Mud-engineers or Load Bearing questions
- Thread starter FJBen
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #22
The upper “triangle” is newer sheetrock and wood compared to the lower. I wonder if it was an open triangle in the 80s style of fun.
The 4x4 had Sheetrock on the inside of it which is weird and makes no sense unless it was open.
The 4x4 had Sheetrock on the inside of it which is weird and makes no sense unless it was open.
If it was open then they would have wrapped the upper in drywall, makes sense.
- Thread starter
- #24
Last few photos. I can pretty confidently say the wall portion is not load bearing.
I suppose we are going to try and find a structural engineer to see if that 4x4 post is truly load bearing.
Now as for the basement with the load bearing spot. So the built up beam in the center was added in 99 or 2000. The house was built in 1980 so I’m not sure if they added it later to stiffen up the floors.
So this beam only goes to that wall. That’s only 1/2 the house. The concrete is the same so it hasn’t been built with a thicker footer.
Here’s one end, far right in photo.
Here’s the other side. Stops here and just sits on that 4x4 with the one jack we have in question towards the middle.
Now the cinder blocks where the guys attempt in 99/2000 to build a big fireplace setup in the basement. He took out the floor joists on that side for like a 7’ by 4’ firebox.
There are no other built up joists anywhere in the house.
1999 date code:
So it’s possible that 4x4 is load bearing, but was never setup to transfer load to the basement as that was added later. Or it’s possible it’s not load bearing at all, as the kitchen has some wiring in spots that had stuff moved around.
I suppose we are going to try and find a structural engineer to see if that 4x4 post is truly load bearing.
Now as for the basement with the load bearing spot. So the built up beam in the center was added in 99 or 2000. The house was built in 1980 so I’m not sure if they added it later to stiffen up the floors.
So this beam only goes to that wall. That’s only 1/2 the house. The concrete is the same so it hasn’t been built with a thicker footer.
Here’s one end, far right in photo.
Here’s the other side. Stops here and just sits on that 4x4 with the one jack we have in question towards the middle.
Now the cinder blocks where the guys attempt in 99/2000 to build a big fireplace setup in the basement. He took out the floor joists on that side for like a 7’ by 4’ firebox.
There are no other built up joists anywhere in the house.
1999 date code:
So it’s possible that 4x4 is load bearing, but was never setup to transfer load to the basement as that was added later. Or it’s possible it’s not load bearing at all, as the kitchen has some wiring in spots that had stuff moved around.
My guess is the lally column was added because they didn't have load bearing support and the floor was sagging. And they weren't smart enough to line up the column and the 4x4. I wouldn't open up any more walls. You'll sleep better if you don't.
As a structural engineer, that 4x4 is load bearing and the beam in the basement is strong enough to support the load even though it using one continuous load path. You may be able to shift the post a few feet, but you’d have to make sure that it works on paper and that there isn’t a splice above it.