Looking to cut out a foundation wall...

[IFD]

In the pursuit of making more space in my garage (small home problems) I want to take down 7 feet of a concrete wall behind which is a hallway. It doesn't seem that it's load bearing wall and common sense tells me this is straight forward, but i want some sort of reassurance.

I live in a bungalow with a basement, so this is all in the basement and there is a floor above:

Sketch of basement (not to scale)

Actual Pic of wall and I beam

Space above wall, about 2 inches, nothing in there.

Walk around video of wall:

Close up:

 

[pstnbly]

I would need to see a photo of the outside including roof orientation.

 

[IFD]

As requested:

 

[pstnbly]

At least some of the wall to be removed is bearing. My advise would be to consult an engineer. At the very least a lintel or blind header may be necessary.

 

[IFD]

At least some of the wall to be removed is bearing. My advise would be to consult an engineer. At the very least a lintel or blind header may be necessary.

Did you look at the videos?

There is no load on the wall except the I beam in the garage. I've talked to an engineer friend and he said to cut 2 feet away from it. The wall isn't load bearing, but it is supporting the I beam that's loaded.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

As long as the " I " beam support stays, I do not see a problem with removing the concrete wall from where I sit... JMO

What I see that may be a problem not beam related.... is what could happen when garages are not smoke/firewall sealed from the home's living quarters...

Like what happened to a family that lived 7 blocks away from us years ago....

A 4 member family lived in a house like the OP, a tri-level. The Dad in a heyday rush for whatever reason and coming home that night, left the car running in the garage at bedtime. ....

The single entry door between the garage /basement living area had been removed and the door at the top of the stairs had been left open by one of the kids that night. No CO detectors in use. Everyone in that home died that night.

 

[nehog]

As long as the " I " beam support stays, I do not see a problem with removing the concrete wall from where I sit... JMO
...

Personally I'd add a support at the I beam where the cement wall is. A lally column for example.

What I see that may be a problem not beam related.... is what could happen when garages are not smoke/firewall sealed from the home's living quarters...

...

I see nothing fireproofing the garage from the living quarters now! OP--that garage should be properly sheetrocked. This includes both the ceilings and the walls with proper joining of the sheet rock and the concrete walls as necessary.

 

[pstnbly]

Did you look at the videos?

There is no load on the wall except the I beam in the garage. I've talked to an engineer friend and he said to cut 2 feet away from it. The wall isn't load bearing, but it is supporting the I beam that's loaded.

Sorry, I can't do video on my ISP

 

[WNYflyer]

From looking at your original floor plan it looks like the front hallway wall running left to right may be a bearing wall for your floor joist. Looks like you have a door into the garage at that location that may have a beam/door lintel above it to support the floor joist and the beam/door lintel in turn may bear on the concrete wall.

Reason I say that front hallway wall maybe load bearing is because if it is then it looks like the floor joist span in that location would be similar to the rest of the areas.

 

[thewatusi]

I've talked to an engineer friend and he said to...

So if you already have a professional opinion, what's the point in asking for advice and then disagreeing with strangers on the internet?

 

[IFD]

So if you already have a professional opinion, what's the point in asking for advice and then disagreeing with strangers on the internet?

Because he is mechanical engineer, so it's not his specialty and because there are a lot of smart people on here.

I am also not disagreeing, I am pointing out that some comments made are not based on all info i've provided.

 

[IFD]

As long as the " I " beam support stays, I do not see a problem with removing the concrete wall from where I sit... JMO

What I see that may be a problem not beam related.... is what could happen when garages are not smoke/firewall sealed from the home's living quarters...

It's temporary (everything was ripped out to put in new insulation between garage and upstairs and to run extra wire. Everything will be sealed up with firerated sheetrock.

 

[IFD]

bump

 

[matt_i]

Personally I think you are asking for huge 5 figure trouble, should anything go wrong, to get what I guesstimate is 35 square feet. You really have to consider the financial investment in your house and the penalty that reaches far into the future, should something go wrong. If it cost you $1000/sqft is that worth it? The concrete wall does not rebuild easily....as suggested I wouldn't start any work without a P.E. stamped drawing. They are on the line, financially, and will recommend something conservative.

 

[jd_1138]

There are some P.E.'s on this forum, but they can't approve a plan/redesign just by looking at some pictures. I'd consult a local P.E. if I were you.