Removing supporting columns to free floor space

[isaac338]

I am watching your Thread, so keep taking Pics and Good Luck!

I did have a good friend who had an old 2 story house that the Main Floor Joists settled and his kitchen floor slanted.
He had bought a large I Beam, cut a hole in the side of his basement stone wall, slid the beam though all the way to the other side (Had to torch off the 10" or so that was left out), using (2) 7 ton floor jacks and 6X6 Posts, jacked up the Beam against the floor (slowly) until it was within 1/2". Then placed JackPosts in each end, Sistered up the bad Floor Joists and finished the Stone walls. (every week turned the Jacks 1/4 turn until plumb)
House made some crazy sounds while all this was going on, and he had to do some plaster work on the walls upstairs, but it worked out great and that was over 25 years ago.

When I realized the floor was bowed, I considered the possibility of jacking the building to get it square again. That obviously would be the ideal solution, but the walls have settled because whatever they're built on has compacted. I was worried by jacking them up I'd fix the bow in the floor but have walls bearing on nothing.

This building had a gravel floor until the previous owner poured a slab inside it. I have no idea what kind of footers (if any) are in place, although when I hackjammered out the floor for this project I came across some cool square stones which were probably a foundation (at some point).

Seems to me that shimming is the safest thing to do; I'd hate to open a pandora's box trying to move the whole building. Who knows, once I move those posts, it might sink a bit in the middle anyways.

And here's a (bad) pic of the first column:

 

[isaac338]

The structural part of this project is complete. Today I drilled the holes in the floor and sunk the wedge anchors, bolted the columns together, shimmed the top of the channels to ensure the joists bear on its top, and once we double checked everything, we cut the posts and whacked them out with a sledgehammer.

If anyone is considering doing something like this, do it. I can't believe how much bigger the space feels - there's so much more workable room it's incredible.

Tomorrow I'll try and get the panel in its new position and start redoing some wiring. I've got to patch the holes in the concrete where the posts came out, too. Lots of work ahead!

Before:

After:

Column one:

Column two:

Lookit all my room!

 

[Justanoldguy]

Job well done.
A bit of thought alway prevails over rush and bash.

 

[isaac338]

Job well done.
A bit of thought alway prevails over rush and bash.

Thanks for the kind words. It took a lot of planning but as such it went off without a hitch.

Cheers!

 

[Responder]

Now the question is, what to do with all of that new found space?!!!!! Good job on the beam, sure cleaned the space up nicely.

 

[KCarGuy]

My Beam has come in handy just the other day...I had to remove an engine from an engine stand and put it on a Rolling Cart.
Problem is, a friend has borrowed my Fold away engine hoist.
So I had a 850 lb. hand crank winch laying around.
I took 4 Vice Grips, clamped it to the beam, and lifted the motor (Fully assembled Small Block Chevy)
It worked perfect.
Now I want to fab up a Trolley system for it and keep it on the beam for other uses.
I am glad to see that everything worked out for you...Looks good!

 

[KCarGuy]

Sorry...here is the Pic (bad Photo)

 

[isaac338]

I dig. Please post pictures if/when you make the trolley. I was looking at I-beam trolleys the other day but they're too small to fit my beam and aren't cheap.

It's been a few weeks and the building hasn't fallen in, so I'd say it's a success. I patched the holes in the floor with sand mix and it's not perfect but it's alright. Those pics above show it immediately after opening up the space, but before I'd redone any of the wiring or done any cleaning. I've had to go back to square 1 with the layout and it's only now that I'm getting it into any kind of workable state.

Almost immediately after finishing the beam project, I hired a crew to come dig a trench and just yesterday finished the plumbing, so now not only do I have a lot more floor space, I've got a sink and sewer line. That was interesting, requiring two holes punched in my garage floor and another two through my 12" thick basement wall. Really, really glad it's over.

All in all, I spent the whole summer working on the shop and little else.. jealous?