Lam-Beam Removal Y/N?

[sthojlft]

I have a pretty standard two car garage however it has a two post low profile lift.

Floor to post top ~ 8.5'

I can almost stand up under car.

The house is about 20 years old and it has, I presume, a lam-beam coming off the ceiling down about 6" covered in shtRc.

Are there any less then totally destructive ways to remove the beam and replace it with something else to gain back the 6". .....I could then stand up.

 

[pop pop]

Probably easier to lower the floor, and I know your're thinking that isn't quite possible!

 

[sthojlft]

Probably easier to lower the floor, and I know your're thinking that isn't quite possible!

This is possible I just have concerns with creating a lake.

 

[rslaback]

It is removable but not by any means easily. You most likely have overlapping joists on top of that beam. In order to remove it, you would need to put a temp beam on both sides of your existing beam, remove the existing beam, cut all of the joists in the ceiling to length so that they will stop exactly at the beam, nail joist hangers onto the beam at each location, slide the new beam up into place, nail the joist hangers to the joist and then rock the ceiling.

Honestly it is a lot of work for what you would save.

This advice is null and void if the beam is actually supporting anything other than traditional joists (i.e. trusses, TJI etc.).

You probably have this:

You would need to change it to this:

 

[fury9]

^ what he said. I'll actually be putting in two flush headers this weekend for a side job.

 

[The Boss]

It is removable but not by any means easily. You most likely have overlapping joists on top of that beam. In order to remove it, you would need to put a temp beam on both sides of your existing beam, remove the existing beam, cut all of the joists in the ceiling to length so that they will stop exactly at the beam, nail joist hangers onto the beam at each location, slide the new beam up into place, nail the joist hangers to the joist and then rock the ceiling.

Honestly it is a lot of work for what you would save.

This advice is null and void if the beam is actually supporting anything other than traditional joists (i.e. trusses, TJI etc.).

You probably have this:

You would need to change it to this:

I'm going to go with no on that and suggest that he already has the 2nd image and that the beam supporting his second floor is not just a 2x6 member but in fact a 14" tall beam that protrudes below the lower plane of the floor.

If there are no posts in the center of the garage, there's no way his beam is only 5 1/2".

 

[shooting4life]

depneding on how big it is you might be able to replace it with a steel I beam and save some space.

 

[sthojlft]

It is removable but not by any means easily. You most likely have overlapping joists on top of that beam. In order to remove it, you would need to put a temp beam on both sides of your existing beam, remove the existing beam, cut all of the joists in the ceiling to length so that they will stop exactly at the beam, nail joist hangers onto the beam at each location, slide the new beam up into place, nail the joist hangers to the joist and then rock the ceiling.

Honestly it is a lot of work for what you would save.

This advice is null and void if the beam is actually supporting anything other than traditional joists (i.e. trusses, TJI etc.).

You probably have this:

You would need to change it to this:

Wow, my new hero! Power of www.
Thanks

 

[sthojlft]

More specifically...
Great pictures but I'm trying to visualize where the rest of the "beam" is.

If the floor joists are resting on the beam would not the beam extend downward from the overlapping joist ends say 12"?

I assume it is a Lam-Beam or other that is probably a 12 x ....
THX

+ what would be the best way the cut off the joist ends "square" with the least profanity.

 

[sthojlft]

depneding on how big it is you might be able to replace it with a steel I beam and save some space.

....and weld on joist hangers?

 

[rslaback]

I'm going to go with no on that and suggest that he already has the 2nd image and that the beam supporting his second floor is not just a 2x6 member but in fact a 14" tall beam that protrudes below the lower plane of the floor.

If there are no posts in the center of the garage, there's no way his beam is only 5 1/2".

That is possible although my guess would be 2x6 joists and a 11 3/4 LVL beam. Although I can't think why anyone would do option 2 in a garage during a new build. Method 2 is a pita to install compared to option 1 and is usually only used in basements that are to be finished spaces.

 

[rslaback]

....and weld on joist hangers?

Usually in this case a plate is welded to the bottom of the beam and the joists sit on top of that plate. Weld on joist hangers do actually also exist.

 

[sthojlft]

That is possible although my guess would be 2x6 joists and a 11 3/4 LVL beam. Although I can't think why anyone would do option 2 in a garage during a new build. Method 2 is a pita to install compared to option 1 and is usually only used in basements that are to be finished spaces.

Where I live pretty much all "new construction" ...20 years ago or not... is just ****. No level of awful construction would surprise me on my house.

So your saying that the 2 x 6 joists are butted into the lam beam flush at the top and what protrudes at the bottom was covered with sheet rock?

 

[The Boss]

Where I live pretty much all "new construction" ...20 years ago or not... is just ****. No level of awful construction would surprise me on my house.

So your saying that the 2 x 6 joists are butted into the lam beam flush at the top and what protrudes at the bottom was covered with sheet rock?

Can you provide a picture of the garage layout or possibly give us dimensions & a little more information on layout? Posts/no posts, finished or attic space above?

Otherwise we're really guessing.

 

[Steves32]

Is there a 2nd floor sitting over that beam?

 

[jack stand]

I would be suprised of you had a lam beam (LVL) or other "engineered lumber" product in a 20 something year old house. You need to do some "destructive" exploration to see how it's built and to develope a solution. You might start by figuring out the "mechanicals" that may run in the joist "bays" before you start poking holes in the drywall.

 

[sthojlft]

Can you provide a picture of the garage layout or possibly give us dimensions & a little more information on layout? Posts/no posts, finished or attic space above?

Otherwise we're really guessing.

Yes...can do.
I'm sitting in living room feeling like **** (food poisoning?). So I started posting.
But pictures....description...no problem. Tomorrow.
Heck I'll even cut a hole.

