existing timber beam support

[mats12]

Hi,
I have been dealing with an existing timber beam that supports roof rafters and a wooden ceiling (see attached photos).

Load on rafters and ceiling is about to be bigger after some renovations which means that timber beam and its supports are gonna be loaded more than before. Id like to check supports but I dont like them at all. What do you suggest - how can I reinforce or even replace existing supports? Supports are attached on stone walls.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

This is just a concept, and has many challenges to make it "fit" and "look good": Columns on each level, directly below each other leading to (new) suitable foundations. If columns cannot be directly under the beam maybe a pair at each end of the beam, one on each side of the beam.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[msquared48]

Is this building a registered historic structure? IE, on the Historic Register?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[charliealphabravo]

In a structure like this it is common that many of the members and connections don't work on paper (they rely on secondary load paths, redundancies, and actual loads being much less than current code) and so it is hard to consider increasing the load without constructing a load path that bypasses the existing system. I think a more detailed drawing showing floors/beams/struts/collar ties/etc would help solve the problem.