OK To Move This Column?

MohaimenK

Wanted to know from an expert, if the column near the wall can be elimanted or maybe if we have to keep it, take it agains the wall that way we can cover it with dry wall?

It is holding a steel beam that goes 40 ft wide - entire span of the house and from what it seems, every 8 ft, there is a column. It is being supported on a concrete wall beside being on the columns. The I-Beam is 6" I believe. It's being covered by drywall for the entire basement at the moment.

BTW, this is a basement and there are 2 floors above this basement.

Attached Thumbnails

 

rbsremodeling

Don't touch it

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mickeyco

Yeah, I'd just knock it out, looks like overkill anyway.
























If you don't know get an engineer.






.

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MohaimenK

House owner said last time they had construction in that house, the engineer said something about being able to move it, but they didn't pay much attention or go into to much details because at that time, they were leaving in the basement while construction was going on throughout the house.

So the reason I ask, if anyone has any idea from doing previous constructions they've done or knocked out any existing columns.

Brocktologist

I've knockeded those thingers out all the time. I hat to drywall them and prefer just to pull them out. Nobady has cumplained yet.

dkillianjr

Just pop it out, I would wear a hardhat though just in case. You can't be too careful.


Dave

mickeyco

Did the engineer sign and seal a detail saying it was okay to take it out or move it? If he didn't you need to get an engineer or leave it, they don't just toss in extra columns because they were running a sale on them at blowes.







.

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Tinstaafl

There's no way that picture can give anyone enough information to give you a straight answer. If the owner didn't pay attention to the engineer's input previously, shame on him. CYA; get him to pony up for another engineer.

tgeb

It can be done but will probably require some new footings and a heavier beam.

We did some footing and slab work for just such a post relocation last year. It wasn't cheap. But it was fun.

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Tom

www.gebcon.com

bujaly

I agree with the previous reply. This picture does NOTHING for us... Maybe someone put that their for symetrical aesthetics..(i doubt, but HO's have crazy request).
You need to take the drywall down first my friend, if it's actually a shoring post, then call the engineer in..

Why are you asking anyway?

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neolitic

Pull it out!
At this point I'm all for
thinning the gene pool.

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MohaimenK

Like I said, they didn't have much talk about it and from what they said, from the Engineer's POV, with the weight, its not necessary to have that many columns there as far as weight goes. But again, they were living there at the moment while main construction was going on upstairs. Reason I asked if anyone has taken them out themselves. NOW, as far as it being on sale or not, don't know, but house was built in the 60's and things were much different then from my knowledge. So they may, just to be sure, put more columns than needed.

MohaimenK

Well its a metal column. Every 8 ft there is a column. They want to move it to construct a home theater there.

Driftwood

Are We suppose to think You Have ANY experience in the trades????????
You must think We're stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!

neolitic

Even in the 60's we weren't in the habit
of just sprinkling unnecessary columns
here and there willy-nilly.
A 6" I beam isn't all that large.

Grandpa had an expression...
"And people in hell want icewater."

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MohaimenK

Actually, u'd be surprised how many things were wrong in this house. Well, according to current codes, they were wrong, but when the house was built in 67, they didn't have all the codes so things that people can't do now, they were able to do. Their supporting wall wasn't sitting on the beam, was fine for 40 years, but when they did their construction last year, inspector wouldn't let them leave the wall there because it wasn't sitting directly over the beam. Anyway, in the end, things worked out for them they said. Anyway, was just pointing out that 40 years ago, things could have ben easily done w/out many calculations. That's all.

Wasn't trying to call anyone stupid or judge anyone. Obviously none of us have the same experience, some more than other. Which is why I kept asking IF SOMEONE HAS ACTUALLY DONE THIS.

Well, thanks anyway.

neolitic

The answer is yes.
Many of us have done it many times.
We were either able to calculate the
loads and carrying capacity, or paid
someone who could.
None of us can look at that picture
and give you useful advice.
(If anyone does, don't believe them.)
The last thing to base structural
decisions upon are the customer's
wishes to just remove it.
It can be done, but it might not be
simple or inexpensive.

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MohaimenK

Thanks Neo! Exactly the answer I was looking for. Of course, no one can tell exact load on that beam from looking at the picture. It depends on what it has above it, I understand that. At first I wasn't sure from people's response. Eventually, I just thought people were being sarcastic about this whole subject. I am not going to go there tomorrow and knock that thing down you know. But now I know people have done it, and I can tell the home owner it is possible, BUT we're still going to have to hire an engineer. Which will cost them. Thanks again.

MohaimenK

Here's a picture to enjoy

MohaimenK