You've been very helpful.

 

[sthojlft]

Is there a 2nd floor sitting over that beam?

A "bonus room".

 

[jack stand]

Get well! It's flue season.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I would be suprised of you had a lam beam (LVL) or other "engineered lumber" product in a 20 something year old house. You need to do some "destructive" exploration to see how it's built and to develope a solution. You might start by figuring out the "mechanicals" that may run in the joist "bays" before you start poking holes in the drywall.

My parents home was built in '79. It has two laminated beams in it. One in the basement spanning 1/3 of the house and the other in the garage creating a somewhat vaulted ceiling.

The beams are not what we know now as laminated beams but more of an early version. They are basically 2x6s, stacked and glued together. Chances are the OP doesn't have a beam like this but you never know till it's opened up.

 

[MoparCharlie]

I would be suprised of you had a lam beam (LVL) or other "engineered lumber" product in a 20 something year old house. You need to do some "destructive" exploration to see how it's built and to develope a solution. You might start by figuring out the "mechanicals" that may run in the joist "bays" before you start poking holes in the drywall.

I second this reply ^^^^^

10 years old yes.....
20 years old doubtful

 

[sthojlft]

PICS , PLZ help.
There is no LVL beam. The distance from the upper floor bottom/top of joists to the very booth of sheet rock is ~ 16"... This is a lot.

I assume it is more then one built up beam.

 

[sthojlft]

One more picture.

 

[The Boss]

Steel flitch plates in there? Are there carriage bolts going through it?

 

[Rundeep_32]

I have flush mounted joists on the I beams in my new garage. The joists are hung to the I beam with hangers attached to 2x10s that are thru bolted to either side of the I beam. Works great. Garage is attached to house and is 36x32 with no columns.

 

[rslaback]

A picture looking up vertically into the hole would help.

Is your house a modular built house? If it is built like I think it is, that beam most likely isn't going anywhere.

 

[JakeKohl]

....and weld on joist hangers?

I've seen it done where wood sides are bolted to the beam and the hangers are attached to the wood.

 

[sthojlft]

I have flush mounted joists on the I beams in my new garage. The joists are hung to the I beam with hangers attached to 2x10s that are thru bolted to either side of the I beam. Works great. Garage is attached to house and is 36x32 with no columns.

How long is your I beam and what kind of money is it to buy?

I need to measure my garage but I assume its about 20' wide.

What did you set the ends of the beams on?

 

[sthojlft]

Steel flitch plates in there? Are there carriage bolts going through it?

I do not think so.

Looks to me like three 2 x 10 then a ripped 2x2 as a hanger and just nails.

I have no idea of what extends below the 2 x 10s ...some kind of 2 x 6...?

 

[sthojlft]

A picture looking up vertically into the hole would help.

Is your house a modular built house? If it is built like I think it is, that beam most likely isn't going anywhere.

I do not think so...
This house was built by an idiot...first house....very little supervision of subs that ripped him off.

..."that beam most likely isn't going anywhere"... What does this mean.?

 

[Rundeep_32]

There are 2 I beams in the garage. Each is 32 feet long and supported on each end with concrete filled steel columns that sit inside of the 2x6 exterior walls. The I beams are welded to the top plate of the columns and the bottom of the column is bolted to the footings.

I don’t know the cost as they were part of the overall new construction. Sorry.

How long is your I beam and what kind of money is it to buy?

I need to measure my garage but I assume its about 20' wide.

What did you set the ends of the beams on?

 

[rslaback]

..."that beam most likely isn't going anywhere"... What does this mean.?

IN a modular home build, the joists can be screwed through the beam very similar to how it is done on the rim joist. Then when the sections are installed the two center sections get bolted together, forming the beam. If this is how yours was done it isn't really feasible to take it out.

To be honest, we need to know more about that 16" beam before we can make a call on it. That almost cannot be made of one piece to get all that height. It would be incredibly expensive to find a 2x16 that is 20 feet long not to mention impractical.

 

[dlenkewich]

From the view looking into the hole it looks to me that the joists are sitting on top of the beam like in the first illustration on page 1, with crush blocking inbetween.

Though, taking a second look it's hard to say. Looks like the joist is notched to sit on top of that 2x2.

 

[scratchedup]

This....☛

Though, taking a second look it's hard to say. Looks like the joist is notched to sit on top of that 2x2.

I am about to do more investigation with my new Rockwell Multi tool.

 

[scratchedup]

There is a early version of a lam-beam...

The joists are toe nailed in with a 2 x 2 plate nailed on.

Lam beam appears to be 16+" x 4" ???
Garage is 19' 8" wide.

How big of a steel I beam would I need to replace this?
THX

 

[sthojlft]

Maybe someone could direct to a spec chart for steel beams. It's got to be pretty simple...normal two story house...20' span...

Thx

 

[The Boss]

Looks like a power beam and no, you can't cut it.

http://www.anthonyforest.com/powerbeam.shtml

 

[sthojlft]

Looks like a power beam and no, you can't cut it.

http://www.anthonyforest.com/powerbeam.shtml

What does "can't cut it" mean...it's wood?

Help me out here.

 

[dlenkewich]

He's just bluntly stating you can't cut into it because you'd be compromising it - answering a question no one asked.

 

[sthojlft]

He's just bluntly stating you can't cut into it because you'd be compromising it - answering a question no one asked.

Yes, I get it.
Actually, seems like a pretty cool product (I'm shocked)....I just read up on it in the link.

One can cut it but the manufacturer highly discourages it.

Looks like remove and replace would be a HUGE job.

I could at least take the sheet rock off and gain 1/2" and it is pretty.