Main Beam/Support Pole Changes

[canadianguy]

Hey everyone!

Have lurked here quite some time getting ideas and fixing little issues but haven’t noticed one quite like this specific situation.

My garage is an older hip roof barn that was converted before I bought my house. I spray foamed the walls, and am closing it in with plywood/finishing up getting the inside how I want.

It generally fits my needs pretty well but one huge annoyance is the location of one of my supports for the main beam that runs the length of the garage.

Where my single garage door is located this group of posts is always in the way for swinging vehicles in and left (where the VW bus and sled are located)

The span to those posts is a little over 20 feet with the next post being another 8 feet beyond that. I’ve looked up LVL beams but removing the old and adding one of them seems like an expensive option.

Anyone else have some tips or tricks they’ve done before?

EDIT— and excuse the mess, between finishing up projects for winter and moving things around for plywood it’s a disaster in there right now

 

[NUTTSGT]

Probably going to real expensive as you already know.

I would probably replace all those 2x4s with a steel post/column and include a couple of steel plates through bolted the beams.

How is the concrete floor/foundation under that area ? You may need to do some digging and pouring a good foundation so it doesn't move or shift.

 

[Hank11]

I’d get engineering on simply adding enough LVLs to support the entire 28‘ span. Just sandwich what is up there now. Support each end fully and carefully. It’ll be better than new.

 

[billconner]

I think any plan that moves that support is going to be somewhat complicated and have some significant cost. Leads me to believe Hank's suggestion makes sense.

I guess if you just wanted to move it a couple feet, a pair of posts further along supporting a steel beam cantilevered under the existing support point could work. Still need a footer.

 

[AC-WC]

I'm not a structural engineer but when I (paid) my LVL install at 27 ft wide it was 3 LVL's, 18" tall, 2" thick. Based on your pics you would either have to raise the mating 2x to raise the LVL higher or have an LVL sitting lower than your current ceiling. That was $4200 about 3 yrs ago with an Amish crew of 4. For the end supports there are 4-2X6 on each end. About 1-1/2 days.

 

[pbon]

Yes, the LVL will be tall. And a steel beam will be heavy. You could buy a lot of car parts and tools for the cost of a beam that needs no support in the middle. Get the estimates and decide if the cost is worthwhile to you. It probably is given the amount of work you do in there. Assuming you are not likely to move for the next 20 years, that is a lot of enjoyment time.

 

[firebirdparts]

You have to tell us what that is holding up. What's upstairs and how much do you need it? It looks like you've already got quite a bit of sag there.

 

[canadianguy]

Thanks for the replies everyone! Sandwiching with LVLs is definitely an interesting option I’ll look into

 

[canadianguy]

You have to tell us what that is holding up. What's upstairs and how much do you need it? It looks like you've already got quite a bit of sag there.

It’s a hip roof barn that has some junk stored up there, floor is just plywood laid across the supports. Measuring the beam to the floor there really isn’t any sag but it definitely looks that way in the pictures for some reason

 

[T444e]

You can't measure off the floor, they are typically not flat. I'd use a line laser as the control to measure off of. I agree with firebirdparts, there appears to be a sag.

 

[firebirdparts]

It’s a hip roof barn that has some junk stored up there, floor is just plywood laid across the supports. Measuring the beam to the floor there really isn’t any sag but it definitely looks that way in the pictures for some reason

Well, anyway, what I meant was, if you empty the barn and never put anything up there, you could do something quite different.

I should never have mentioned the sag, I've just created a worthless distraction with that.

 

[Hank11]

When he puts the new LVLs up he can string it and jack up any sag. It does not matter otherwise. But he does need professional engineering on this project.

 

[Metal-Marc]

But he does need professional engineering on this project.

This.

Also, I'm pretty sure there is sag in the main beam.

And we don't know where OP is located.

 

[jkuro]

A steel I beam would give you the most head room. If you want one sized, go to your local steel supplier. Most have an on site engineer who can size it for you. You will have to give them the span and load details. They will also figure a price with delivery if needed.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd bet a dollar that when/if you get an engineer involved in this, he's going to tell you he won't sign off anything unless you replace the vertical posts in the wall on each end. Then he'll get into foundation, footers "this big and this deep" with rebar cage. A total bill probably in the $5K range or more, hiring it done.

I would leave a post/column under the splice and live with it.