Residentail Load bearing wall removal
Residentail Load bearing wall removal
(OP)
I would like to remove a ceiling load bearing wall that supports a 24 foot (span) by 15 foot room. The 2X8 inch ceiling joists run along the 24' foot span and are blocked and covered by 3/4 inch ply in the attic where there is very light storage. eg Xmas stuff
I have footings in the basement to carry the load down through the first floor via a 2X6 stud wall to the footing.
My hope is to use 3 or 4 2X6s as a beam. or can I make a "flitch-beam" from 1/4 x 6 inch flat steel sandwiched between 2 2X6s.
comments or questions appreciated,
thanks,
I have footings in the basement to carry the load down through the first floor via a 2X6 stud wall to the footing.
My hope is to use 3 or 4 2X6s as a beam. or can I make a "flitch-beam" from 1/4 x 6 inch flat steel sandwiched between 2 2X6s.
comments or questions appreciated,
thanks,
RE: Residentail Load bearing wall removal
RE: Residentail Load bearing wall removal
I was hoping that the 2X8 cieling joists, ceiling drywall and plywood of a span 24 foot by 15 foot room wouldn't require alot of beam/support. AND mainly because I do not know the math to calculate these loads. The roof does not seem to be supported by the bearing wall.
your help much appreciated, Thanks again
RE: Residentail Load bearing wall removal
RE: Residentail Load bearing wall removal
Go hire a guy!?
thanks for the thread ending insight
RE: Residentail Load bearing wall removal
As a practicing structural engineer, I have been called in several times by other "hard working guys" who thgought they could do the similar thing you are proposing. The difference between them and you, is you asked first and someone suggested to you hire a structural engineer, these other guys, waited until after it was built and had problems.
Since I was called in afterwards to clean up after the elephants, my fee was about 2.5 times what it would have been if they called me in up front. And lets not talk about the re-work costs and the "wife" factor.
So since you are a hard working guy, you should waste your money to hire someone (and pay them about 2 times what it woulkd cost) to fix your mistake.
So while it sounds like a "brush-off" to go hire someone, it is the best recommendation anyone could give you.
RE: Residentail Load bearing wall removal
Deflection almost always governs. An upturned beam may work. 6" members can rarely span 24' without sagging too much, even if made of "unobtainium". Flitch beams are inefficient, roofs are complex, plaster is brittle...
I've said too much, hire a good engineer and save both money and aggravation.
RE: Residentail Load bearing wall removal