Garage Support Post

[Smiles79]

Hey all,

I just moved into a new house, and the support post in the garage doesn't seem to be doing anything. A piece of paper can slide between the post and the I beam. Is this common? The post really disrupts the flow of the garage, but I imagine it is there for a reason.

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[BajaScout]

Steel I-Beam above it. Maybe someone was using the beam to lift heavy objects.

What is above the garage?

 

[pattenp]

I think it's there to meet building code because of the span. It probably touched at one time, concrete footing may have settled.

 

[pbon]

Depending on the span, the I beam may be sufficient without a support.

 

[mcbane]

It might be there for occasional heavy snow loads, the kind you get around every 100 years or so.


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[matt_i]

Better to have a post with an Acme screw on it for adjustment.

I don't think I would remove it, a lot can happen based on what's loaded above it. The beam should meet L/360 deflection criteria for whatever loading is specified and you'd have to give more info about that. If you get a College Football Playoff party going above it and your team scores late in the game the "bounce" loading of all of those people jumping around can be high. Letting it flex more than L/360 isn't an instant failure of the beam but it would definitely start jacking other parts of the framing apart.

 

[wrenchguy]

Whats above it? living space, this may be a framing shrink issue over the years. shim it and call it just in case!

 

[LX-Markham]

Garage is an unheated space. Depending on the depth of the footing supporting that post, it may have been subjected to several freeze/thaw cycles, and may have settled/changed.

That beam is designed as a 2-span beam. I would not remove that post.

 

[Kaizen]

how is the end of that beam connected to the other part? normally that post would be right under the joint

 

[GMCGarage]

Just hire an engineer to check the beam for the max load. if not needed, then you can remove. You will only get 50/50 answers on here, leave it, or remove it. Best to hire a professional that can tell you for sure.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Just hire an engineer to check the beam for the max load. if not needed, then you can remove. You will only get 50/50 answers on here, leave it, or remove it. Best to hire a professional that can tell you for sure.

Best answer if you are thinking of removing it.

Until you have someone come out and verify all the factors that go into determining the loads that the I beam sees (load in space above it, snow loads in your part of the country, size of I beam, length of I beam, attachment of I beam to structure at the two ends and such) you should not take the post out just yet.

Be safe, not sorry!

Jim

 

[pattenp]

Don't hire an engineer, first check with your local building inspection department. If you give them the beam dimensions and the length of span and the number of stories above and type of space(living/non-living) they should be able to tell you if the column is required to meet building code.

 

[GMCGarage]

Don't hire an engineer, first check with your local building inspection department. If you give them the beam dimensions and the length of span and the number of stories above and type of space(living/non-living) they should be able to tell you if the column is required to meet building code.

They shouldn't (and most won't). Most of the time they are not engineers, and if they start giving out advice like that, they are opening up the jurisdiction to huge liability.

No reasonable engineer would do this without coming out to the building to inspect what they are checking. You dont know what you dont see.

 

[pattenp]

They shouldn't (and most won't). Most of the time they are not engineers, and if they start giving out advice like that, they are opening up the jurisdiction to huge liability.

No reasonable engineer would do this without coming out to the building to inspect what they are checking. You dont know what you dont see.

My jurisdiction has a structural engineer that does plan reviews and will tell you what meets code or not. The OP should still contact his local building department to see what they say before going out and hiring an engineer.

 

[GMCGarage]

My jurisdiction has a structural engineer that does plan reviews and will tell you what meets code or not. The OP should still contact his local building department to see what they say before going out and hiring an engineer.

That's a big difference from coming out and checking a beam design. Perhaps he has time to check every calculation, etc. If that's the case, good for your jurisdiction on doing it correct.

 

[firebirdparts]

Tell us about your Formula!

 

[Jackfre]

I think it's there to meet building code because of the span. It probably touched at one time, concrete footing may have settled.

I think this is the best way to approach the question of the post as you are thinking of removing it. You would need to provide a detail of the framing to an engineer and make any alterations required prior to pulling that thing.

 

[bullnerd]

Does that plumbing go to a bathroom?

Fill the tub and remeasure. lol!

Personally, I would have pulled it as soon as I saw that gap.

But, like was said above, need more info/do it the right way.

 

[Smiles79]

Tell us about your Formula!

It's a '79 with an Olds 403 married to a TH350. Getting ready to put a limited slip 3.42 in it, then some maintenance items before working in the motor.

Thanks for the advice every body. I was mainly looking to find out if it is obviously supposed to be this way for some reason and it would be a waste of time to even look into removing in.

Where does a person find an engineer qualified to tell me if I can remove it?

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[GMCGarage]

It's a '79 with an Olds 403 married to a TH350. Getting ready to put a limited slip 3.42 in it, then some maintenance items before working in the motor.

Thanks for the advice every body. I was mainly looking to find out if it is obviously supposed to be this way for some reason and it would be a waste of time to even look into removing in.

Where does a person find an engineer qualified to tell me if I can remove it?

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Just google 'structural engineers (biggest city close to you)' and start calling.

 

[pattenp]

That's why I said to call your local building official. It's a free starting point. If you need an engineer to look at it, the local building official should have a list of engineers that you can contact.