much could've done anything. If I knew I was going to be here for 10 years or more, this place would be gutted.

[kalekain]

Originally Posted by Jufes

fuck, I have this same problem in my house,

there is a god damned post right in the middle of my living room,

who designs this shit?

Must of been some Asian architect in the 70s, based the demands of new immigrants who wanted something cheap and easy to build while maximizing the amount of rooms and space.

[JesseBlue]

how about creating a custom see through cabinet like the ones in ikea, that would fit there?